Secre- Tary | Brisbane XLCR

Windsor Wins!

October 30, 2004

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Nambour Festival of Brass, 2004

Windsor Brass, their first time contesting the C Grade section, achieved first place in the Concert program and Street March, and second place in the Hymn Tune, cementing their overall victory for the C Grade section which was contested by 8 other bands. In his debut conducting gig, an ecstatic Dale Hosking proudly ventured to the stage to collect the trophies for Windsor Brass. Adjudicated by Bryan Hurdley, this is truly an outstanding victory for Windsor!

Windsor Brass conducted by Dale Hosking

Dale Hosking and Bryan Hurdley

Other solo and enemble results for the weekend include:
U19 Any other Instrument – Imelda Moore 2nd
Junior Ballad – Imelda Moore 1st
Open Ballad – Dale Hosking 2nd, Cathy Spratt 3rd
Soprano – Dale Hosking 1st
Bb Cornet – Brent Hoy 1st, Paula Russell 2nd, Rodney Everitt 3rd
Flugel – Cathy Spratt 1st
Horn – Imelda Moore 1st
Eb Bass – Julie Woods 3rd
Ensemble – XLCR 1st, Windsor Brass 3rd

Brisbane Excelsior Ensemble – Lindon Weise, Imelda Moore, Ben McLeod, Allan Clark, Allan Lonergan

Brisbane Excelsior did not compete in the band events on this occasion.

Brisbane Excelsior record its first CD

September 19, 2004

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On the weekend of 17, 18, 19 September, Brisbane Excelsior went to Ghost Gum recording studios, Cannon Hill to record tracks for their first ever CD. Tracks recorded include Blenheim Flourishes, Breezin Down Broadway, Goff Richard’s new composition American Trilogy, Old Rugged Cross, Praise, Be My Love featuring Ashley Gittins, Fever with Julie Woods on vocals, as well as Barrie Gott’s arrangement Australians in Song. This particular track features vocals from the band as well as a ‘guest’ appearance by Mark Ham.

XLCR Recording session

Phil Johnson and Jason Katsikaris flew to Brisbane for the weekend to help out. Phil on Bb Bass from Woolston in NZ and Jason from Sydney on cornet.

XLCR Vocal group and Mark Ham

It is planned for the CD to be released before Xmas.

Lord Mayors Gala Concert

August 24, 2004

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Russell Gray leads the audience in the Finale of the Lord Mayors Gala Concert, held in Brisbane City Hall.

A capacity crowd of 1600 were entertained by Brisbane Excelsior, The Greater Gwent Youth Band, Russell Gray, the Ipswich Orpheus Chorale, The Highlanders and Irish Dancers.

Rodney Everitt, Brent Hoy, Phil Riesley – the Front Row

For a detailed reveiw, visit 4barsrest.

XLCR Dominate at 2004 Best of Brass

June 18, 2004

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Best of Brass, Maryborough, 2004
Champion of Champions – Steven Pell (Euphonium)

The weekend began with an Excelsior domination of the solo events. In the Senior section, our members won the Soprano section (Dale Hosking), Flugelhorn Horn (Amanda Casagrande), Tenor Horn (Imelda Moore from Brisbane Brass on permit but who is now a member!), Baritone (Brad Hosking), Eb Tuba (Mark Wheeler from Cairns Brass on permit), Bb Tuba (Rick Casagrande), and in the Junior Cornet – Zaac Latter. In all, our two bands had 19 soloists entered. Mark Beilby, our accompanist for the day, was counted as performing 24 times!

Howard Taylor was once again sensational in his leadership of Brisbane Excelsior and Windsor Brass over the weekend. XLCR, along with the Brisbane City Temple band, entertained a packed Brolga Theatre.

……and then also performed the next day earning admirable comments from the adjudicator Ron Prussing.

XLCR and Katrina Marzella

Showing XLCR the way in the Parade of bands was Cameron James, pictured here with XLCR Drum Major, Rick Casagrande.

We were very lucky to have the services of Mark Wheeler who, at the last minute, agreed to help out as Julie Woods was unable to travel to the contest due to illness.

Windsor at 2004 Best of Brass

June 17, 2004

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The weekend began with an Excelsior domination of the solo events. In the Senior section, our members won the Soprano section (Dale Hosking), Flugel Horn (Amanda Casagrande), Tenor Horn (Imelda Moore from Brisbane Brass on permit but who is now a member!), Baritone (Brad Hosking), Eb Tuba (Mark Wheeler from Cairns Brass on permit!), Bb Tuba (Rick Casagrande), and in the Junior Cornet – Zaac Latter. In all, our two bands had 19 soloists entered. Mark Beilby, our accompanist for the day, was counted as performing 24 times!!

Howard Taylor was once again sensational in his leadership of Brisbane Excelsior and Windsor Brass over the weekend.

Windsor Brass were ecstatic with their wins in every section of the D Grade Competition held in Maryborough on the 12-13 June, 2004.

Windsor Brass D Grade Championship presentation

Jeff Herbert, the principle cornet for Windsor Brass, had an outstanding weekend. Not only did he lead the band to success, at 77 years of age, Jeff also performed twice in the solo events on the weekend.

Jeff Herbert

They showed themselves to be the best not only on stage, but also on Parade as seen here – led by Cathy Spratt-Bulloch.

Australian Championships – Launceston, 2004

April 9, 2004

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Brisbane Excelsior Band has returned home from the Australian National Championships in Launceston held over the Easter Weekend.

Amidst highly controversial adjudication issues and comments, Excelsior emerged with a third placing in the A Grade Test playing Cambridge Variations, a third placing in the Hymn (I Know Thou Art Mine), and 2nd in the A Grade Street March. Overall National A Grade Championship Placing – 3rd.

Howard Taylor (Musical Director) and Rick Casagrande (President)

We can also claim to be the highest placed Australian Marching Champion for the 2nd year running.

Brisbane Excelsior on the Street March

Our soloists performed extremely well with ten of our players entered. Ashley Gittins won the National Euphonium Championship whilst Katrina Marzella, who was playing with XLCR whilst on a University exchange from Scotland, won the National Baritone Championship. The entire eupho/baritone section and three out of our 4 tuba players competed. Apart from Katrina and Ashley, others to perform were Julie Woods, Allan Lonergan, Rick Casagrande, Stephen Pell, Brad Hosking, Brenden Wheeler, Bernard Denlay and Dale Hosking.