Australian Concert Bands

Here are the resultes for the SA State Band Championships for 2007.

Junior A Grade

1. Pembroke School (Kevin Cameron) 185
2. Scotch College Band (Antony Hubmeyer) 177

C Grade

1. Scotch College Community Band (Antony Hubmeyer) 181

B Grade

1. Payneham City Concert Band (Rick Plummer) 182
2. City of Holdfast Bay (Alwin Kidney) 178

A Grade

1. SA Police Rangers (Mark Smith) 181
2. Unley Concert Band (Kevin Cameron) 180
3. Onkaparinga Concert Band (Craig Wingrave) 172

Jubey

Hey Jubey

How widespread are the contesting bands in SA? I mean in NSW, there are quite a lot in Sydney / Metro / Central Coast area, with a few more splashed around the state.

Hi Ben

Most of the concert band activity is centred on Adelaide. There are some bands in the country - towns such as Murray Bridge, Strathalbyn, and Port Lincoln.

There have always been good contesting bands in SA - the Elder Conservatorium Wind Ensemble dominated the National A Grade, winning 13 titles over the years. Brighton Concert Band (now Holdfast Bay) won the B Grade National title three years in a row in the early 90s.

The SA Band Association has run a Concert Band Championship each year since 2002. This year, the Championship was separated from the Brass Band contest and attracted 8 bands - the most ever. There is still a long way to go.

Unley, Onkaparinga, and Redbacks are the most active contesting bands at Nationals. Unley won the C Grade title in 2004 (by 95 points - that must be a record!), 3rd in B Grade in 2005, and 2nd this year. Redbacks came 3rd in B Grade this year.

Unley have won the State Championship 3 times - 2002, 2004, and 2005. SA Police Rangers have won the in 2006 and 2007. Onkaparinga won in 2003.

School bands from Scotch and Pembroke have done well in recent years. Both have won national and state titles in the last two years.

It is worth metioning that the Elder Con Wind Ensemble is the only true A Grade band in SA. The top community bands here would struggle to compete in A Grade at the moment, but play well at the top of the B Grade.

I hope that's a helpful description of the scene here in Adelaide.

Cheers,
Jubey

Hi Jubey

Thanks for that mate - makes it a lot clearer!
How did that band win C grade by 95 points?!?!?! What is each piece worth?

Here in NSW, test piece is 100, own choice is 100 and sacred is 50

At Nationals, you have the Test (100), Own Choice (100), Hymn (50) and Stage March (50) - a total aggregate of 200.

Unley must have played pretty darn well that day, I guess.

Jubey