The New Zealand Brass Band Championships is one of the world’s oldest music competitions.
The first contest was held in the Christchurch Drill Hall on the 17th of April 1880 with an audience of 2500 people. Six bands competed, and the audience chose the winner – the Invercargill Garrison Band, under the command of Captain W.E. Heywood.
These days the national contest is held annually in July over five days and includes Junior and Open solo and Ensemble competitions, a Sacred Item/Hymn, Test selection and Own Choice selection for bands in each grade (A, B, C, D, and Youth), plus a Street March. The contest sometimes concludes with a gala concert or workshops.
Contest Results
2025 2 to 6 July
Festival of Brass at the Christchurch Town Hall complex. Contact Contest Administrator bbanzeo@gmail.com or contest committee chair Graham Hickman
festivalofbrassnz@gmail.com
2026
Wellington - dates to be announced
Contact Contest Administrator bbanzeo@gmail.com or contest committee chair Mike Sander mike.sander@tpl.co.nz
2024 National Championships
10 to 13 July
Pacific Festival of Brass at the Due Drop Centre, Manukau City, Auckland.
Contact: BBANZ Contest Administrator Helen Lee
bbanzeo@gmail.com
or Will Kingi, Festival Coordinator/Community Outreach, Pacific Festival of Brass 2024
021 289 6674 pacfestbrass@gmail.com
Test Music
A Grade: Whitsun Wakes by Michael Ball.
B Grade: Diversions on a Bass Theme by George Lloyd.
C Grade: Salford Sinfonietta by Darrol Barry.
D Grade: Nicaea by William Himes.
The Youth Grade is Own Choice music.
Tickets: Admission to solo, ensemble and band events is free except for the Invitation Slow Melody on Wednesday evening. Tickets for the Invitation Slow Melody can be purchased at Here
The full-colour, printed contest programme is available at the venue for $10.
The results will be available during the contest from the Contest Committee Facebook page www.facebook.com/ChampionBrass2024/
And yes, Brassbanned will be live-streaming the contest from Wednesday through to Saturday night. Thank you, ABI, for again sponsoring this. www.brassbanned.com
