The Federation of Australasian Brass Bands (FABB) has informed 4barsrest Downunder that the Test Piece selected for the inaugural Australasian Open Championship will be ‘Music for Battle Creek’ by Philip Sparke.

The Chairman of FABB, Rick Casagrande commented, “I am particularly pleased with this recommendation made by Music Advisor, Professor David King."

"Following the outstanding success and popularity of Sparke’s ‘Music For Battle Creek’ at the Royal Albert Hall ‘National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain’ last October, FABB believe this composition will be equally as popular with both conductors and players when it receives its Australasian contest premiere at the FABB 2008 Australasian Open Championships.”

Brass Music Specialists in Brisbane have copies of the selection available for purchase at competitive rates. Contact Greg Aitken at greg@brassmusic.com.au or phone +61 7 3278 1311.

The Australasian Open Festival takes place at Tweed Heads on the Queensland-New South Wales border on the weekend of 25 & 26 October 2008.

Due to unprecedented popularity of the stream from the recent All
England Masters, some users were unable to connect to The Music Page at the time of competition.

Since then, additional server capacity has been added to ensure that there are no problems for the ENBBC.

Videos of performances from the All England Masters as well the 2008
Australian Band Championships are currently available to view on demand on The Music Page.

The live stream will commence tomorrow at 10.30am UK time, or 6.30pm for those 'downunder'.

www.themusicpage.com

Gunnedah Shire Band is preparing for the return home in August of its musical director, Jason Katsikaris, when the band will be giving concerts to coincide with the launch of its new CD "Reflections".

The two concerts will be at Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Centre in Warners Bay on Sunday 3 August at 2pm, and in Gunnedah on Sunday 9 August at 2pm.

Special guest soloist at the Warners Bay concert will be Professor David King on cornet - an opportunity to hear one of 'our own' world class performers that should not be missed.

The glossy brochure entitled "Music for Life...join a community band" was distributed with the bi-monthly magazine, The Music Stand, which is also a product of the BANSW.

The high quality brochure, featuring photos of several bands and individual players from New South Wales, is a positive step forward towards the promotion of the greater banding movement.

As well printed material, two large portable display panels are available for band's to use in their local areas to also promote the cause. These are available from the Association's office.

The BANSW see enormous value in developing the awareness of the band movement in the broader community sector, and the Music for Life campaign is one element of the Association's strategy.

www.bandnsw.com

It was obvious to the new executive that one of the key challenges facing the Band movement is the lack of opportunities for young players to get professional, high quality teaching.

Some schools in New Zealand utilise the itinerant programme but this may not be available for all students.

In the future schools may not have the funding to provide musical teaching of any type, and unless action is taken to provide a vehicle for pupils interested in brass, the number of players coming through may further decline.

The plan for "Brass Factory" is that the Association will take a lead in providing a neutral environment where young players from all Bands can get high quality teaching.

There is no intention to form a competing Band. However group and ensemble playing may form part of the teaching programme. The association are looking for an administrator and a principal teacher to start the “Brass factory” see http:/­/­www.4barsrest.com/­classifieds/­du_vacancies.asp

The association believes that if you ask any top player the one common ingredient for their success, apart from hard work, is the influence of a highly skilled teacher.

Box Hill City band will be holding a Stage Band contest on Saturday 19 July at the Box Hill Town Hall.

As well as the usual School and Junior Stage band sections, there will be sections for other stage bands.

The rules are simple - 20 players plus percussion, and the performance of a 15 minute program to include three own choice items.

Bands are to set up in cabaret style, and the audience will be seated at tables.

This should be a great opportunity for bands to show their versatility.

Interested bands need to get cracking with their entries as they close this weekend.

For more information contact John Kelly on 0411 699 813.

It was the first time the band had played at the Epsom Girls Grammar venue and the concert drew a large and enthusiastic audience.

The main feature of the evening was the world première performance of a concerto written and performed by Soprano Cornet champion Fendall Hill.

The programme also included another première performance – an arrangement of Meatloaf’s ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ by musical director Steven Booth, which included the addition of a synthesizer, motorbike effects and film projection.

