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2003 4BR Awards: Band of the Year

Read our nominations below for the above category. To vote, follow the links at the bottom of this page.


Last years winners were the Fodens Richardson Band who capped a fine 2002 by taking the top award for the very first time. However, this year they haven’t made it to our short list (although you can of course still vote for them) as even though it hasn’t been a year of domination by any one individual band, there have still been a handful who have once more led the field. The major contests perhaps proved that the difference between the very best bands in the business is now miniscule, although it was refreshing to see the likes of Leyland, Whitburn and Tredegar both win and come very close to claiming the biggest prizes – their efforts were outstanding and showed that on the day the top 10 or so bands in the 4BR ranking are more than capable of winning the big prizes. Still, we had to make our choice, and these were our top five from the past 12 months.


alan withingtonFairey FP (Music) Band

The beginning of 2003 was a time of great stress and uncertainty for the then 2002 National Champions. The loss of their long-term sponsorship meant that they took the somewhat unpopular decision not to compete at the European Championships in Bergen, whilst they failed to dislodge their perennial rivals Fodens at the North West Regional Championships.

Come the Masters though things were picking up, as Allan Withington had been signed as their new MD, and although they could only manage 9th place there, further good news meant that solid long term sponsorship had been secured from FP Music.

The Open saw them approach their very best form (only a few haywire bars possibly cost them the title) and they came 4th, before they headed to London and for the first time in their history they retained the National Championship title.

It wasn’t their greatest ever winning performance, but given what they faced at the beginning of the year, you couldn’t begrudge them their victory in any way shape or form. The Flying Fox is back.


bob childsBAYV Cory
When a band’s contest record for the year reads Won 1, Lost 3, you may think it a bit odd that they should be nominated for the title of “Band of the Year”, but BAYV Cory came as close as any band could to adding to their Welsh Regional title in 2003 with a series of performances on the contest stage that were quite outstanding.

In addition they also produced perhaps the best major concert performances of 2003 and produced a couple of the best CD releases. Their Welsh win was awesomely efficient, whilst their two performances in Bergen when their fought toe to toe with YBS over the European title will live long in the memory banks for those fortunate enough to have been there.

It was like watching a musical version of the Ali/Frasier boxing epics – two great heavyweights giving their all, with just the narrowest of points difference in the end to separate them.

The Open saw them rather harshly placed 6th after a performance of real quality and cleanliness on a day when the error count from their rivals was high to say the least, whilst at the Nationals they once again gave their all only to come3rd.

The professionalism of the band though was something else, and their concert performances at the Open and the Nationals were outstanding, whilst they also had the time to produce a couple of CD’s of the very highest quality. Some band.


david kingYorkshire Building Society
Winners of the European Championship for the fifth time in a row, and the seventh time in eight years, plus British Open Champions for the fourth time in seven. Given that they just missed out on making it a third victory at the All England Masters by a point, 2003 was a tremendous year of achievement for David King’s band.The disappointment of course will have been the failure to even qualify for the National Finals after coming 6th at the Yorkshire Area, but any band who can be upset with two major championships in a year and a very near miss in a third, must be very special indeed.

The European was perhaps an even greater victory than that later in the year at Birmingham. YBS were challenged not just by a truly inspired BAYV Cory but also by Willebroek who also pushed them to the limit. It was an epic victory. The Open was perhaps a touch more predictable (especially after Shoena White filled the hall in the opening few bars), but it was still stunning playing nevertheless and perhaps made up for missing out in Cambridge by the narrowest of margins.In addition they also took time to produce a stunning CD of perhaps the most difficult music ever with their “Bourgeois in Brass” release and gave a corking European Gala Concert performance to boot. If only they could have made it to London.


frans violetWillebroek
This is the second year in succession that we have put forward the name of Willebroek in this category – and for the second year in a row, it is thoroughly well deserved.

Just a couple of weeks ago they once again showed that they are the best band in Belgium by winning their National Championships for the third year in a row, but just like 2002 they could have well been deserved winners of the European Championships.

In 2002 they were beaten by an inspired YBS, and in 2003 in Bergen it was only BAYV Cory and YBS again playing to a standard that couldn’t have been bettered did they miss out to come third.

Their performance of “Aubade” was excellent, whilst their scintillating performance of “...Dove Descending” when the playing of the middle “Nativity” section, was magical.

They may not be a “rehearse week in week out” band in the traditional British mould, but when they do come together nowadays they are as good as any – and in 2003 they showed just that.


Stephen CobbInternational Staff Band of the Salvation Army

Not a single contest performance we know, but throughout 2003 the ISB once more showed the general brass band world what a tremendous band they are.

Superbly directed by Stephen Cobb, they produced performances at over 20 full weekend visits to Salvation Army Corps, as well as major general banding concerts and CD’s that were always of the very, very highest class.

We managed to hear them on a number of occasions – most notably at the Eric Ball Centenary Celebration Concert in Nottingham where they produced playing of exceptional quality in a most demanding programme, whilst their CD releases included the excellent “Kingdom Triumphant”.

This is a band with a beautiful tonal quality, a tightness of ensemble playing that even the best contesting bands would die for and soloists who could walk into any band in the country.

However, it is the way in which they approach their music making that fills you with joy – there is a belief and understanding about the repertoire they play, transmitted from the tip of the MD’s baton right down to the bottom Bb bass player. It marks them out as a very special indeed, and during 2003 they performed to a level they themselves have rarely bettered.


Previous winners:
2002:
Fodens Richardson
2001: Yorkshire Building Society

That’s our five nominations for you to chew over then, although we know there could be quite a few more both from the UK and abroad who could have made it to our own short list. If you think your band should be the winners then send us your votes and we will see how much support they get.© 4BarsRest

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