1 February 2005
New Zealand Bands vs Rest of World: Tickets go on sale for the 125th National Brass Band Championships of New Zealand,
Wellington, Easter 2005.
Tickets for the 125th National Brass Band Championships of New Zealand, to be held in Wellington at Easter 2005, are now
on sale at Ticketek outlets (www.ticketek.com), Mike Sander, President of the Wellington District Brass Bands
Association, has announced.
35 bands have entered the 125th National Brass Band Championships of New Zealand, to be held in Wellington over Easter
weekend beginning the Wednesday before with solo and group events.
Mr Sander said:
“This excellent turnout includes four overseas bands: Gothenburg City Brass from Sweden, United Co-Op Yorkshire Brass
from England, and Brisbane City Brass and South Brisbane Federal Brass from Australia. While Australian bands have
competed in New Zealand before, 2005 will be the first time in our history that bands from the northern hemisphere have
come out. The fact that they have done so this year is a solid demonstration of the high standard of competition that
these bands are expecting to face here in New Zealand.”
Over 1200 musicians, plus their supporters, will begin arriving in Wellington on Tuesday 22 March. This is possibly New
Zealand’s largest music festival by participation and will include all the traditional band events, such as a street
march on Easter Saturday 26 March on Victoria Street, Wellington CBD, and the popular Band of The Year event on Monday
28 March. There will also be two new events: the inaugural Youth Band Contest and the Commemorative Concert, marking 125
years of competitions both to be held on Good Friday 25 March 2005.
Tickets are available for all these and other events, ranging from $5 to $21, and include one and two days passes at $10
and $16 for adults and $5 and $10 for seniors and students. All events will be held in the Wellington Convention Centre.
ENDS