Melbourne’s Advent Brass under the baton of guest conductor, Dr Matthew van Emmerik have competently won the open C grade Brass Band Championships held in Ballarat Victoria on 18th August 2019.
Advent Brass was formed in 1925 by William John Gilson (WJ) and has a long history of serving the church and community through music.
Programs include; church services, aged care concerts, charity concerts, Christmas festivals and other church and community outreach projects.
The band, resplendent in their black and white trim uniform, competed against five other “C” Grade bands and was fortunate on this occasion to be awarded first place overall and crowned “C” Grade Champions of Victoria 2019.
The contest included, Hymn, Test Piece, March and Concert Item. For our hymn we chose Peter Graham’s arrangement of Swedish Folk Song, “How Great Thou Art.” The adjudicator commented “I hardly heard playing in the “A” Grade hymn selection like Advent’s rendition of the Swedish Hymn in “C” Grade, astounding. Quality of the band playing was quite extraordinary given it is “C” Grade. Warmth and lyricism of the band is a strong aspect and strength for the whole ensemble”.
Thanks to our team effort of all 39 players on stage which included several of the youth from the junior band, some as young as age ten years, this was all made possible by the dedication and commitment of our Musical Director, Reynold Gilson.
Congratulations Advent Brass, Victorian “C” Grade Brass Band Champions 2019.
Adrian Lawrence