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
2026, 8 to 12 April, in Wellington.
Band events in the Michael Fowler Centre and Wellington Opera House. Solo events TBA.
Contact Contest Administrator bbanzeo@gmail.com or contest committee chair Mike Sander mike.sander@tpl.co.nz
2027 July in Invercargill
Band events in the Civic Theatre and SIT Centrestage Theatre. Contact Contest Administrator bbanzeo@gmail.com
2025 National Championships
AKA the 2025 Festival of Brass. The championship will be held in Christchurch at the Town Hall Complex on Kilmore Street from Wednesday, 2 to Sunday, 6 July.
Frédéric Théodoloz, the Musical Director of the current European, British Open and Swiss National Champion, Brass Band Treize-Etoiles, will be the Chief Adjudicator for the 2025 National Championships. The Assistant Chief Adjudicator will be SSGT Nick Johnson — Bandmaster of the New Zealand Army Band.
2025 Test Music: You are welcome to order through your regular music supplier; however, please ensure it is the same edition/publisher/key/clef as the music listed below.
A Grade: A Tale As Yet Untold by Philip Sparke. Published by Anglo Music. Available from https://www.worldofbrass.com/RSHLAMP310030 and Just Music JM51413
B Grade: Sounds by John Golland. Published by and available from Kirklees Music (KMKIRKSounds) http://www.kirkleesmusic.co.uk/
C Grade: The Lost Village of Imber by Christopher Bond. Published by and available from Christopher Bond Music https://www.christopherbondmusic.co.uk/
D Grade: Be Still by David J Evans arr. Stephen Tighe. Published by Pennine Music Publishing. Available from https://www.worldofbrass.com/RSPENB06
The Youth Grade is Own Choice music.
Brass Test Solos
Eb Soprano Cornet: Tenor Horn Concerto (movements 2 and 3) by Martin Ellerby (Pub: Studio Music)
Championship Cornet: The Cry of the Soul by Gilles Rocha (Pub: EMR Marc Reift Editions)
Amateur Bb Cornet: Northern Fantasia Op. 20 by Theodor Hoch
Flugel Horn: Rustiques by Eugene Bozza (Pub: Alphonse Leduc)
Tenor Horn: Bad Spirit by Damien Lagger (Pub: Marc Reift Editions)
Baritone: The Healing Power of Flame by Tom Davoren (Pub: Studio Music)
Euphonium: Carmen Fantasy by Georges Bizet arr. Luc Vertommen (Pub: Band Press)
Tenor Trombone: Fantaisie pour Trombone Tēnor by Sigismond Stojowski (Pub: Alphonse Leduc)
Bass Trombone: Allegro Maestoso by Jan Koetsier (Pub: EMR Marc Reift Editions)
Eb Bass: Allegro Fuoco by Roland Szentpali (Pub: Editions BIM)
BBb Bass: Rhapsody for Euphonium by James Curnow (Pub: Winwood Music)
Contest entry forms will be out on Tuesday 4 March with contest entries closing on Saturday 3 May.
General Contest Schedule (will be updated in mid-May)
Wednesday 2 July: from 10.00am, Under 15, Junior and Masters solos, all percussion solos and ensembles, Open Brass Ensembles, Junior Champion of Champions (5.00pm) and Invitation Slow Melody (8.00pm).
Thursday 3 July: from 9.00am, Open Solos, Junior Brass Ensembles and Junior Slow Melody. Open Champion of Champions (7.30pm).
Friday 4 July: A, B and C Grade Sacred item and Test selection. Youth Band contest (TBC).
Saturday 5 July: A, B and C Grade Own Choice selection. D Grade Band contest.
Sunday 6 July: Parade of Bands Street March from 11.00am.
For more information, please contact Contest Administrator bbanzeo@gmail.com or Contest Committee Chair Graham Hickman
festivalofbrassnz@gmail.com
