A new era of London & Southern Counties Area dominance may have begun in Stevenage on Sunday evening, as the rapidly emerging contest force of Friary Guildford lifted the Championship Section regional trophy for the first time in their short 33 year history.
Victory not only sees the band return to the Royal Albert Hall for a third successive year, but also gives a huge confidence boost as they prepare to try and take a step closer to the British Open at the Senior Cup in Blackpool in a few weeks time.
Fine weekend
The top section event rounded off a fine weekend of confident contesting with the region sending strong qualifiers to Cheltenham, led by newly crowned champions, Haverhill, Colchester, BAE Systems and the newly formed City of Norwich.
However, it was all topped by Friary Guildford’s impressive rendition of ‘The Torchbearer’ led by MD Chris King, which not only found favour with the majority of the audience at the Gordon Craig Theatre, but more crucially with the adjudicating duo of Stan Lippeatt and Alan Morrison in the box.
Joining them in Kensington will be Zone One Brass, after the peripatetic ensemble of some of the capital’s finest brass and percussion players delivered an excellent rendition of the set work under Richard Ward.
Compare very well
And on a day when the overall standard of the often much maligned top flights bands here ‘surprised’ the adjudicators; ‘You compare very well to the other sections that have been going on,’ Alan Morrison told the audience — the top two performances ‘stood out’.
It meant that former champion Redbridge had to be content with third place (despite Cliff Pask taking the ‘Best Cornet’ award), with the remaining top six places going to well directed accounts from Staines Brass, Medway (with Tim de Maeseneer, guesting with them from Exit Brass in Belgium, winning the ‘Best Horn’ award) and East London Brass. The ‘Best Euphonium’ prize went to Andrew Porter of Sandhurst Silver.
Great leveller
Stan Lippeatt agreed with his former Grimethorpe colleague: “Torchbearer has been a great leveller that not only tested soloists but everybody in the band. It’s nice that on a piece like this we can reward good musical playing, so don't be surprised by some of the solo awards. It's been a great contest to judge.”
Top two stood out
Meanwhile, Alan added that after four consecutive weekends of either listening or performing the Peter Graham work, he had got to appreciate its intricacies well.
“There are some quite treacherous solo lines and exposed little passages where there are little trios and duets playing,” he said in a consistent echo of his remarks at the Midlands event.
“The players have to listen carefully and the MD has such a crucial job to do to allow the music to connect and flow. It’s been a good contest but the top two bands stood out for us.”
Growing reputation
Following their 2014 Senior Trophy success, the victory adds further substance to Friary Guildford’s growing reputation as a solid top section contender, as a delighted MD Chris King told 4BR.
“It’s been steady progression leading to this result since returning to the Championship Section.
Even though it was not a perfect performance, we are naturally delighted, and it certainly makes it easier for me when speaking at concerts to finally be able to say that we are London & Southern Counties Champion!”
Great rapport
He added: “The band has been developing a lovely warm sound over the last few months and it served us well here, and we hope it will do the same on ‘Festival Music’ at the Senior Cup.
I enjoy a great rapport with the players who work so hard for me and as a result we have become a very consistent band on and off the contest stage. We are delighted at the victory but our aim is to build on it at Blackpool.”
First Section:
The appealing Championship appetiser on Sunday saw 15 rival battle the stern challenges imposed by 'A London Overture', with Haverhill Silver delivering a well structured account under Mark Ager to claim the title for the second time in five years.
They will be joined in Cheltenham by a delighted Fulham, who made a hugely successful step up in class after being crowned Second Section Area champion last year, with an elegantly portrayed account under John Ward.
Contest mirror
In a contest that mirrored much of what has been heard throughout the country, many bands struggling with the imposing technical hurdles — especially the fearsome quartet of cadenzas — although Haverhill’s principal cornet Tim Pannell and their prize winning bass team took away deserved individual awards for their fine contributions.
Behind the qualifiers Jersey Premier Brass showed a return to regional form in coming third, with the remaining top six places going to hard working efforts from Ware Brass, Epsom & Ewell and Becontree Brass.
