The band has enlisted the help of Deborah Arscott and Murray Borthwick, who play in the Desford Colliery Band, which won the 2008 All England Masters Championships held in Cambridge two months ago.
Mr Borthwick originally hails from the Waikato, but has been living in England for the past 13 years, where he and Ms Arscott are based in Rugby.
"They say the best brass bands in the world are in England and I went over there because I wanted to see it for myself," the tenor horn player said.
"That was 13 years ago," he said.
"The top 10 bands in England are a different level," cornet player Ms Arscott said.
"Most of their players are professional.
"The St Kilda Brass Band is very, very good internationally.
"There is a similar ratio of players in New Zealand and England, but there are so many more people involved there.
"There are about 100 registered bands here, whereas there are over 1000 in England."
The couple were expecting some keen competition in the championships during the next four days.
"It's just as competitive as playing rugby. Brass musos are very competitive people," Mr Borthwick said.
However, they were confident St Kilda Brass had a secret weapon, in the shape of music director Steve Miles, who also runs the South-ern Brass Academy.
"Steve Miles is a very good guy to have in the middle. He's one of the greatest euphonium players to come out of Britain," Mr Borthwick said.
"Steve's also a very fine teacher and is a big part of the reason music is getting back in the schools.
"He's brought a real professionalism to brass music here.
"There are a lot more youngsters starting to come through now and they're starting to take the principal seats."
More than 30 bands and 250 soloists from around New Zealand will be in Christchurch for the 128th national brass band championships.
The St Kilda Brass Band will be joined by Dunedin conductor Peter Adams, who will be adjudicating the youth, C, and D grade events at the championships.
