For the first time ever, three bands from Hepburn Shire are heading to Melbourne over the Easter long weekend to compete at the National Band Championships.
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Each band is required to play four pieces of music in the competition - a march, a hymn, a test piece and an item of entertainment.
Each band is also required to play in a street march.
This is Creswick Brass Band’s second time competing in the national championships, after they competed in 2007.
For Daylesford, however, this is their first time participating in the national competition.
Creswick Band musical director, Katrina Bird, said the national championships were in a different state every year.
“It’s not feasible for our band to compete interstate, although we have had solo performers and small groups at the last two competitions in South Australia and Tasmania.
“With the championships being in Melbourne this year, it was too good an opportunity to miss to get the whole band to perform. We’ve been working hard and we’re very excited.”
Creswick Band secretary, Roger Clark, said both Daylesford Community Brass Band and Creswick Brass Bands would compete in the Open D Grade section of the competition.
Both of the bands have been successful in the last few years, with Daylesford winning second place at the competition in Bendigo last year.
Creswick Brass Band brought home second place at the Victorian Championships and a first place win in Mount Gambier.
This will be Creswick Youth Brass’ second competition, after taking home second place at last year’s Victorian Championships in Ballarat.
The Creswick Brass Band has about 32 members, while Creswick Youth Brass comprises of 26 members between the ages of seven and 18.
The Daylesford Brass Band has 25 members.
Mr Clark said everybody was looking forward to performing.
“It’s great to see so many kids playing brass instruments, learning music and having fun. They are really looking forward to performing.
“It’s quite unusual for one local government area to have three brass bands, and I think this is the first time both Daylesford and Creswick have competed at the same National Championship.
“We’ll both be strongly representing both Hepburn and the Central Highlands. Bring it on.”
The competition takes place in Kew over three days from March 30 to April 1.