Chuffed to bits
Winning MD, Mark Ager was understandably delighted when 4BR caught up with him — especially as their return to Cheltenham, and promotion to the top section was achieved on such a difficult set work.
“I'm chuffed to bits to be honest,” he said. “To win here is a great achievement for the band and as it looks like we will be in the Championship Section next year, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
He added: “'A London Overture' was a great challenge, but we have worked so hard for this and I can't thank my players enough for their commitment and superb performance.”
Consistent Fowles
With Jim Davies having to make a quick get away to catch the train due to car problems, it was fellow judge, Michael Fowles, who has judged the piece in other areas, to reveal his consistently themed thoughts and opinions.
Mike once again spoke about ‘consistency’, choices of tempos and dynamics, the difference between ‘excited and exciting’ and the need to remain faithful to the composer’s clearly marked musical intentions.
“At the business end of the results, the successful performances were the ones that stuck closest to the score,” Mike said.
For the winning MD that was also the key. “I made sure I read on 4BR what Mike had said in other areas about the piece,” Mark added. “So when I heard his remarks I was quietly confident — and then a bit more than that when the cornet and bass prizes were announced!”
Second Section:
'Variations on Maccabeus' proved to be a hard ask of all 15 competing rivals in the Second Section, something that the judge’s spotlighted with their admirably direct appraisals before the announcement of the result.
Stan Lippeatt (who was joined by Jim Davies) pulled no punches — balancing praise with constructive criticism, as he remarked that Kevin Norbury’s work had been ‘a real difficult test but one I think all of you made a fair fist of.’
Knockout punch
The best of those came with a knockout punch to rivals from Colchester, directed by David Maddocks, who claimed their first Area title and Finals appearance since 1996, in a contest that Stan revealed had given them ‘a very clear winner, a very clear second and a very clear third’.
Stan also noted that problems for some bands ‘started from the first note’ which was not together, whilst many ‘failed to capture the tempos of Variation 1, and the area around rehearsal letter J’, which he felt needed to be played ‘smoothly and with kinder articulation'. The speed of the tricky fugato also ‘left a lot to be desired’.
Joining Colchester at Cheltenham for the first time since 2009 will be Yiewsley & West Drayton led by Chris Cole, who just pipped podium finishers Cawston, whose performance was enhanced by their prize winning ‘Best Bass’ and ‘Best Trombone’ sections.
The remaining top six places went to Amersham, Hungerford and Chiltern Hills Brass.
Bouyant MD
No wonder then Colchester’s MD David Maddocks who was in buoyant mood when 4BR caught up with him:
“I am a great believer that you can't win anything without hard work, and my band certainly did that for this contest. They are such a great bunch of people. I felt it was a tough piece to play and prepare but it certainly grew on us. I was thrilled with how we had done when we came off stage.”
David added that his association with Colchester goes back more years than he would like to admit — although he only took up the baton in 2013.
“The future looks good for us now. We are well run and have a busy year ahead. We have a lot of concert work in the summer and we will relish Cheltenham.”
Third Section:
The opening battle of the weekend saw Michael Fowles and John Ward compare and contrast sixteen confident Third Section performances of Philip Sparke’s Chinese Wu Xing inspired, ‘Evolution – Five States of Change’.
Once again Mike delivered an excellent pre-result address that highlighted the key contesting elements to be found and delivered upon if bands were to claim the two qualification places on offer.
Title clue
‘The clue is in the title’ he remarked, before expertly bringing his clear analysis to light — something appreciated by the murmur of agreement that filled the hall when he finished.
Mike highlighted the clearly marked, but subtle tempo choices, articulation and dynamics, as well as the need to bring the character out of the music — something he felt that winner’s certainly achieved.
In the end it was BAE Systems that took the honours ahead of qualifiers Cold Ash Brass — both who he revealed, had ‘done exactly what the score asked of them’, with a bold rendition from Chinnor Silver in third.
The remaining top six places went to Norfolk Wherry, Waterbeach Brass and Hemel Hempstead.
Double celebration
The winner’s certainly had cause for a double celebration, as BAE Systems directed by Melvin White, not only returned to the Final for the first time since 2001 by claiming their second Area title, but did so on a day when regular MD, Jonathan Crowhurst was welcoming a new born son into the banding world!
