Brisbane Excelsior Band
(Published in The Brass Herald)

It's known among the locals as 'Bris-Vegas', but it has been more than just luck that's lead to the Brisbane Excelsior Band's recent contesting form. Testament to this is an invitation for the Band to compete in the All England Masters International Brass Band Championship this May. I delved a little deeper to find out why the sun is shining so brightly over Brisbane.

Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia and capital of the Queensland region, with dozens of theatres, concert halls, galleries and museums. The City is also surrounded by some of the State's major tourist destinations including the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. It comes as no surprise then to learn that Brisbane attracts over five million visitors each year and that since 1980 over half a million Australians from other states have packed up and moved to Queensland. Included in these statistics is the Brisbane Excelsior Band's Musical Director, Howard Taylor. Hailing from the South West of England, Howard started his musical career in the Salvation Army. In 1985 he joined Championship Section Bodmin Town Band where he soon took up the position of Principal Cornet and later Musical Director.

"My original plan was to spend a couple of years overseas, experience banding 'down under' and then head back to the UK," he told me. "But I moved to New Zealand in 1997 and after five enjoyable years conducting Waitakere Brass (winning the New Zealand Championships and three consecutive New Zealand Band of the Year titles) it was time for a new challenge."

"I moved to Brisbane in 2002 and certainly haven't looked back since," Howard proclaimed. "The Aussies say that here it's beautiful one day and perfect the next, it's a wonderful place to live."

One of three brass bands in the City; Brisbane Excelsior was formed in 1912, almost four decades after the first Queensland Band Championships held in Brisbane's Botanic Gardens in 1877. Excelsior, literally meaning 'ever upward', has a prominent and successful history to substantiate its name, gaining A Grade status (the equivalent to Championship section in the UK) in 1929 and remaining at this highest level ever since. In more recent years, Excelsior (or XLCR as it is often abbreviated) have beaten the best in Australia, becoming Queensland State Champions three times in the last four years and winning the Australian National Championships in 2005.

I quizzed Rick Casagrande, the Band's Business Development Manager, how the brass band fraternity operates in the antipodes. "The Australian banding scene is currently all amateur," he revealed. "It's against the association rules to have paid players in the band. Australia has only one major contest per annum, where the stronger bands from each state meet to show their prowess. Each state then has its own 'area' style contest but unlike in the UK, this competition is not a qualifier for the National Championship; any band can participate in the Nationals."

I asked Rick to enlighten me as to what's involved in a typical Aussie contest weekend. "On the Easter Friday evening, bands are required to perform an own choice hymn tune and the set test piece before a drill and marching event on the Saturday morning. The marching is judged but it doesn't count towards the Championship result. Then on the Saturday afternoon the bands play their own choice test piece." A marching competition! That certainly is different to here in the UK.

Someone who has experienced the differences first hand is baritone player Katrina Marzella who, within 24 hours of winning the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist competition, embarked on a six month university exchange programme; swapping the bleak, dreary surroundings of her Glasgow law school for the tropical campus of Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. "I had a wonderful time in Brisbane and really enjoyed playing for XLCR during my time there. It was obviously a little daunting moving so far from home but the Band has some of the most friendly, helpful and enthusiastic people I've ever met, so settling in was no problem."

"Another factor which helped was that despite one or two noticeable variations, the overall banding environment was no different to what I was used to at Whitburn Band. Still, probably the biggest contrast is the weather," she smiled, "going to rehearsals in 40 degree heat rather that the usual chilly 4 is certainly an experience. The bass section in XLCR taking off their flip-flops in rehearsal is a far cry from their West Lothian counterparts slipping off their wellies," she joked.

"I would say that XLCR always strove to achieve the highest musical and technical standards they could and so, from a musical stance, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the band. Howard was an inspiration to his players, and the section in which I played included some top class musicians - principal euphonium was Ashley Gittins, who is the current Aussie solo champion; second euphonium was Brenden Wheeler, who won the BBC Radio 2 competition the year after I did and also played for Brighouse and Rastrick Band at the Open and Nationals; and second baritone was Brad Hosking, who is now solo baritone with the band and a fabulous player in his own right. XLCR are definitely not shy on talent around the stands," she believes. "This is why I think they will greatly impress listeners when they embark on their mini-tour of the UK this year. They are playing at Whit Friday as well as the masters and have a few concerts too. I know that they will be pulling out all the stops for the trip, and would encourage people to go along and support them. In any event, they are all really excited to be coming across and I can't wait to see some of my old mates again!"

Another Brit who has recently performed with XLCR is Principal Trombonist with the Black Dyke Band; Brett Baker. I caught up with a rather jet-lagged Brett (having just returned from Brazil!) and asked him how the Aussie bands fair up to their British associates. "Australia has some fine brass musicians, certainly capable of playing with any of the best UK and European bands. Some of the bands have great technicians within their ranks; the major difference for me is that of the overall band sound and the style with which they tend to play," Brett admits. "XLCR has strong ties to the UK, not just through Howard and Katrina; Paula Russell (former cornet with the YBS Band), Steve Ridler (former solo cornet with Carlton Main and Brighouse and Rastrick) and Samantha McIntyre (former CWS Glasgow) all contributing towards a British band sound. They're certainly not going to the Masters just to make up the numbers."

I asked Howard Taylor how he feels about the Band's invitation to the Masters. "This venture is a huge undertaking for Brisbane Excelsior and we are relishing the thought not only of playing at the Masters but also sharing the concert stage with some of the country's top players and taking in some of the best sights England has to offer on the way."

And what does Howard think about the test piece? "What a coincidence when the piece was announced; Paganini Variations, not only is it a favorite of mine (I'm a big fan of Wilby's music) but it just so happens that the piece helped us achieve our Australian National Champions victory last year. It is always hard trying to replicate or better a winning performance," Howard confessed, "but I believe that the prestige of playing at the Masters will somehow lift the band to new heights. I am under no illusion of the competition we have at Cambridge and having witnessed this personally as a player and conductor, I know it is going to be tough. However I know XLCR can mix it with the best of them and there is no saying what we can do in May. Am I going to change anything from our contest win last year, no, not in interpretation but I will be working very hard on the overall band sound and dynamic contrast within the piece."

It certainly seems like XLCR are keen to make an impact when they arrive in the UK. I am very much looking forward to hearing Howard's interpretation of the test piece and also the incredible array of players he has around him. And with a bit of luck I'll get to visit the band when my brother emigrates to Brisbane with his family later this year!