An Armidale music teacher has helped Sydney City Brass secure a historic fourth-place finish at one of the world’s leading brass band competitions.
O’Connor Catholic College music teacher and Australian champion tenor horn player Bruce Myers performed as first horn at the 2026 British Open Brass Band Championships in Birmingham on September 12.
Sydney City Brass finished fourth among 19 bands competing at Symphony Hall, equalling the best Australian result at the contest in a century.
The result matched the Australian Commonwealth Band’s fourth-place finish in 1926 and was the highest placing by an Australian band since the Newcastle Steel Works Band won the competition in 1924.
Under conductor Jason Katsikaris, Sydney City Brass performed Philip Sparke’s Music of the Spheres.
Foden’s Band took first place, followed by Brass Band Willebroek and Brighouse & Rastrick, with Sydney City Brass finishing fourth.
The Australian band also received The Edrich Siebert Challenge Trophy for its fourth-place result.
Myers, who has played tenor horn since 1986, is the reigning Australian National Champion on the instrument and has been a member of Sydney City Brass since it was formed in 2019.
He balances his role teaching music at O’Connor Catholic College with weekend rehearsals alongside musicians from across Australia.
“Standing on that stage and placing right behind absolute powerhouse bands feels surreal,” Myers shared following the contest.
“After years of playing Edrich Siebert arrangements throughout my brass band journey, holding The Edrich Siebert Challenge Trophy awarded for our 4th-place finish was a true full-circle moment. We left it all out there on the stage.”
Myers has since returned to Armidale, bringing his experience competing on the international stage back to his students at O’Connor Catholic College.
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