The Gunnedah community has an opportunity to see Gunnedah Shire Band perform ahead of the 2017 Yamaha Australian National Band Championships.
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The band will host a pre-nationals concert from 3pm on April 9 at the band hall in South Street.
Over two hours, both the junior and open band will perform pieces from the repertoire to be played at nationals.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to hear the quality of our local musical talent and experience the dynamic sound of a full brass band,” a band spokesperson said.
The band will leave Gunnedah on April 12 to travel to Launceston where the nationals will be held over the Easter weekend.
The junior band will defend the title of Australian A-Grade Junior National Brass Band Championship for the 14th year, and the open band will compete in the Open B-Grade event.
The junior band has 32 members from Gunnedah shire all under the age of 19. The open band has 35 members, with many juniors playing in both bands. Both bands are under the musical direction of Anthony Rowe.
The bands have been rehearsing for the competition since late 2016 for the competition, with each band to perform a hymn, a march, a test piece and an own-choice piece.
Seventeen soloist musicians will compete at the nationals, with National Junior Tenor Horn Champion, Rhiannon Heath to defend her title.
Around 80 people including players, supporters and parents will travel to Launceston, with thanks to Gunnedah Shire Council, Whitehaven Coal, and Lear and Smith for continued support which enables the band to travel to the competition.
Last year the nationals were held in South Australia with the Gunnedah A-Grade junior band scoring 434 points and the Gunnedah B-Grade senior band placing fourth in Open B Grade with 449 points, a mere 10 points behind the winning Booroondara Brass band.
The senior band won the ‘Own Choice’ section with 184 points, and the music section of the Parade of Bands.
The cost of entry for the pre-nationals concert is $25 for a family, $15 for an individual, and $10 for student/concession. No bookings are required.