The Hunter Regional Band Championships have been an annual event since 1976 and CNL Brass has been a regular contestant, contesting as a D Grade Band until 1997, as a C Grade Band from 1998 until 2011 and as a B Grade Band in 2012 to 2015.
As a C Grade band, CNL Brass has won the Hunter Regional Band Association’s Formal Graded Section for C and D Grade Brass Bands (in which a Hymn and an Own Choice Item are presented for adjudication) in 1998, 2002, 2008 and 2010. It has been runner-up on six occasions.
It also won the Festival of the Bands Entertainment Section Division 2 (for C and D Grade Brass and Concert Bands), in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and was placed second on four occasions. It gained second place in Division 1 (for A and B Grade Brass and Concert Bands) in 2012, contesting for the first time as a B Grade Band.
CNL Brass was the State Open D Grade Brass Band Champion in 1997 and Open C Grade Brass Band Champion in 1998, 2008, 2010 and 2011. It did not contest this event in 2009. It was unplaced in Open B Grade in 2012 and 2013 and gained 3rd place in 2014 and 2016. CNL Brass was regraded, upon request, to Open C Grade in 2018. The band will contest in this Grade in 2020.
The band has contested the Australian National Band Championships on four occasions, the last being in 2009. Its best result (in the on stage music) was second place in 1997 in Newcastle when it competed in Open D Grade Brass (equal on points but second in the set Test). In the Nationals Street Marching Championships-the Parade of Bands- it was placed second in 1996 and 1997 in the Open D Grade Section. It won the Open C Grade Section of the Parade of Bands at the 2009 National Band Championships, with Drum Major Richard Dray receiving the C Grade Champion Drum Major’s Award.
The band followed its National Marching success with a win in the Hunter Regional Annual Marching Bands Championship, in October. The Regional Marching Championship was held in conjunction with Newcastle’s Annual Mattara Festival Parade. CNL Brass has been Champion brass band in the Mattara Parade on eight occasions. The Mattara Festival Parade ceased to be held after 2011.
The band participated annually in the Brass Festival Challenge Entertainment Contest organised by Gosford District Brass Band from its inception in 2005 until 2013. It presented a winning performance in 2009, was runner-up in 2010 and placed third in 2011 and 2012. The Festival Contest ceased to be held by Gosford City Brass Band in 2015.
It has been a participant in Lake Macquarie Music Society’s October Eisteddfod. The band won the Community Bands Event in 2008 and was runner-up in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
CNL Brass supports the Hunter Regional Band Association’s Soloist and Ensemble Championships, an annual event, held after August or September. Members contest Open and Veterans events as soloists, or combining as duets and ensembles and have had some success, with a several first places in recent years.
CNL Brass 
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