In 2027 Nelson City Brass will celebrate its 170th Anniversary, making it one of the oldest community music groups in New Zealand.  We have therefore been providing quality entertainment to the Nelson area for a very long time. The band performs regularly in civic events throughout the region as the official band of the Nelson City Council.

We currently have three bands operating, our premier senior band, social band and youth band.  Through our youth and school development programmes our members freely give up their time to teach and train young people from diverse and ethnic backgrounds. Over the past seven years Nelson City Brass has had considerable competition success and consequently has been promoted very quickly from the ‘C’ Grade to the ‘A’ Grade, the highest level of competition in New Zealand.  Our members give their time freely for practices (often 2-3 times per week), public performances, attending competitions and teaching our youth.  

Our current senior band ranges in age from 14 upwards, from a wide range of occupations, ethnicities and lifestyles. Our youth programme is vital to the survival of the organisation, resulting in relationships with local Nelson schools to offer free tuition to students that wish to learn brass or percussion instruments.  We also cater for players that do not wish to play at the highest level through our ‘Social’ band.  As we buy new instruments old ones are passed onto learners.