Judge Praises Standard Of N.Z. Bandsmen

Chronicle (Levin), 18 February 1949, Page 5

Judge Praises Standard Of N.Z. Bandsmen

Press Association 1

. (Per

AUCKLAND, JJ-ep. ^ With 41 points out of a possible 4--K.AL Smith!irun.i won tl>e B dat.cprnet championship (opon) for the se(j0"'j suceessive year, at the iNew ea a BrasB Bands Contest. He retainS the Bud Wills Memofial Challehge Shield Oulv. -hS vears of age, Smith earned tlu prai.se of the judges for the standard of hip playiug. • His conlidenee on the stage impresse'd the large audiem'e. r is a memher of a notablor family o musicians. fie won the B flat eorne ehampionship for the first time at the Dunedin ecntonnial eontest last yeai. Dis father is bandmaster of the Bt. TCilda Munieipal Band and his unele. Mr. W. Rmith, was former bandmaster of the Auckland Watersiders Band. He is now waiting to go to England to fulfill a fhree-year contrac-t to write band music. Commenting on the general standard reached at the eontest so far, Mr. Baiie. who has had a wide experienee of bandf in Australia, said: "I think you have more good bandsmen than we have and also have more potential ehampions eoming along. " He added that the standard in the corftet ehampionship was as good as he had seen anywhere. Results with judge 's eomments were:— Trombone Trio: Explaining that the winning trio and one plaeed second played tWo different pieees of musrfi. Alr. Baile said they showed great individuality. They were definite cham : pions and provided a fitting climax to a good eontest. Plae.ings: Auckland Watersiders Silver Band 92pts, 1; Wel lington Waterside Silver Band 86pts, 2; Ashburton >Silver Band 85pts, 8. B Flat Cornet Ohampionship (open): K. G. Smith (St. Kilda Municxpal Band) 41pts, 1; K. Caldwell (Hawera Munieipal Band) 39pts, 2; N. G. Goffin (Woolston Brass Band) 3lpts, 3. The first test selection was held to night and will be followed by the seeond test selection tomorrow evening. The results will then be announced.