From the clamour of cornets and thunder of tubas, Maitland City Brass Band emerged from the NSW State Championships clutching a bronze medal.
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The ensemble competed in Sydney on Sunday in the C-grade division and was awarded third place for its rendition of Phillip Harper’s Olympus, fourth place for the Oh I Love Him hymn and second for its own choice piece Henry V, earning them third overall.
Band president and euphonium player Lance Turner said the band had been building up and working hard during the past few years and was happy with the results.
“Maitland has a proud history of brass bands since the 1800s and our particular band has been around 50 years,” Mr Turner said.
“We’ve won four Australian championships and a few state ones too.
“We’re always in the top three or four,” he said.
Mr Turner said the wide-ranging repertoire and competitiveness of brass bands gave them an edge unlike any other ensemble.
“You look at the repertoire we play, from Beethoven to Queen.
“Brass bands have an attitude to them, it’s like a sport – it’s an achievement to push hard and to win or get a good result like this,” he said.
Mr Turner said the band would continue to build its repertoire and would was considering throwing its hat into the ring for the national competition which will be hosted in Adelaide next April.
“But it’s a struggle for a little band like us, we do our Bunnings barbecues and we’re always looking for sponsors,” he said.
“To be competitive we need quality instruments, and a top-of-the-line tuba is worth over $20,000 dollars and to cart that to the other side of the country for a competition is hugely expensive.”
The Maitland City Brass Band has recently started a new band for beginner musicians interested in being grown into competitive players.
It is calling for inexperienced and experienced brass players to join its ranks as well as corporate or private sponsors.
Those interested should contact Mr Turner on 0418 830 593 or president@mcbb.org.au