The Tupou College Brass Band has made history at the 2024 New Zealand National Brass Band Championships, part of the four-day Pacific Festival of Brass held in South Auckland which ended today.
This annual event, renowned for showcasing the finest brass band talent from New Zealand and abroad, saw the Tupou College Brass Band securing a series of prestigious awards, including the highly coveted B Grade Championship Shield. This achievement is particularly notable as Tupou College is the youngest band to compete at this level.
Hosted at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, the festival marked its first appearance in South Auckland, a region known for its vibrant Polynesian community. The festival welcomed bands from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Tonga who competed in various solo, ensemble, and band events.
The Tupou College Brass Band, representing Tonga, delivered stellar performances that captivated both judges and audiences during the last two days of the competition. Their dedication and talent were recognised with multiple awards.
The competition in the B Grade for the Sacred Item, Test Piece and Own Choice Selection items was a tight contest, with Tupou College narrowly securing first place by just one point ahead of Eastern Bay of Plenty in second and Hutt City Brass in third. The emotional intensity of their performances was palpable, bringing tears to the eyes of many in the audience and backstage. Tupou College topped both the Sacred Item & Test Piece items.
In the Street March event, Tupou College Brass Band also emerged victorious in the B Grade category, further cementing their reputation as a young but a fierce force to be reckoned with.
The young Prince Taufa’ahau Manumataongo Tuku’aho accepted the shield award for their B Grade win, Champion Street March trophy and an appreciation award for their participation.
The festival also featured a heartwarming performance by the Tupou Tertiary Institute performers, adding to the cultural richness of the event.
