The University of Adelaide, Easter 2024. Elder Hall and the Scott Theatre, four days, every grade, and Brassbanned streaming the lot live and free in 4K. And what a finish: Brisbane Excelsior reclaimed the Fireman’s Helmet for the first time since 2016 in the closest A Grade result anyone can remember, level on points with defending champion Sydney City Brass and separated only by the higher set work mark. The compere briefly announced the wrong winner. The maths said otherwise. Banding, you magnificent thing.
This is the complete record: every grade, the full placings and points, with our broadcast replays so you can watch any performance again. Results sourced from the official championships and the reports at 4BarsRest and Brass Band Results.
Watch the full broadcast
Two halls across the Easter weekend, plus the Monday solos. Each replay below is a full day’s streaming, settle in.
Hall 1 (Elder Hall)
Friday
Sunday, incl. A Grade
Hall 2 (Scott Theatre)
Saturday
Sunday
Special broadcasts
Monday Solos (Quintet, Cornet, Flugel, Soprano)
A Grade
Elder Hall · Adjudicator: Prof Nicholas Childs Set Work: The World Rejoicing (Edward Gregson)
A photo finish for the ages, believed to be the tightest podium in the event’s history. Brisbane Excelsior, under David Bremner, tied Sydney City Brass on 580 and took the title on the higher set work mark, with their own choice of Titan’s Progress and first place on the hymn doing the heavy lifting. Brisbane Brass finished one point back in third despite topping the set work, taking the Ian Mathers Trophy for the weekend’s highest aggregate as consolation. Bremner’s win made him champion conductor in Australia and New Zealand in the same year, again.
| Pos | Band | Conductor | Hymn | Test | Own Choice | March | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brisbane Excelsior | David Bremner | 96 | 194 | 195 | 95 | 580* |
| 2 | Sydney City Brass | Jason Katsikaris | 92 | 193 | 198 | 97 | 580 |
| 3 | Brisbane Brass | Alan Spence | 95 | 196 | 194 | 94 | 579 |
| 4 | Willoughby City Band | Dominic Longhurst | 93 | 193 | 193 | 90 | 569 |
| 5 | Darebin City Brass, Preston | Andrew Snell | 90 | 190 | 193 | 91 | 564 |
| 6 | Footscray Yarraville City | Louisa Lawless | 87 | 187 | 192 | 92 | 558 |
| 7 | Kensington & Norwood Brass | Timothy Frahn | 85 | 184 | 189 | 89 | 547 |
| 8 | Tanunda Town | Thomas Ludi | 85 | 185 | 188 | 88 | 546 |
| 9 | Glenorchy City Concert | Simon Reade | 83 | 183 | 190 | 88 | 544 |
| 10 | Glenferrie Brass | Phillipa Edwards OAM | 84 | 184 | 187 | 87 | 542 |
*Where totals tie, the higher set work mark takes precedence.
B Grade
Adjudicator: Barrie Gott Set Work: Keystone (Thierry Deleruyelle)
Marlborough District Brass carried the B Grade title back across the Tasman for the first time since 2008, topping the own choice with Cap Hoorn under Robin Randall, then winning the Parade of Bands march contest for good measure, with Denis Teeling named Champion Drum Major. Brisbane Brass 2 made it a fine weekend for their organisation in second.
| Pos | Band | Conductor | Hymn | Test | Own Choice | March | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlborough District Brass | Robin Randall | 93 | 186 | 189 | 95 | 563 |
| 2 | Brisbane Brass 2 | Elena Katahanas | 92 | 184 | 188 | 94 | 558 |
| 3 | Boroondara Brass | Daniel van Bergen | 89 | 182 | 187 | 96 | 554 |
| 4 | Geelong West Brass | Jeff Steele | 96 | 187 | 178 | 92 | 553 |
| 5 | Willoughby Brass No.2 | Dominic Longhurst | 95 | 185 | 179 | 91 | 550 |
| 6 | Canberra Brass | Veronica Boulton | 87 | 181 | 181 | 93 | 542 |
| 7 | Townsville Brass | Dr Mark Smith | 90 | 180 | 165 | 87 | 522* |
| 8 | Marion City Band | Aaron Madden | 86 | 179 | 167 | 90 | 522 |
| 9 | Box Hill City | Simon Brown | 88 | 178 | 174 | 82 | 522 |
| 10 | City of Greater Dandenong | Jamie Lawson OAM | 91 | 183 | 159 | 88 | 521 |
*Three-way tie on 522: the higher set work mark takes precedence.
