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 8 to 12 April
Wellington: band events in the Michale Fowler Centre and Wellington Opera House.
Contact Contest Administrator bbanzeo@gmail.com or contest committee chair Mike Sander mike.sander@tpl.co.nz
2024 National Championships
Thank you, and congratulations to the Pacific Festival of Brass committee for hosting a fantastic event.
Congratulations to all the competitors, especially our champions.
Champion of Champions: Mike Ford, NBS Nelson City Brass
Junior Champion of Champions: Walter Hughes, Hamilton City Brass
A Grade: Wellington Brass
B Grade: Tupou College, Tonga
C Grade: Matamata Brass
D Grade: Maamaloa Brass
Youth Grade: Auckland Seventh-day Adventist High School,
Thank you to the sponsors and funders of the 2024 National Contest
