With just 17 days to go, contest preparations are full steam ahead as we go through the final touches of Penlee and our other contest pieces.

Our Musical Director Carissa Davies has been working hard in front of the band and behind the scenes to organise, prepare, and lead as we get closer to contest day.

Carissa, the band really appreciates your dedication and commitment to getting us all ship shape so we can do Feilding proud and indeed ourselves proud in Hamilton.

On the marching front, our Drum Major Stephen Lawton has been busy with the band getting us street ready for the Street March section of the National Contest.

A man with many years of experience leading us down the right path of “covering and dressing, march behind the person in front, mark time, knees up, don’t look around!”

Windy or cold, we went out marching to the beat of Steve, and we are all the better for your knowledge and experience so thank you. PS. Happy birthday young man.

As we get closer to the Contest, its good to remember that with the guidance from Carissa and Stephen, a band is not a band without players. Behind all these stands are musicians that come together to have fun, be serious and enjoy playing music.

That is what makes Feilding Brass, a great band to be a part of.

National Contest is just around the corner and we look forward to maybe seeing you there, but if not hope you can watch it live on https://www.brassbanned.com/

You can contact Feilding Brass via:

feildingbrass@gmail.com
P.O. Box 158 Feilding
027 357 9194

or send us a message on our Facebook page.

May and June, sees Feilding Brass rehearsing solidly for the 2019 New Zealand Brass Band Championships being held in Hamilton this year from the 10th-14th July.

Feilding Brass will be competing in the C Grade section alongside equally capable bands in an event which will see over 25 bands from around NZ playing in grades A-D.

As with any national contest, it consists of Solo and party events starting on Wednesday 10th July, leading up to the band events on the Friday 12th and Saturday 13th July.

On the Friday, bands will play their Sacred Item and Test piece. The test piece for each grade is set by the association so the adjudicator has to listen to many renditions of the same piece to find the one who played the best. Also on this day will be the parade of bands where competing bands will march through the Hamilton streets.

On the Saturday, bands will play their Own Choice piece which each band can choose to best bring out their skills and music-ship.

On the Sunday, there will be a Gala Concert – Featuring Chicago Brass Band, Hamilton City Brass & Guest Soloists Harmen Vanhoorne, Trevor Bremner and Murray Borthwick.

For more information about the contest, times etc, click the link http://brasschamps2019.nz/contest-information

This years Test Piece is called Penlee. It is written about a lifeboat disaster in which 16 people died off the Cornwall Coast in 1981. Click on the link to see Drogheda Brass Band from Ireland playing it onstage. Penlee

This year, the adjudicator for the C Grade competition is Graham Hickman, who started his brass band career in Feilding.

As like last year, this years contest is being live streamed by Brassbanned , so you will be able to see all the action if you can’t be there.

As you can imagine our Musical Director and Drum Major are busily getting Feilding Brass into shape with Wednesday and Sunday rehearsals with every player digging deep to get things done. If you hear us around town making noises, its ok. We will be having marching practice at the old WritePrice supermarket carpark, weather permitting.

The band wishes to acknowledge the support we get from family of our players as contest rehearsal takes up a bit of family time, but is much appreciated as we go and represent the Manawatu at a National level.

The countdown continues…..

You can contact Feilding Brass via:

feildingbrass@gmail.com
P.O. Box 158 Feilding
027 357 9194

or send us a message on our Facebook page.

Coming up in two weeks, on Monday 3rd December at 7pm, Feilding Brass Training Band is having its end of year concert at the Feilding Brass bandroom.

Conductor Catherine Duxfield has been a superstar guiding light for the young ones and not so young ones throughout the year and the concert is the end result of lots and lots of practice and some more practice.

After the concert, feel free to have a chat with Catherine about learning possibilities for your child, or even yourself in 2019.

Look forward to seeing you there. Entry is free.

It’s that time again. Step ‘n Thyme Feilding and Districts Leisure Marching Day is near.

Feilding Brass is pleased to be providing music to the opening of this event from 11am at the Feilding Civic Centre stadium on Saturday 17 November 2018.

Come on down and enjoy the fun of the lady’s marching to the beat of the band.

Coming up this Saturday 10th November 2018 at 2pm, Feilding Brass’ End of Year Concert – A Musical Matinee, is being held at the Feilding Civic Centre, Aorangi Street Feilding.

Under the musical excellence of Carissa Davies, the band has had a good and busy year and this concert is a great way to end a great year.

Come along and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of glorious music.

Tickets are available at the Feilding Information Centre and Door sales on the day.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, and please tell your friends and family.

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Coming up on Sunday 4th November 2018 at 2.30pm, Feilding Brass, Levin & Districts Brass and Palmerston North Salvation Army Brass Band come together for an afternoon of wonderful music making, at the Palmerston North Salvation Army Church in Church Street, Palmerston North.

Each band will play a mini concert, then all 3 will join to play together to finish the afternoon’s entertainment.

Entry is by gold coin donation or canned food.

All proceeds go to the Palmerston North Salvation Army and their food bank.

Look forward to seeing you there.