NEW ZEALAND BAND CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 289, 6 September 1928, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND BAND CONTEST

THE JUDGE CHOSEN MR. T. J. REES, OF WALES

When it was definitely decided that the New Zealand band contest of 1929 should be held at Wanganui, considerable local enthusiasm was aroused. A strong executive with good working committees was established, with the result that the prospects are for one of the most successful undertakings of its kind yet held in the Dominion. The contest will be held from Febr ary 25 to March -. English Judge Appointed. The music committee wanted the best judge in the British Empire, and after much negotiation with England and Australia it is confidently believed that suecess has been achieved in that direction. Negotiations were opened up with Eng lish and Australian adjudicators, ami favour fell on Mr. T. J. Rees, 1< .1.5. C.. of Wales. The fee of bringing . Mr. Rees out from England and exclusively for Wanganui was beyond the purse of the local executive, but negotiations were opened up with Mackay, Queensland, where the next Australasian chain pionship is to be determined. Hie Wanganui secretary suggested that Australia and New Zealand go ’‘fifty-fifty m 'he expense, and after many letters and cablegrams had been passed between the two secretaries an arrangement on the

suggested basis was arrived at, the Queensland contest taking place ?at Easter time, thus giving Mr. Rees the opportunity of judging at Wanganui and then going across to Queensland for Easter. The music committee’s report presented to the executive on Thursday showed that by co-operating with Australia in the matter of expense, the Wanganui contest will be judged by one of the ablest men in the British Empire./As conductor of tlie celebrated G waun-Cue-Gurwen Bund, of Swansea, Wales, Mr. Rees has achieved many successes nt different contests in England and Wales. This band won the Welsh championship 12 times, and were also prize-winners at the annual Belle Vue contest, Manchester, in 1921,1922,1923,1924. At a recent Crystal Palace contest the Gwnun-Cae-Gur-wen Band were successful in defeating such bands as Wingate’s. Black Dyke. Horwich, and others. Mr. Rees’s baud has succeeded in winning the Boosey Shield eleven times, Besson Cup fifteen times. West Wales championship twelve times, among other notable successes, so that it will be seen that Mr. Rees is coming to 'Wanganui with a wonderful record of band success. As an adjudicator Mr. Rees also has a splendid record. He was main adjudicator at Crystal Palace in 1923, 1924, and 1926; Queensland championship. 1926: South Wales and Monmouthshire festival, 1927: Triarchy, 192"; Cornish championship. 1927; Gloucester championship. 1927; and Conway championship, 1927. A letter was also received at the meeting from Mr. Charles Trussell, of Queensland. accepting the position of assistant adjudicator, his position being judge of the solo section of the contest. Mr. Trussell has also had wide experience us a band trainer, adjudicator, and composer of band music, and with two judges officiating from overseas, bands will come to Wanganui feeling confident that the local executive has done its best to give the very best and highest grade adjudicat-. ors in the band world to-day. To assist the musical success of the contest, Miss Claire Feltliam, F.T.C.L., has been engaged as official acconipaniste.