Brass band music is truly a part of New Zealand’s cultural heritage. It was introduced to this small country soon after the brass band movement took root in Victorian England. Today almost every city in New Zealand has its own brass band. So it is perhaps not surprising that since its formation over 50 years ago, the National Band of New Zealand has won worldwide acclaim for its brilliant musicianship and technical virtuosity.
The National Band of New Zealand has thrilled millions of enthusiastic listeners at many international events including the 1953 Coronation festivities in London, the Edinburgh Festival, the New York World Fair, Los Angeles County Fair, Canadian Exhibition, Expo 70 in Japan and three Commonwealth Games. It is regarded by a number of authorities as one of the world’s foremost brass bands. The National Band of New Zealand has undertaken 14 previous national and international tours since its inception. Countries visited include the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Greece, Japan and Australia.
Contest successes include the 1953 British Open Championship at Belle Vue, Manchester, three times world Championship Marching Band at the World Music Concourse (WMC), Kerkrade, the Netherlands and winner of the 1978 International Band Festival, Toronto, Canada. At the 1978 World Music Concourse at Kerkrade, the National Band of New Zealand was awarded 3 gold medals with distinction. This was the highest number of medals ever awarded to any group.
In 1992, the National Baand undertook an extensive tour of New Zealand and then of the United States in 1995, before returning home for a number of concerts before dispanding.
It was not until 2003 that a National Band was once again formed, and undertook a North Island Tour that rejuvinated the pinacle of New Zealand banding. In 2005, the band, sporting a number of musicians from the 2003 band, took on the World at the WMC in the Netherlands and placed 3rd in the Brass Band Championship
The high professional standard attained by the National Band of New Zealand makes it difficult to realize that the bandspersons are nearly all amateur musicians. In the past the National Band has been a larger than the 'normal' brass band which features 25 brass and 3 percussionists. The 2003 band had 12 extra brass players and the 2005 band had 8. Under the direction of Howard Taylor, the 2007 band will features only 2 extra brass players.
Music played by the National Band of New Zealand includes symphonic brass works, transcriptions of classical music, light music, marches and instrumental features.
