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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.
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.
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Position
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Players
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Principal Cornet:
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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.
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Solo Cornets:
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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
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Soprano:
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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.
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Repiano:
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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.
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2nd Cornets:
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Specialists in the true sense of the word. Graham Williams
Faireys and Hayley Moore of YBS
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3rd Cornets:
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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
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Flugel:
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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
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Solo Horn:
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Paganini of the Horn William Rushworth of Rothwell gets my
vote as principal.
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1st & 2ndHorn:
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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
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Solo Euph:
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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
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2nd Euph:
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David Thornton of Black Dyke will add more than ample support
to Morgan and this team should team up perfect on Duets
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1st Baritone:
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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
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2nd Baritone
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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”.
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Troms
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Nick Hudson of Faireys, Brett Baker of Black Dyke and Mark
Frost of Stalybridge. This is a real power section with such
dexterity
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Eb Basses
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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
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Bb Basses
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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
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Percussion
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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.
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Conductor:
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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.
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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.
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Position
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Players
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Principal Cornet:
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Jane Westervick . (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag). Principal
at the band since 1988 and a brilliant player with style and
classic cornet sound. Some player!
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Solo Cornets:
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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.
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Soprano:
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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.
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Repiano:
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Helen Hjartaker - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag). Previously
principal with Tertnes Brass she is a beautiful sounding player
and a natural for the rep seat.
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2nd & 3rdCornets:
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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
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Flugel:
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Camilla Sjovold - (Eikanger – Bjorsvik Musiklag).
Anyone who heard her at the European in Birmingham will know
she is a fantastic player
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Horns:
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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
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Euphs:
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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
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Baritones:
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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.
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Troms
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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.
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Eb Basses
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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
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Bb Basses
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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!
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Percussion
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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
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Conductor:
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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
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Position
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Players
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Principal Cornet:
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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.
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Solo Cornets:
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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.
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Soprano:
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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.
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Repiano:
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Eleanor Ferguson (Dalmellington). Lovely lyrical style, recently
produced a fine performance in Jazz and would make a great
Rep player in any band.
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2nd Cornets:
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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.
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3rd Cornets:
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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.
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Flugel:
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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.
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Solo Horn:
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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.
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1st Horn:
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Alan Wardrope (Kirkintilloch). Another fine soloist who always
plays with great style and technical accomplishment.
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2nd Horn:
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Chris Ball (Bo’ness & Carriden). A great technical player
who has also had a fair bit of success as a soloist.
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Solo Euph:
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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.
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2nd Euph:
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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.
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1st Baritone:
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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.
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2nd Baritone
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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.
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1st Trom
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Mark Boyd (Whitburn). Great sound and style coupled with
fantastic technique makes Mark one of the finest trombone
soloists in banding.
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2nd Trom
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Paul Kiernan (CWS). Another veteran who will add great strength
to the section, as long as someone can count his bars rest
for him!
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Bass Trom
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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.
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Eb Basses
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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.
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Bb Basses
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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.
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Percussion
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David Lyons, Kirk Richardson, Alastair Rankin. Three freelancers
who all play regularly with the top bands in Scotland. No
weaknesses in this section whatsoever.
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Conductor:
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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.
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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
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Position
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Players
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Principal Cornet:
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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
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Solo Cornets:
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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
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Soprano:
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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
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Repiano:
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Geraint Jones (Northop). Super player with one of the nicest
cornet tones around. The ideal person for the rep seat.
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2nd & 3rd Cornets:
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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
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Flugel:
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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
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Horns:
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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
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Solo Euph:
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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
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Baritones:
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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
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Troms
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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
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Eb Basses
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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
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Bb Basses
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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.
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Percussion
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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
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Conductor:
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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.
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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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