THE BAND CONTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1927, Page 16

THE BAND CONTEST.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. ' BEGIX AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON. Monday. Today the streets of Wellington were gay with the tramp of many bands to and from their quarters to practice room or to an afternoon or evening rendezvous to <rive a performance, as a rule the halls being all too small to accommodate the public No doubt the splendid weather is assisting materially and leading to complete success for the association of a good band programme and ; nice, bright weather never fails to. draw a great crowd. The Viands, not having met officially so far. it is a little difficult to estimate the full attendance. It is known, however, that ten are certain to engage in the A grade championship, and there will probably be from fifteen to eighteen in B grade, allowing for a fair number of defections. General regret is expressed, even amongst interested competitors, that the Dominion's champion quickstep band, Auckland Artillery, is not attending this year's contest, but it is realised that the band has had a great run of successes in recent years and that. with Sergeant-Major Laffey's big gun out of the way. the lighter calibres will have a much better chance. Auckland is, however, well represented in the entries, their being four bands in the B grade championship and quickstep, as follows: —Auckland Waterside Workers', Port Auckland, Onehunga and Hamilton Municipal. Hamilton was placed third in this event last year and lias only to show the improvement that may be reasonably anticipated to have a fine chance of annexing the prize this year. The Taranaki Battalion Band, second to Grey mouth Municipal in this competition last year, is likely to be a strong cjaimant for the 1927 honours. Regret is also expressed that the name of Hayes is missing from the cornet championship, won by him two years ago, at Auckland. The northern bandsmen are. however, well represented in the solo competitions, and it is hoped that individual successes may be gained apart from what may come to Auckls».nders in the collective events. The coming to New Zealand of Mr. William Halliwell, the renowned English band trainer, conductor and contest adjudicator, is the subject of much jubilation among bandsmen, and many of the leading bands have made special preparations to excel all their previous contest efforts, primarily to be able to say, if successful, that they succeeded under the Old Country's greatest judge. and, secondly, to reach such a standard 'of proficiency as will please Mr. Halliwell and thereby enhance the Dominion's , reputation, musically, through him, in England, upon his return. One of the bands, Port Nicholson Silver, which, four years ago, then known as Wellington Watersiders. won the championship, has imported a leading band trainer from Australia to put on the finishing touches. This is Mr. •Johnston, conductor of the Collingwood Band, Victoria, one of the big contesting bands of that State. The band has also engaged Mr. Ryder, a leading cornet soloist, also from Australia. Port Nicholson, in fact, is leaving no stone i unturned in an endeavour to regain the : championship. Wangajiui Garrison is said to be an improved band, and so, too. are Woolston (last year's champions), St. Kilda, third at the Dunedin Exhibition contest),, and Kaikorai. Woolston seems to be better than twelve months ago and should score very high marks ! under the English judge. The proceedings will open on Monday morning with bass trombone and double E-flat baas solo events and the competition for boys, in which there are forty-four entries. The hymn, contest, the first full-band event, will take place at night in the Town Hall, where, in the main hall and concert hall, all the ordinary comi petitions will take place. The first B grade test piece. "The Magic Flute," will be played on Tuesday evening, the second, "Fra Diavolo," "on Thursday evening. The champion cornet event is set down for Wednesday. The A grade champion tests are to be decided on Wednesday ('•Lortzing.' , ) and Friday (''Gounod") nights. 'The quickstep will take place in Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon next. It is anticipated that nearly thirty bands will take part. HAMILTON BANDSMEN TO THE FORE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The only participants in 010 events this morning from Auckland district were from the Hamilton Municipal Band. In the bass trombone competition, test piece "Zenobia," K. S. M. Croucher (Hamilton) gained second prize and a silver medal for a really good rendering, the judge, Mr. Herd" awarding him 9t out of the 100 points. The gold medal went to L. Willicomb (Dannevirke), who tied for second place in the same event at the Exhibition contest in Dunedin last year. Hamilton was agnin well placed in the second competition, that for double K flat basses, test work "The Hardy Norseman." The band's representative A. E. Ogden, gained 96 marks out ;.f 100, and was placed third to BowlNhaw (Palmerston) 98, and Tretheway (Wellington Tramways) 97. In the boys' section, in which 22 took part, the standard was not quite st high as last year, but there were several good performances. Hamilton Municipal was again the only band tc be represented in the competition, the players being C. E. Hawkins and C. Miles, but neither was in the running