N.Z. BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28491, 22 January 1958, Page 7

N.Z. BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

33 Entries In All Grades (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, January 21. More than 1200 bandsmen and supporters are expected to be accommodated in Dunedin during the 1958 national brass band championships, which start on March 7. After the time limit for late withdrawals expired today, 33 bands still remained in the four grades of competition. The A grade has been reduced to eight bands, which are: Auckland Fire Brigade, the present champions, Queen Alexandra’s Own (Wangaqui), Lower Hutt Municipal, Derry’s (Christchurch), Woolston, Timaru Municipal, Kaikorai, and St. Kilda.

Of the six bands in the B grade three ’’ — Hamilton, Palmerston North City, and Lower Hutt Civic —are from the North Island. Other entrants are Addington Workshops, Christchurch Fire Brigade (formerly Christchurch Municipal), and Invercargill Garrison.

In the C grade, Dunedin’s entrant, Caversham-Green Island, is conducted by Mr Strauss Smith, a brother of the judge. Other competing bands are Wellington Watersiders, Te Awamutu, New Plymouth City, Blenheim Regimental, New Brighton, Oamaru Garrison, and Gore Municipal. Otago provides five of the nine entrants in the D grade, with Dunedin Ladies, St. Kilda Junior, Balclutha, Kaitangata, and Port Chalmers. Other combinations are Marton, Petone, Feilding, and Sumner Silver.

There will be a change in the system of massed band playing, and to meet this there has been an alteration in the programme. The quick-step on March 8, instead of starting with the D I grade, will begin with the C grade. The D grade will follow. Both grades will compete in the morning. The A and B grades will march in the afternoon, and the massed bands will corhe from the A grade alone, and not all grades, as in the past.