Band Chairman, Alan Bristow told 4BR that their heartfelt thanks went to Melvin who kindly stepped into help out on just two rehearsals when it became clear Jonathan’s fiancée couldn’t leave things any longer!
“We are immensely grateful to Melvin. He has a young family of his own so perhaps knew this might arise when Jonathan told him about the expected arrival date earlier in the year.
His calming influence and experience certainly made a huge impression on the band — so we know who we need to turn to if the midwife needs to call again in the years to come!”
Cloud nine
As for Jonathan, he was understandably on cloud nine, when speaking to 4BR: “It's a day I will remember for lots of reasons, but my special thanks go to Melvin — he allowed me to concentrate on other things!”
Fourth Section
Nick Garman and David Hirst certainly had plenty of opportunity to compare and contrast in the Fourth Section on Sunday, with no less than 22 bands battling against each other to try and secure one of the three qualification places on offer.
Unfortunately, due to concern over the health of the section contest controller there was no request made to the judges to speak, for which the Regional Committee has since apologised.
The judge’s have also ensured that all competitors were made fully aware of their pre-results thoughts and have been sent written correspondence instead.
Inspired
It was certainly a contest to remember though for City of Norwich, who were only formed in 2014 under MD Andrew Craze.
Andrew led Norfolk Wherry Brass to the Fourth Section national title in 2012 and his inspirational leadership once again proved key to his band’s success as they took to the stage as the last contender of the day on ‘An English Pastorale’.
Shortly afterwards they had their first contesting success to celebrate — although Andrew had perhaps given 4BR a sneaky prediction that his band was playing well when at the West of England Championship he confidently told us to look out for their efforts!
Not misplaced
That confidence was certainly not misplaced as they took the title ahead of other well managed East Anglian/Suffolk efforts from Castleton Brass under Peter Ryan, who can look forward to their first Final’s appearance since 2002, and East Coast Brass, led by Paul Speed, who will be making the first in their short history.
Behind them came plenty of spirited efforts on a test piece that brought the best out of bands that tried to bring out the character and style of each of the movements, with the remaining top six places going to Watford, North London Brass and Tadley Concert Brass.
Excellent first year
The slickly run weekend was the first time in over a quarter of a century that hadn’t been led by Dave Hobbs, but he would have been delighted that the future of the event is in the capable hands of Kevin Williams and his excellent team.
Exhausted but delighted at the way the way things had panned out, Kevin told 4BR: “Being able to take over from Dave has been a honour — and you can see why it has been so well run. I’ve got a brilliant team of helpers, although any extra help to keep 80 bands happy is most welcome!”
we are naturally delighted, and it certainly makes it easier for me when speaking at concerts to finally be able to say that we are London & Southern Counties Champion!Friary Guildford MD, Chris King
Result:
Championship Section:
Test Piece: 'The Torchbearer' — Peter Graham
Sunday 22nd March
Gordon Craig Theatre
Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt & Alan Morrison
1. Friary Guildford (Chris King) *
2. Zone One Brass (Richard Ward)*
3. Redbridge Brass (Alan Duguid)
4. Staines Brass (Jonathan Pippen)
5. Medway (Melvin White)
6. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
