It was the second annual Brass Celebration held in Orange, with bands from Sydney and Wollongong visiting for the occasion.

Willoughby Band conductor Andy Snell said brass bands were for the young as well as the more mature.

He said the North Sydney-based band had no trouble attracting younger members.

“As far as the stereotype goes, it’s usually older people. But we have an A-grade junior band, and many of those members move up,” he said.

One of the highlights of Mr Snell’s musical career was playing trombone with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band for 11 years and performing with that band in the popular film Brassed Off!.

“I think that helped raise the profile of brass bands,” he said.

This year is big for brass nationally, with about 40 bands set to compete in the National Championships in Sydney next month.

Mr Snell said Cook Park was an excellent venue for Orange’s Brass Celebration.

“Bands have been playing in rotundas in parks ever since they were invented. This used to be the only chance people had to hear live music,” he said.

A concert was also held at Orange Civic Theatre on Saturday night.

The local economy may have even received a boost from the musicians celebrating afterwards, Mr Snell said.

“I believe a couple of the pubs in town are running seriously short of beer after the bands being in town last night,” he said.