We are the 2025 CPBBA’s Champion’s

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Aaron Hannah
Earlier this month, the Band competed in this year’s CPBBA’s contest, held at Cashmere High.
With a great lineup of bands and some fantastic performances,
we managed to come away with
1st in Hymn,
1st in Test Piece,
2nd in Stage March,
and 1st in Entertainment.
This made us this year’s D Grade Champions.
Today we also had several band members competing in the Solo and Duet events, with two from our learners’ group competing for the very first time.
The Band is buzzing, as this is the first time we are the NZ and Canterbury D Grade Champions at the same time.
We have to thank our Musical Director, Lachlan Grant, for his leadership and the way he makes everyone feel included, making band practices fun and enjoyable. We are so lucky to have this young man as part of the New Brighton Silver family.
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Out in our Community

Posted on September 1, 2025 by Aaron Hannah
Sunday morning saw the Band out braving the cold and wet weather at the Eastern Community Sport and Recreation Community day.
This was also the first time our learners group joined the Band, who supported them on a couple of awesome tunes (which they did a great job on, well done guys!). This year’s MAPS boys also played on this cold rainy winter’s day, weather they are not used to, but the Band really enjoys them being part of the New Brighton Silver family.
We would like to thank Jack McKenzie for stepping in for this concert to cover as Musical Director while Lachlan was away with the NZ Army Band.
📷 Mike Gibbs
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The Bands 2024-2025 AGM

Posted on August 12, 2025 by Aaron Hannah
Wednesday 23rd July saw the Bands’ 2024-2025 AGM and Prize Giving.
It was a great reflection on what a successful year the Band has had, and a look forward to discuss what the Band has planned for the upcoming months.
The night started with our Supporters Club’s AGM which is aways short, sweet and entertaining.
It was followed by the Band’s AGM and Prize Giving, and a delicious supper thanks to our Supporters Club.
This coming year the Band will have a new President, George Haywood, who was new to the Band’s committee last year. The Band would also like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge our outgoing President, Jim Hill, for all the work he has done in his time as President.
The winners of this year’s Prize Giving were:
J Wear Cup – Michelle Kirk
J Wear Junior Cup – Zac Canons
M & K Stamler Juniors Trophy – Jack Gibbs
A big congratulations to all our award winners.
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2025 New Zealand D Grade Champions

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Aaron Hannah
We have done it!
What an awesome day! The Band’s Patron, the Honorable Errol Miller, said we are going to win, and win we did.
With loads of placings over the years, the Band today has broken a 110 year drought by becoming the 2025 D Grade New Zealand Brass Band Champions.
The buildup to this fantastic event has been a very enjoyable one, thanks to our amazing Musical Director, Lachlan Grant, who was also awarded Champion Musical Director for D Grade – a thoroughly deserved accolade for his positive leadership and direction in our journey to Nationals.
Lachlan’s cool, calm wit and positive outlook radiated out over the Band to get us the results today.
Thank you, Lachlan!
The Band enjoyed a few drinks and a meal afterwards to celebrate.
The Band would like to thank all our loyal supporters, the Brass Band Association of New Zealand, and all the sponsors and helpers who made this event one of the best in the world.
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Partnership with South New Brighton School

Posted on June 15, 2025 by Aaron Hannah
Back in May, South New Brighton School’s Brass group paid a visit to the Band room and watched the 50’s Up Brass Band practice, which gave the students a taste of the working of a full Brass Band.
This is a new partnership this year between South New Brighton and New Brighton Silver, to build the Brass movement in our community. Some of the students have also started playing in our Wednesday night learner’s group.
Thanks to our President, Jill Hill and Grant Newby, for working behind the scenes to get this program off the ground.
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ANZAC Day 2025

Posted on May 3, 2025 by Aaron Hannah

The Cenotaph in New Brighton was unveiled 99 years ago and the New Brighton Band has been involved in every Parade since then,

 

This year was no exception, and the band was again joined by 10 young men from around the Pacific who are part of the MAP programme run by the NZ Army Band. New Brighton Silver band is the host civilian band for these young men. They paraded with us in there national uniforms and provide an added dimension to this very special day.