7. Sandhurst Silver (Ian McElligott)
8. Thundersley Brass (Nigel Taken)
9. Aveley & Newham (John Ward)
10. Wantage Silver 'A' (Phil Bailey)
11. Regent Brass (Paul Archibald)
12. Kidlington Concert Brass (Duncan Wilson)
Best Cornet: Cliff Pask (Redbridge)
Best Euphonium: Andrew Porter (Sandhurst)
Best Tenor Horn: Tim de Maeseneer (Medway)
*Top 2 bands qualify for National Final
First Section:
Test Piece: 'A London Overture' — Philip Sparke
Sunday 22nd March
Gordon Craig Theatre
Adjudicators: Jim Davies & Michael Fowles
1. Haverhill Silver (Mark Ager) *
2. Fulham (John Ward)*
3. Jersey Premier Brass (Tim Pritchard)
4. Ware Brass (Philip Littlemore)
5. Epsom & Ewell (Jack Smith)
6. Becontree Brass (Nigel Taken)
7. Ipswich & Norwich Co-op (I. Johnson)
8. Northfleet Brass (Melvin White)
9. City of Cambridge (Peter Bassano)
10. Egham (Gareth Green)
11. Hitchin (Craig Patterson)
12. Milton Keynes Brass (Craig Patterson)
13. Bedford Town (S. Phillips)
14. Littleport Brass (Nigel Bramley)
15. Horsham Borough (A. Kershaw)
Best Basses: Haverhill
Best Cornet: Tim Pannell (Haverhill)
*Top 2 bands qualifiy or National Final
Second Section:
Test Piece: 'Variations on Maccabeus' — Kevin Norbury
Saturday 21st March
Main Hall
Adjudicators: Jim Davies & Stan Lippeatt
1. Colchester Band (David Maddocks)*
2. Yiewsley & West Drayton (Chris Cole)*
3. Cawston (David Stowell)
4. Amersham (Paul Fisher)
5. Hungerford (Tim Crouter)
6. Chiltern Hills Brass (Gordon Davies)
7. Grimsdyke Brass (Sharon Broughall)
8. Wantage Silver 'B' (Danny Dullforce)
9. Fairlop Brass (Kevin Jordan)
10. L.G.B. Brass (Ian Stewart)
11. Welwyn Garden City (Alan Duguid)
12. Chichester City (Tim Cooper)
13. Tilbury (Andrew Austin)
14. St.Sebastian Wokingham (Lee Woodward)
15. Epping Forest (Keith Schroeter)
*Top 2 bands qualify for National Final
Best Bass Section: Cawston
Best Trombone Section: Cawston
Third Section:
Test Piece:'Evolution, Five States of Change' — Philip Sparke
Saturday 21st March
Main Concert Hall
Adjudicators: Michael Fowles & John Ward
1. BAE Systems (Melvin White)*
2. Cold Ash Brass (Jemma Evans)*
3. Chinnor Silver (David Pegram)
4. Norfolk Wherry (Kevin Mann)
5. Waterbeach Brass (David Minchin)
6. Hemel Hempstead (Philip Fisher)
7. City of Oxford Silver (Steve Sizeland)
8. Harwich R.B.L (Anthony Sanders)
9. Hangleton R. Baker (Richard Baker)
10. Jubilee Brass (Clifford Sadler)
11. Simon Langton Brass (David Cutting)
12. Oxford Cherwell Brass (Terry Brotherhood)
13. Great Yarmouth Brass (Colin Swaep)
14. Olney Brass (Guy Bennett)
15. Regent Community Brass (Chris Bearman)
16. Betteshanger Welfare (John Goold)
*Top 2 bands qualify for National Final
Fourth Section:
Test Piece: 'An English Pastorale'- Dean Jones
Sunday 22nd March
Main Concert Hall
Adjudicators: Nick Garman & David Hirst
1. City of Norwich (Andrew Craze)*
2. Castleton Brass (Peter Ryan)*
3. East Coast Brass (Paul Speed)*
4. Watford Band (Ian Graves)
5. North London Brass (Patrick Dodds)
6. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman)
7. Letchworth Garden City (Tim Welch)
8. Woodbridge Excelsior (Chris Lewis-Garnham)
9. Brighton & Hove City (Matthew Hackett)
10. Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
11. Bradwell Silver (Brian Keech)
12. Snowdown Colliery (Christer Aberg)
13. Wantage Academy (Nikki Jones)
14. Godalming (James Haigh)
15. Abbey Brass (Abingdon) (Rob Tompkins)
16. Cottenham Brass (P. Mackley)
17. Witney Town (Rhys Owens)
18. Hadstock Silver (Lisa Jardine-Wright)
19. Royston Townd (Steve Earley)
20. Bletchington Silver (S. Barwick)
21. Ampthill Town (Chris Benger)
22. Marsh Gibbon Silver (Andrew Allcock)
Withdrawn: M.K. Development (M. Nevin)
*Top three bands qualify for National Final
