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ARTICLES

 

National Bands: It had to come didn’t it? A full round of Regional Championships has given us the excuse to dive in head first and start an argument that should have bandsmen and women airing their opinions for a few months at least.

We have decided to choose our International Teams from each of the Home countries based upon the performances of players in each of the Areas - We couldn’t do the Irish Team because there’s not an Area Championship - but we are open to someone putting forward their dream team from the Emerald Isle.

England

Scotland

Wales

 

Other countries submitted:

Norway

The criteria used was very severe though. We decided that the players had to be born in the country they represent and currently play for bands in the country they represent. We were a bit more lax on the Musical Director front – as you can see. We know it’s unfair – especially to the band of Welsh and Scottish players doing missionary work in the dark continents of Yorkshire and Lancashire, but that’s what we decided - so there.

Next month we will release our new list of exile players who we think would strengthen the current choices, and we welcome anyone’s suggestions for line ups from France, Belgium, USA, Australia, New Zealand etc... to take on the best of British.

Oh finally! If we ever make any money from this site, we will sponsor the first Six Nations Brass Band Contest or even sponsor a band of British Lions to go and compete in the Southern Hemisphere – just like those New Zealanders did all those years ago.

We want to know your opinion on our selections. We know we haven’t pleased everyone or anyone for that matter – but that’s not the point. It’s to get you all talking.

Hope you enjoy our choices.


England: by Simon Gresswell

When asked to come up with the best band in England made up of outstanding players in England, my first reaction was “no problem” that’s until I started to put down names on paper. I now know haw many foreigners we have playing in the top bands in England.

I’m no Sven Goran Eriksson but I have tried to use a bit of tactical awareness in coming up with my choices.

Position

Players

Principal Cornet:

This for me was an easy choice - Roger Webster Black Dyke cornet player supreme. Roger needs a good team under him so I have tried to find “specialists” in the given positions.

Solo Cornets:

All are principles in there own band and I feel we will have a super front row of Roger Webster, Richard Marshall Grimethorpe, Stuart Lingard YBS, and Mark Wilkinson of Fodens

Soprano:

Peter Roberts of YBS gets my vote. Sorry Alan Wycherley this one was hard but I feel Peter gives the band that extra “Zing” at the top end.

Repiano:

Over the last decade I feel Lee Rigg of Faireys proved himself the master of the art so even though he is now co principle of Faireys he gets my vote.

2nd Cornets:

Specialists in the true sense of the word. Graham Williams Faireys and Hayley Moore of YBS

3rd Cornets:

I like the root of a cornet section to have some real power so I have gone for what I consider to be the two best third cornets at my disposal Steve Peacock and Colin Brooke of Grimethorpe

Flugel:

Based on some wonderful playing in a recent concerts in Ireland recently, my vote goes to Helen Fox of Fodens who has now well and truly settled into her new position

Solo Horn:

Paganini of the Horn William Rushworth of Rothwell gets my vote as principal.

1st & 2ndHorn:

On the other horn seats again, a bit of tactical know how and I have gone for specialist tutti horns Simon Jones of Faireys and Mark Bentham of Brighouse

Solo Euph:

Morgan Griffiths of YBS is despite the name, as Yorkshire as they come. This guy really lets the Euph sing at the top of the band

2nd Euph:

David Thornton of Black Dyke will add more than ample support to Morgan and this team should team up perfect on Duets

1st Baritone:

Margi Antrobus of YBS gets my vote - she could play for either Norway or England but we have been alerted to the fact that her Dad is English. I for one am pleased about that

2nd Baritone

Robert Blackburn of Black Dyke gets the nod. He and Margi are two people who don’t make a Baritone sound like a “Barking Iron”.

Troms

Nick Hudson of Faireys, Brett Baker of Black Dyke and Mark Frost of Stalybridge. This is a real power section with such dexterity

Eb Basses

Jon Davies of YBS is the finest thing I have come across behind an EEb Bass and he will be more that ably backed up by Phil Green of Fodens who is a very intelligent player at the top of his art form

Bb Basses

Dean Morley of Fodens and Simon Gresswell of YBS (I am still registered) would make the mushrooms in the Albert take off! Real quality players (even if I say it myself), who provide a very firm foundation to any band

Percussion

David Hartland Grimethorpe
Chris Starr YBS
Chris Wood Dyke
Mark Arnold Grimethorpe

David Hartland is a man of many voices and tricks he gets my vote for not only being a great player but good fun to go with it

Chris Starr can read anything at first sight. One bonus is that he can tune a set of timps just perfect.

