Triple success at the Australian National Band Championships

Brisbane Excelsior Band Inc is celebrating a standout weekend at the Australian National Band Championships, with all three of our bands taking the National stage. Excelsior reclaimed the Fireman’s Helmet – awarded to the Premier Grade National Champion – under conductor Howard Taylor, whose return to the podium in 2025 has been pivotal in the band’s continued momentum. A stunning performance of Paul Saggers’ The Falcon in the Snow drew 199 points from the adjudicators and helped seal the title, with the composer himself in the audience having travelled from the UK for the contest.

Brisbane Excelsior Band Inc. President Ross Moloney reported

In a defining moment for Australian brass banding, the Brisbane Excelsior Band has secured its 10th National Premier Grade title in just 21 years, reaffirming its place at the pinnacle of the country’s most prestigious and fiercely contested competition. And on home soil!

After a narrow defeat to Sydney City in Melbourne last year, Excelsior returned with clear intent. The iconic fireman’s helmet, emblematic of national supremacy, was firmly back in their sights. Central to this resurgence was the return of esteemed conductor Howard Taylor in mid-2025, tasked with rebuilding not just a competitive ensemble, but a culture grounded in the band’s enduring ethos of “onwards and upwards.”

The campaign began with authority. Excelsior delivered a commanding performance in the hymn contest, scoring 96/100 with a refined and expressive interpretation of Bozanko’s In This Quiet Moment. This set the tone for a high-calibre showing across the competition. In the set test, Philip Sparke’s A Road Less Travelled provided a rigorous challenge. Excelsior’s performance secured third place, narrowly behind Willoughby and Sydney City, demonstrating both technical command and musical depth in a work recently selected for the 2026 international finals.

The final day brought the decisive showdown. Drawn last, Excelsior faced immense pressure following Willoughby Band’s exceptional performance of Tempest’s Jewel, arranged by Dominic Longhurst, which posted an imposing 198/200. Esteemed adjudicator Russell Gray remarked that the benchmark would be difficult to surpass. What followed was a performance that will be long remembered.

Excelsior’s interpretation of The Falcon in the Snow by Paul Saggers was both technically masterful and emotionally compelling. The work, depicting the ill-fated Antarctic expedition of Robert Falcon Scott, demands not only precision but narrative depth. Excelsior delivered both in abundance. Outstanding solo contributions from Benjamin Tubb-Hearne (solo horn) and Jake Mirabito (bass trombone) underpinned a remarkable 199/200 score for the own choice performance, only the second such mark achieved by the band in its history, the first being Paganini in Adelaide in 2005.

Despite this near-perfect score, the title wasn’t secured by the own choice. Excelsior delivered a rousing performance of O.R.B., sealing victory by three points overall. Willoughby Band placed second, with Sydney City third, in what many have described as a world-class Premier Grade contest.

The wider organisation made its mark too. Windsor Excelsior placed fifth in B Grade, and the newly formed Lutwyche Excelsior took to the National stage for the first time in D Grade – a milestone for a band still in its inaugural year. Individual honours rounded out the weekend with Jaime Fixter winning the National Soprano title and Ross Moloney the National Baritone.

Looking ahead, we’re proud to be launching our new academy junior band, opening the door to the next generation of brass players in Brisbane. If you’d like to be part of what comes next – as a player, supporter or audience member – follow us on social media for all the latest, or get in touch about joining one of our bands. There’s a seat for every level.