Timaru played host to a weekend filled with music, marching and some emotional moments at the 132nd New Zealand Brass Band National Championships.

The event culminated in the Band of the Year competition yesterday, in which the Alpine Energy Timaru Brass Band premiered a piece composed by conductor Dwayne Bloomfield to commemorate the Canterbury earthquakes.

The piece, entitled 7.1, was accompanied by a digital slideshow of photographs of earthquake devastation. "It was a very moving experience for everybody," Timaru Brass player and organising committee member Kent Smith said.

Timaru Brass member Anthony Smith won Soloist of the Year honours.

The Band of the Year title went to Woolston Brass, of Christchurch, who were champions in the A-grade category for the fourth consecutive year.

Timaru Brass took top honours on Friday in the B-grade category of the Street March competition, and also won a prize with a special meaning for the ensemble.

For the first time the band sponsored an award for Champion Drum Major in the B grade, in memory of Keith Manning, a former Timaru Brass and National Band of New Zealand drum major who died last year.

That prize will stay in Timaru. It was won by Timaru Brass drum major Todd Turner. "We were hoping we would win it, to be the first name on the trophy," Mr Smith said. "And we did."

Mr Smith said organisers had heard lots of positive feedback about this year's event, and had received great support from Timaru residents and businesses.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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