Chris Wood is in for all round ability. When he was a member of YBS we called him the “Gimp on the Timp” he has come a long way since then. I remember him telling David King he was leaving YBS. He said to Dave “Sorry I am leaving, but I am afraid that’s life” David replied in his Aussie twang “No mate that’s your life”

Mark Arnold is a fine kit player for those jazzy moments. He would also be the section organizer.

 

 

Conductor:

James Watson - He's been away for far too long from the world of brass bands. Surely this line-up will whet his appitite for a return.

We have players all at the top of their form, ready and willing to take on any band in the world. Hope you have enjoyed my selection.

Simon Gresswell

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Norway: by Ole Gunner

This is a pretty good line up from Norway and as anyone who has heard any of the bands named in competition over the past few years will surely agree, this would be hell of a band to beat at any contest.

Position

Players

Principal Cornet:

Jane Westervick . (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag). Principal at the band since 1988 and a brilliant player with style and classic cornet sound. Some player!

Solo Cornets:

Rune Gundersen. (Stavanger Brass Band), Hans Christian Nystad. (Sandefjord Brass Symposium), Svein Henrik Giske (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag).

Three great players to give Jane the support. Rune was with Manger for nearly 18 years before moving to Stavanger and is a great player, whilst Hans has been principal at Sandefjord since they started in 1987. You will get to hear his abilities this year in Switzerland. Svein has been with Eikanger since 1995 and has been a professional trumpeter since 1996, but has still stuck with the band.

Soprano:

Frode Rydland. (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag). Sop player with the best band in Norway since 1990, and a man who fully justifies his position as the best in Europe.

Repiano:

Helen Hjartaker - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag). Previously principal with Tertnes Brass she is a beautiful sounding player and a natural for the rep seat.

2nd & 3rdCornets:

Henning Anundsen - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag). Tarjei Gilbrandt – (Oslofjord Brass). Belinda Olsson - (Tertnes Brass). Havard Boe – (Stavanger Brass Band).

A great back row team. Henning has just finished four years at the Conservatoire and has a great sound and technique, whilst Tarje earned his spurs at Salford College and is quickly becoming one of Norway’s best young players. Belinda is a super principal at Tertnes and a great singer and Havard has also done a stint at Salford and played with YBS

Flugel:

Camilla Sjovold - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag).

Anyone who heard her at the European in Birmingham will know she is a fantastic player

Horns:

Monica Vabo Reigstad - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag). Stine Sivertsen (Tertnes Brass). Ingvild Herner – (Krohnengen Brass Band)

Three great players to make up a very strong horn section. Monica is a mother and brilliant soloist, whilst Stine comes from northern Norway and went on horn from the trumpet. Ingvild has been a stalwart with Krohnengen since 1992 and is a great player with brilliant technique

Euphs:

Tormod Flaten - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag) and Roger Naess (Sandefjord Brass Symposium).

Two brilliant players. Tormod is simply the best player in Norway on his instrument and Roger is pushing him very, very close. There won’t be anything these pair couldn’t play

Baritones:

Baritones – Siri Smith - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag) and Are Mangersnes (Manger Musikklag).

Two great players here, with Siri also holding a degree in aqua-engineering to go with the tremendous baritone skills and Are being a solo euph player with Manger before taking up the baritone to great effect.

Troms

Grethe Tonheim - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag), Runar Vaernes (Stavanger Brass Band) and Astrid Lastad - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag).

What a line up! Grethe is simply one of the best trombone players around and Runar is a player of special talents. Astrid was the undoubted star of Eikanger’s European performance in Birmingham in 2000.

Eb Basses

Stale Sleire Johansen - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag), Pal Magne Austnes (Stavanger Brass Band).

Stale joined Eikanger in 1990 and is the fulcrum of the band – a true natural. Pal is the next best thing

Bb Basses

Magnus Branseth - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag) and Kjell Mikkel Vik (Rong Brass).

What a brilliant sound these can make. Magnus can really pump out volume and great sound and Kjell is still one of the best around even though he is playing in Norway’s Third Section!

Percussion

Stian Villanger (Stavanger Brass Band), Stine Herland - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag) and Haans Petter Vabog (Sandefjord Brass Symposium)

The best three percussion players in Norway. Stian has been playing with YBS and is a very talented kit player. Stine is a great tuned performer and Haans is the ultimate all rounder

 

 

Conductor:

Ingar Bergby and Reid Gilje.

