Sound of brass en route to city

BAND TOGETHER: Brass Wanganui are competing and organising the Central Districts Band Contest this weekend.PHOTO/SUPPLIED 31082015WCSUPBAND

The big, bright sound of brass bands will resonate through Wanganui this weekend.

The city is hosting the Central Districts band competition at Wanganui Collegiate School, with a public performance at Majestic Square on Sunday.

Solo and party events will be held on Saturday and band events on the Sunday, said one of the organisers Bruce Jellyman.

Bands from New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay and Feilding will join Brass Wanganui in the competition.

Palmerston North Brass are the current national C grade champion band and New Plymouth finished third in the B grade at the 2015 national championship in Rotorua.

Band performances on Saturday, with players in age groupings solos and ensembles will be held in Collegiate's music suite and the Prince Edward Auditorium, and entry is free.

The main public event is a band concert on Sunday in Majestic Square starting at noon.

"Members of the public are encouraged to get along and support the bands," Mr Jellyman said.

Prior to that there will be the hymn and test selection and, after the Majestic Square performance, the finale of a half hour concert at the auditorium. Both events are free.

Wanganui last hosted the Central Districts competition in 2011. It involves about 300 people plus supporters.

The adjudicator for the weekend is Auckland brass band stalwart, John McGough, who has been a member of various national bands at youth and senior level, and a national flugel horn champion.