BAND CONTEST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 110, 22 February 1950, Page 3

BAND CONTEST

CHAMPIONSHIP GRADE FIRST TEST (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 21. A brilliant performance by the Woolston Band gave it a clear-cut win in the first test selection in the championship grade at the New Zealand band contest this evening. The bands played before a packed house in the Civic Theatre. The test music wa-s an arrangement by Malcolm Sargent of Mozart’s “Fantasia in F,” for organ. It was the magnificent treatment by the conductor of the andante movement that put the band a class above its opponents. St. Kilda Municipal Band was second, four points behind the winner, .and the Auckland Watersiders’ Silver Band was third. *» Last evening the hands were placed further back than on Monday. This had the advantage of reducing the volume of tone considerably for the judge and audience. Results yesterday were: Championship Grade, First Test Woolston Brass, 143 points .. 1 S't. Kilda Municipal, 139 points .. 2 Auckland Watersiders’ Silver, 136 points .. 3 Wellington Waterside Silver 133 points, Kaikorai Brass 129 points, Tirnaru Municipal and Wanganui Garrison each 123 points. Solo Events Bass Trombone. —E. B. Sutton (Woolston), 90 points, 1; A. Smith (Auckland Watersiders), 86 points, 2; T. Cairns (St. Kilda), 83 points, 3. Tenor Horn.—-S. Cowie (Hawera), 96 points, 1; R. Paris (Wellington Institute, 93 points, 2; IvT. Smith (Hawera), 92 points, 3. E Flat Soprano Cornet. —J. Herd (Masterton), 94 points, 1; N. Thorn (Kaikorai), 92 points, 2; I. Bassett (St. iKilda), 91 points, 3. Flugel Horn. —W.- Smith (Auckland Watersiders), 95 points, 1; R. McKnight (Ist Battalion, Southland Regiment), 93 points, 2; F. Ormrod (Wellington Waterside), and J. Creagh. (Hawera), 92 points (equal) 3.

Trombone Trio. —Auckland Watersiders’ Silver, 90 points, 1; Ashburton Silver, 87 points, 2; Wellington Water•sider Silver and *' Timaru Municipal each 85 points (equal) 3. Third place in the baritone solo on Monday was gained by A. Jackson, Wellington’ Institute Old Boys’ Band. . The markings for practically all solo events are very high, the winners and place-getters frequently being awarded more than 90 marks. This system of high markiugs flatters the competitors as it is far above placed awards in solo contests in England, excepting in odd sections.