Marlborough District Brass Band

Marlborough District Brass Band was formed in 1845 making it arguably the oldest Band in New Zealand.

Like most bands of the time, Marlborough Band began life with army affiliations, initially under the name "Blenheim Citizens Band", later "Blenheim Garrison Band" and later as the "10th Mounted Regimental Band" and the "2nd Marlborough Battalion Band".

In 1962 ties with the Army were severed, new affiliations were formed with the Blenheim Borough Council, and the Band became the "Blenheim Municipal Band".

Marlborough District Brass Band still proudly wears the stag hat badge of the Mounted Regiment and Marlborough Battalion.

In 1993 the name was changed to "Marlborough District Brass Band" to better reflect the whole area the band serves and its main sponsor, the Marlborough District Council.

As the province's District Band, members are kept busy performing at civic and public events such as Anzac ceremonies, Festival events and civic functions as well as staging two or three major concerts each year. The age of playing members of the Band ranges from about 9 to 79 years.

After winning the New Zealand "B" Grade championship for two consecutive years, in 2002 the Band was promoted to "A" Grade. Marlborough District Brass Band competed for the first time in the "A" Grade in July 2003, at the Rotorua National Championships, finishing a very creditable 5th place.

The Band purchased a full set of new instruments 1995 with funding from local grants, and an ongoing purchasing programme has maintained the Band's instruments in good condition.

In 2001 the Band opened new band rooms. The new band rooms are spacious, incorporating practice and social rooms as well as two band rehearsal rooms and two leased out dance studios. The new band rooms were financed with local and national grants, and the building, which had previously been three squash courts and associated facilities, underwent extensive refurbishment, carried out by local builders and Band members.

Tendo Japan Visit October 1992

One of the major achievements of the Band was to represent Marlborough and New Zealand at the Asian Disabled Olympics held in Blenheim's Sister City; Tendo, Japan. A 40 strong contingent travelled to Japan and performed a 10 minute marching display on the Olympic Grounds in front of an estimated crowd of 80,000. A reduced version of the display was performed later in Tokyo's Disneyland.

Contest Achievements include:

1976		1st	B Grade Quickstep
		2nd	B Grade Test & Own Choice		New Zealand National Championships - Christchurch
1977		1st	B Grade Champion Band		New Zealand National Championships - Wellington
1978		2nd	A Grade Display March
		2nd	A Grade Test		New Zealand National Championships - Dunedin
1981		1st	B Grade Quickstep		New Zealand National Championships - Wellington
1982		2nd	B Grade Aggregate
		1st	Marching Display
		1st	Hymn & Test		New Zealand National Championships - Dunedin
1984		1st	B Grade Display & Street March
		3rd	B Grade Aggregate		New Zealand National Championships - Nelson
1985		1st	B Grade Street March
		2nd	B Grade Test		New Zealand National Championships - Wanganui
1988		1st	B Grade Own Selection		Australian Bicentennial Championships - Sydney
1992			Champion Marching Band of Australia
		2nd	B Grade Test Selection		Australian National Championships - Sydney
1993		1st	B Grade Marching Display		New Zealand National Championships - Wanganui
1994		2nd	B Grade Display & Street March		New Zealand National Championships - Invercargill
1995		3rd	B Grade Aggregate		New Zealand National Championships - Rotorua
1997		3rd	B Grade Aggregate		New Zealand National Championships - New Plymouth
2000		2nd	B Grade Aggregate		New Zealand National Championships - Christchurch
2001		1st	B Grade Champion Band		New Zealand National Championships - Wanganui
2002		1st	B Grade Champion Band		New Zealand National Championships - Invercargill
2003		5th	A Grade Aggregate		New Zealand National Championships - Rotorua
2004					New Zealand National Championships - Christchurch
2005		4th			New Zealand National Championships - Wellington
2006		3rd			New Zealand National Championships - Dunedin

Next Contest: North Shore - 2007