 


Drum Major Jim Hill with a band of 32 players led the Parade of returned Service men, Army Cadets. Emergency Service personnel, and the youth groups of our community, including the Prefects from both Avonside Girls and Shirley Boys High Schools along          Marine Parade to the Cenotaph.

 

 

 

Marine Parade was lined with many families who joined on at the end of the Parade to
gather with us at the Cenotaph. Like other places numbers attending ANZAC Day services is increasing and a big crowd was present to participate in the Service.
The band played the anthems, and traditional music, including a Reflective piece and the bugle calls. Special Thanks to our Bugler, Vickie Ward, whom we believe, is the first woman to play the bugle calls in our 99-year ANZAC history.

 

 

 

 

Writeup by Grant Newby                                                                                                                        Photos by Justin Marshall

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City to Surf 2025

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Aaron Hannah
Back in March the Band had its first outing for the 2025 Season playing to thousands at this year’s City to Surf fun run.
This is something new for the Band, and really enjoyed.playing some well known chart hits like Eye of the Tiger, Rocky Theme, YMCA which went down well by all the dancing that was going on.
Another good size band with 36 players including this year’s Map’s boys which was also there first outing with the Band.
It was a very enjoyable day and great to be back out in our community again entertaining all.
          
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Learners first Marching Practice

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Aaron Hannah
Last night Lachlan had some of the Band’s Learners group try a new skill, marching. It’s something the Band has aways done well, with the Band marching on ANZAC Day, at the National Band Contest and the New Brighton Christmas Parade.
We are lucky to have Lachlan driving the learners group, keeping it interesting for the learners so they thoroughly enjoy themselves, and introducing the next generation to the world of brass banding.
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First Practice Back for 2025

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Aaron Hannah
What a great first practice back the new year.
The Band consisted of 35-plus players; the biggest we have had for a year or so (with 10 of these being Trombones).
We welcomed 2 new members, and the return of The NZ Army’s Band MAP Program, with 10 members from around the Pacific Islands joining us this year.
We feel honored and privileged to be asked again to be part of these MAP’s students wider Brass Band experience, and we look forward to another great year with our new Pacific Island friends.
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The Christmas 2024 Season.

Posted on January 11, 2025 by Aaron Hannah

This Christmas 2024 season was another busy one for the Band  with 16 concerts with 19 different time slots with some we are playing twice at the same location in our wonderful community.

Like other years the Band kicked it off with our annual Christmas Concert with The St Albans Community Choir this Sunday night at the beautiful St Paul’s Parish Church in Papanui.

The following Sunday (A beautiful sunny day) at St Aidan’s Community Day with a visit also from Santa. Ruth even court President Hill enjoying a ice cream before hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most  Week nights and every weekend the Band was busy out in the community  providing free Christmas concerts and Church Services.

 St Faiths Church  Carols and Reading Service this is one of the Band’s annual events, which we have been participating in for over 70 years.

The Band loves supporting and playing at St Faiths; not only for the acoustics and beauty of this treasured Church, but also the community values that St Faiths holds.

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The New Brighton Christmas Parade which is another big one for the Band also went well with a smaller band and a very  hot day and a long blow the team did a fantastic job.

 The Band loves getting out in the community and bringing a little bit of joy – doing what Brass Bands do best spreading Christmas cheer in different locations around Christchurch.

The Band has once again had great support from New World Prestons and PAK’nSAVE Wainoni this Christmas, who have let the Band play outside their supermarkets and entertain their customers and our community. Thank you once again for your support this Christmas

And that is a wrap for the Band’s 2024 Christmas season.

With 16 concerts and Church Services this season the Band is now going to have a well-deserved break.

Again the Band would like to thank all our supporters for what’s been a great 2024.

The Band look forward to entertaining you all in 2025 and sharing with you all what we are up to.

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