EBOP Brass has shone at the National Brass Band National Championships, held in Auckland recently.

This was the first time in four years EBOP Brass as a band have competed in the national event, where there were 34 bands competing from not only New Zealand but also Tonga, Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia.

The competition is divided into five grades and EBOP Brass were in the very competitive B Grade section.

In the individual solo events for the juniors, Danielle Oram successfully defended her title from 2023, winning the junior tenor horn section.

Her brother, Ethan, won the junior cornet section with a very classy performance in a large field of 20 participants.

In the open sections, Andrew Leech was third in the open trombone and 21-year-old Jeshua Oram defended the open Eb Bass section for the third successive year with a magnificent performance of an old classic solo, Fatherland.

Jeshua also competed in the most prestigious event, the invitation slow melody, where he impressed the crowd with his control and musicianship.

On the third day of competition all the bands play a reflective piece, followed the next day by an own choice.

“Our musical director, Andrew Leech, picked an old classic, Plantagenets, that one member of the band performed 43 years ago,” EBOP Brass’ Stephen Clayton said.

“We performed all pieces to a fantastic high standard considering we had many players in the band attending their first contest and were second in all events, scoring 47.5 out of 50 in the reflective section,96 out 100 in the test and 95 out of 100 in the own choice, with a total of 238.5 out of 250.”

EBOP finished second, beating last year’s champion band from Hutt City and .50 of a point behind this year’s champion band, Tupou College, from Tonga.

“This was a wonderful achievement for this band of young musicians.

“When Tonga were announced as the winners, the Crowned Prince of Tonga was there to collect their prizes on the band’s behalf.

“We are so very proud to be the top New Zealand B Grade band.”

EBOP Brass finished fifth in the Street March in the B grade.

Band president and Drum Major Patrick McCarthy said was indeed a memorable contest for the ban.

“To be involved with the band coming together again with these results is so special,” he said.

“We are back in business again and look forward to future contests and to performing for our loyal supporters in the Eastern Bay of Plenty,” said Clayton.