Across the weekend 24-25 August, over 65 bands came together to compete in the 2024 NSW State Band Championships at The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith.

The combined talents of over sixty players from Blue Mountains Concert Band and Mountains Youth Band entered into the Open D Grade Concert Band section and were awarded second place in a close competition with four other bands from the Sydney region and Canberra City.

The band scored a total of 221 points out of a possible 250, just two points away from the first placegetter, and received first place in the test piece playing The Brave by Brian Hogg, which is now a band favourite.

Hearty congratulations go to all our players and especially Lachlan Foster, our Music Director, for this achievement. Support from families and friends was also very appreciated, especially those who watched up compete and those who volunteered to assist the Band Association of NSW run this event across the weekend.

During the livestream of the event by brassbanned.com, the commentator (Tim) was heard to say he absolutely loved the pieces we played, and the way we played them. He even mentioned that he would love to play in our band one day if he was ever in the Blue Mountains. He also gave a shout out to all the soloists; and also how going first at 9:30am in the morning of a competition can be a challenge, but that we didn't let that phase us. Lastly, and probably the most important thing, he loved our uniforms!  

Click here to see the performance. We were the first band to perform, so near the start of the YouTube video.