Two of the most talented conductors in Norway and both capable of bringing the best out this band of superstars.

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Team Scotland: by Kenny Crookston

 

Position

Players

Principal Cornet:

Phillip McCann (Whitburn). No explanation required except little known fact number 1 – He’s signed and playing with Whitburn at the next contest. Not likely to stand for any nonsense in his section.

Solo Cornets:

Russell Gray (Dunaskin Doon). No explanation required except little known fact number 2 – He’s signed and played with Dunaskin Doon at the last contest.

Chick Cullen (Whitburn). Spent ten years on Principal Cornet at Whitburn. Still a terrifically strong front row player and a man for the big occasion.

Angus Edmond (Newtongrange). Another one that’s seen a bit of action over the years with Faireys, Fodens and Desford, where he won the National in 1987.

Soprano:

David Prentice (CWS). A strong cornet section needs a strong top and Dave can mix it with the best of them. A fine all round player too.

Repiano:

Eleanor Ferguson (Dalmellington). Lovely lyrical style, recently produced a fine performance in Jazz and would make a great Rep player in any band.

2nd Cornets:

Richard Bromley (Kirkintilloch). Principal cornetist with Kirky who has deservedly won loads of solo prizes, would make a good leader of the lower cornets.

Lee Bathgate (Kingdom Brass). Finally managed to win the Scottish Solo Championships this year after what must have seemed to him like 300 2nd prizes. Principal Cornet with Kingdom Brass.

3rd Cornets:

Les Wood (Kirkintilloch). Highly experienced front row player with Kirky. Would be a powerhouse on 3rd cornet.

David McLeod (Whitburn). Great all round player who could step in on Flugel or Sop if required and do an equally terrific job.

Flugel:

Chris Bradley (Whitburn). Not much doubt here. Possibly the finest flugel player in Britain if the past few years major contests are anything to go by.

Solo Horn:

Iain Fleming (Whitburn). Another one tha’s been around a bit over the years with Hammonds Sauce Works, Faireys, Newtongrange and Whitburn. An outstanding melodic player who possesses possibly the richest horn sound there is.

1st Horn:

Alan Wardrope (Kirkintilloch). Another fine soloist who always plays with great style and technical accomplishment.

2nd Horn:

Chris Ball (Bo’ness & Carriden). A great technical player who has also had a fair bit of success as a soloist.

Solo Euph:

Evelyn Bradley (Whitburn). The undisputed Queen of the Euphonium. Twice Scottish Solo Champion and a great performer at all the major championships over the last ten years or so.

2nd Euph:

Robert Richardson (Kirkintilloch). There’s not much this young man can’t do with a euphonium. Without doubt a real star of the future following his recent move from baritone.

1st Baritone:

Katrina Marzella (Broxburn). Another young player with the World at her feet. Has won all there is to win as a junior soloist but also has great maturity about her playing.

2nd Baritone

Debbie Newby (Kirkintilloch). Very consistent performer with a fine sound and style that will blend well with the rest of the middle of the band.

1st Trom

Mark Boyd (Whitburn). Great sound and style coupled with fantastic technique makes Mark one of the finest trombone soloists in banding.

2nd Trom

Paul Kiernan (CWS). Another veteran who will add great strength to the section, as long as someone can count his bars rest for him!

Bass Trom

Lorna McDonald (Whitburn). Somebody to count Paul’s bars rest for him. Another stylish player who would also be very handy in an entertainment contest.

Eb Basses

Craig Anderson (CWS). Makes playing the tuba sound very easy. A real virtuoso soloist with a fantastic sound.

Andy Duncan (Whitburn). No explanation required except little known fact number 3 – He’s still signed with Whitburn.

Bb Basses

BBb Basses Andy Smith (CWS) & Alan Gourlay (Whitburn). Two guys built to play the BBb, both make fabulous sounds in their own bands and the combination of the two would be awesome.

Percussion

David Lyons, Kirk Richardson, Alastair Rankin. Three freelancers who all play regularly with the top bands in Scotland. No weaknesses in this section whatsoever.

 

 

Conductor:

James Gourlay. Doesn’t live in Scotland, but when did top Scottish bands last use local conductors? However, a horse living in a pig-sty is still a horse and he’s still a highly successful conductor of brass bands who would do a great job with the players named above.

So there you have it. Kenny Crookston’s choice of the current Scottish National Band. A blend of talented youth and utmost experience that would present a very strong challenge against any opposition. Rehearsals would be interesting too!