C Grade
Adjudicator: Prof Nicholas Childs Set Work: Saul (Shelly Spencer)
A first senior national title for Whitehorse Brass, and they did it in clean-sweep style under Broden Ford, topping every element on the way. Not bad for a band only formed in 2015 within the Box Hill City Band organisation. We cornered Broden on the run if you’d like to meet the man himself.
| Pos | Band | Conductor | Hymn | Test | Own Choice | March | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitehorse Brass | Broden Ford | 85 | 185 | 190 | 90 | 550 |
| 2 | Wodonga Brass | Fenella O’Sullivan | 84 | 184 | 189 | 88 | 545 |
| 3 | Western Brass | Jared McCunnie | 83 | 183 | 186 | 84 | 536 |
| 4 | Moonee Valley Brass | Dean Hughes | 79 | 179 | 188 | 87 | 533 |
| 5 | Enfield Brass | Geoff Magin | 81 | 181 | 183 | 78 | 523 |
| 6 | Creswick Brass | Katrina Bird | 75 | 177 | 182 | 82 | 516 |
| 7 | Salisbury City Band | Adrienne Meikle | 80 | 180 | 177 | 77 | 514 |
| 8 | Warriparinga Brass | Jay Helbers | 75 | 175 | 175 | 76 | 501 |
| 9 | City of Greater Bendigo Brass | Cally Bartlett | 76 | 173 | 176 | 75 | 500 |
D Grade
Adjudicator: Barrie Gott Set Work: Neverland (Christopher Bond)
Hyde Street Youth Band retained their title in commanding fashion under Phillipa Edwards OAM, with encouraging performances behind them from Eaglehawk Citizens’ and Boroondara Harmony Brass.
| Pos | Band | Conductor | Hymn | Test | Own Choice | March | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyde Street Youth | Phillipa Edwards OAM | 81 | 163 | 187 | 90 | 521 |
| 2 | Eaglehawk Citizens’ Brass | Ken Wellard | 76 | 161 | 176 | 87 | 500 |
| 3 | Boroondara Harmony Brass | Robyn Lowenstein Waugh | 75 | 158 | 168 | 85 | 486 |
Junior Grades
Junior B Grade (Set Work: Partita for Brass Band, Edward Gregson): Hyde Street Youth completed a title double, 557 points under Andrew Wilson and Bethany McAuliffe-D’Rozario, ahead of City of Wollongong Junior Brass on 515.
Junior C Grade (Set Work: The Castle by the Sea, Jay Helbers): Box Hill Academy Brass, conducted by Lauren Innes, gave an excellent account for 549 points.
Champion of Champions
The Blue Riband Yamaha Champion of Champions title was retained by the evergreen Kevin Hickman of Sydney City Brass, playing William Himes’ Jubilance on cornet. The Junior Champion of Champions went to Harry Kane of City of Wollongong Junior Brass. Both contests ran as part of the Monday solos, replay above.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2024 Australian National Band Championships? Brisbane Excelsior, conducted by David Bremner, won the A Grade title and the Fireman’s Helmet, tying Sydney City Brass on 580 points and winning on the higher set work mark, in what is believed to be the closest result in the event’s history.
Where were the 2024 Australian Nationals held? At the University of Adelaide over Easter, 29 March to 1 April 2024, with Elder Hall and the Scott Theatre as the two contest venues.
Who won the other grades? Marlborough District Brass (B Grade, the first New Zealand win in the grade since 2008), Whitehorse Brass (C Grade, a clean sweep), and Hyde Street Youth Band (D Grade, plus the Junior B title).
Where can I watch the 2024 Australian Nationals? Brassbanned’s full 4K replays from both halls and the Monday solos are embedded above, free to watch any time.
New to contesting? Read how brass band contests work, meet the instruments, and start at the very beginning with what is a brass band?
More championship replays
- 2026 Australian National Band Championships
- 2025 Australian National Band Championships
- 2025 New Zealand Brass Band Championships
- 2024 New Zealand Brass Band Championships
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