Other highlights of the night included solos by Principal Cornet Carolyn Ramsbottom, Euphoniums Bari Thomas and Sean Whyte, and Principal Trombone player Stuart Richie, with film projection complementing many of the evening’s pieces.

Guest singer-songwriter Sarah Marlowe kept the audience captivated with her smooth vocals and sensitive guitar accompaniment.

‘The Trusts’ Waitakere Brass is preparing to compete in the New Zealand National Championships next month, followed by the Australian Open in October.

The Invitational Slow Melody is one of the feature events of the annual New Zealand Championships. This year is no different.

Invitees include:

Steven Booth, baritone, 'The Trusts' Waitakere Brass
David Chaulk, trombone, Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass
Colin Clark, soprano, Woolston Brass
Roseanna Dale, tenor horn, Woolston Brass
Ashley Gittins, euphonium, Brisbane Excelsior
Andrew Large, cornet, Dalewool Auckland Brass
John Lewis, cornet, St Kilda Brass
Phil Johnston, Bb Bass, Woolston Brass
Riki McDonnell, euphonium, Marlborough District Brass
Lisa Rogers, flugel, Dalewool Auckland Brass

Player biographies and photos can be found on the official contest website http:/­/­www.brassnz.co.nz/­cont08_ism_who.html

Thirty three bands and over 200 soloists will compete in this years New Zealand National Brass Band Championships, to be held in Christchurch 9-13 July.

Bands to travel across the Tasman include Brisbane Brass, defending champions Brisbane Excelsior, and Moreland City Band from Melbourne.

There is strong representation in all grades with the exception of Junior Grade which this year, disappointingly has no bands entered.

Dalewool Auckland Brass advised contest organisers late last week of its intention to withdraw from the championships.

Chief Adjudicator is Simone Rebello from the UK.

4BRDU will once again be providing pre-contest coverage, as well as live coverage of the A Grade events and all results.

The bands competing are:

A Grade
Ascot Park Hotel Brass
Brisbane Brass, Aus
Brisbane Excelsior, Aus
Canterbury Brass
Marlborough District Brass
Moreland City Band, Aus
North Shore Brass
St Kilda Brass
The "Trusts" Waitakere Brass
Woolston Brass

B Grade
Addington Brass
Alpine Energy Timaru Brass
Castle Trust Hamilton Brass
Eastern Bay of Plenty Brass
New Plymouth Brass
Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass
Port of Napier Brass
Titan Hutt City Brass
Trust Porirua City Brass

C Grade
Ascot Park Hotel Auxiliary Brass
Levin and Districts Brass
Mosgiel Brass
Palmerston North City Brass
Papakura City Brass
Smiths Locksmiths Manukau City Brass
Te Awamutu Brass
Westport Municipal Brass
Woolston Concert Brass

D Grade
Motueka Municipal Band
New Brighton Silver Band
Rangiora Brass
Roxburgh Pioneer Generation Brass
Sumner Silver Band

4BRDU has been asked by the BBANZ to withhold naming the musical directors of each band.

For more detail on the contest go to http:/­/­www.brassnz.co.nz/­chchmain.html

Midland Brick Brass is searching for a new “Naming Rights” Sponsor, following the announcement that Midland Brick will no longer continue its sponsorship of the band.

One of Western Australia's leading bands, Midland Brick Brass has a long and successful history stretching back fifty years. During this time it has established itself as the leading band in the Western Australian community.

Prior to Midland Brick taking up sponsorship of the band at the beginning of the 1990s the band was known under several names, and has a strong history of securing naming rights sponsors.

When the band originated it was as the junior band of the 11/44th Battalion of the City of Perth Regiment.

In 1960 the band was incorporated as the National Youth Brass Band of Western Australia. After this for a period of time, sponsorship was received from the City of Stirling and the band performed as the City of Stirling Brass Band.

The band later became known as the 6KY Brass Band and in 1984 sponsorship was transferred to Swan Television and the band performed under the name Channel Nine Brass Band.

The band will continue to perform under the name of Midland Brick Brass until 30 September 2008, by which time it hopes to have secured a new sponsor.