As you would expect there are loads of good players not selected who could easily slot into the band and do a good job in their respective positions. Loads of good Scottish players plying their trade outside Scotland too. If any of them (Sheona, Graeme, Morven, Sandy.............) want to return home then we will be happy to re-audition them.

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The Welsh Dragons: by G Henry

 

Position

Players

Principal Cornet:

Ian Williams (BAYV Cory). Superb player who is severely underated by those who don’t know much. The best cornet player Wales has produced since Jim Davies – and to us, even better

Solo Cornets:

Roger Boyle (Tredegar):
Mike Jones (Point of Ayr):
Richard Davies (Cwmaman).

Not a bad line up to give Ian Williams some class backing. Roger is developing into a fine player, whilst Mike is real top quality. Richard has proved himself time and time again with Cwmaman

Soprano:

Iwan Fox (Tredegar). OK – he
co-runs the site but is still the best sop player in Wales and one of the best in whole country

Repiano:

Geraint Jones (Northop). Super player with one of the nicest cornet tones around. The ideal person for the rep seat.

2nd & 3rd Cornets:

Jeff Hutcherson (BTM):
Darren Williams (Burry Port);
Kevin Powell (Abergavenny):
Kevin Jones (Tylorstown).

Four super players on the back for us. Jeff is a top class act who can do the double as a quality flugel to boot, whilst Darren is an up and coming talent. The two Kevin’s may play for lower section bands, but they are top section players through and through

Flugel:

Joanne Dean (Tredegar): At the Areas she was head and shoulders above anyone else – and did it twice in a row as well as a dep for Northop Band! One of the best flugel players in the country

Horns:

David Cornelius (BAYV Cory):
Paul Holland (Tredegar):
Tim Malpas (Cwmaman).

As strong a line up in the horn section that you are ever likely to find. Dai has been a top quality player for over ten years both at Cory and BTM and Paul has become a cracking horn player since his spell with Dyke and return to his roots. Tim Malpas would walk into any top notch band with ease

Solo Euph:

Nigel John (BAYV Cory):
Ceri John (Burry Port).

Not related, but two peas in a pod none the less. Nigel has been the top euph in Wales for many years and was quite brilliant in Cory’s twin wins in 2000. Ceri is the future – a brilliant young talent who has got many admirers for his style of playing

Baritones:

Sue Thomas (BAYV Cory):
Ian Morgan (Tredegar).

Sue Thomas is a top class act on the baritone and is perhaps the safest player in our band. Never seems to put a foot wrong. Ian Morgan has returned to top class banding and is an amazing player – can do just about anything you ask him to play

Troms

Chris Thomas (BAYV Cory):
Kevin Gibbs (Mid Rhondda):
Julian Kerrel (Tredegar).

A pretty good team eh? - and one that we think is as good as anything our rivals can put out. Chris Thomas has been one of the countries top trombone players for many years and is a great soloist, whilst Kevin has returned to his roots after a spell in Yorkshire and is a real class act. Mr Kerrel on bass trombone is one heck of a player

Eb Basses

Gavin Saynor (Beaumaris):
Andy Prichard ( Point of Ayr).

Two boys who are real artists on the tuba. Gavin has returned to North Wales and is great player, whilst John has seen it, played it and won the contests on it

Bb Basses

Frazer Bish (BAYV Cory) and Matthew George (Penclawdd)

Two super players to give the depth down below. Frazer has been a quality player and is a big lad with a great sound. Matthew has played at the top and deserves to be heard in a band such as this.

Percussion

Dave Mitchell (BAYV Cory), Bev Rowson (Tredegar): Stephen Harris (Mid Rhonnda).

Dave is the best all rounder in Wales, whilst Bev is the best kit player you are ever likely to hear. Stephen (The Fly) is quite a talent. A top class team this lot

 

 

Conductor:

Mr Howard Snell

Now you may think we’ve gone mad, especially that he lives in the Isle of Man, was brought up in Scotland and has spent nearly all musical life in England - but we believe that he was actually born in Wales in Abertillery!

If we are wrong then we apologise – but if Graham Henry could do it with the rugby team, then we can do it for our band.

We deliberately picked the principal cornets players of the bands in Wales, which may be a bit unfair on some great bumper ups and we could have picked some brilliant players on euph, bari and horn.

However, we think these are the best. All this and we couldn’t pick any of our missionaries in England! Still this is the best home grown talent you are ever likely to come across.

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