Young band members scoop gongs
Anumber of young Taranaki musicians have won awards at a national brass band competition. This week the Devon Hotel New Plymouth Brass announced the outstanding success of a number of its young musicians at the recent New Zealand National Brass Bands Championships, held in July.
Dominic Jacquemard, Hamish Goodhue and Daniel Chow were each successful in winning the national title for their instrument and age group.
Jacquemard, for the third running, was a clear winner in the junior percussion.
He then made brass band competition history by being the first percussionist to win the junior champion of champions, which is the play off of all junior instrumentalist winners.
Goodhue, in his first attendance at the nationals, won the under fifteen percussion title.
Chow, playing the euphonium, impressed the international judge Dr Robert Childs, and provided a winning performance in the junior euphonium.
As well as this, cornetists Jessica Boniface and Alli SmithLines were placed second in the junior duet, and in the very competitive open tenor horn section Ray Farrow achieved an extremely creditable third.
Amanda Bolland maintained her record and once again won the title of champion B grade drum major, leading New Plymouth to second place.
In a tight field of nine extremely competent B grade bands the Devon Hotel New Plymouth Brass achieved an very creditable third placing.
Musical director Leigh Martin said he was proud of the success of the young players and of the overall performance of the band.
He and wife Morrine were also proud of the success of their son Raynor, playing for Woolston Brass, Christchurch, in winning the open amateur cornet championship. Also of note was the outstanding performance of Wellington Brass, winning the A grade and thus confirming its position of champion band of New Zealand.
The band is conducted by New Plymouth’s David Bremner, with father Trevor and former-local Rowena Howard in the cornet ranks.