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2012 North of England Regional Championship — First Section retrospective

Malcolm Wood looks back at the First Section Area contest in Darlington.

2012 NE Area First Sec tion winners Shepherd Group
Flock to Cheltenham for the victorious Shepherd Group
Picture: Steve Jack


The North of England First Section was all about quality as opposed to quantity.

Just five bands had made it to the starting line to give their performances of 'Mountain Views', but the end result was a contest of an impressive standard.

Musical pictures

Adjudicator, Mike Kilroy was looking for the bands to paint descriptive musical pictures, and the well matched quintet certainly did that and more on the day.

Shepherd Group's winning interpretation was one of energy, drive and purpose under MD Richard Wilton.

It was also complimented by very fine individual contributions too – notably from the prize winning bass and percussion sections, which complimented a quite outstanding trombone trio.

It was mighty fine stuff – which consolidated together delivered a performance that was as good as any heard at the Regional Championships.

Richard Wilton’s direction was neat and precise, his interpretation broad and colourful. They will be a band to fear come Cheltenham on this form.

Merit

Westoe
claimed the second qualification place on offer with a performance of real merit. It bubbled with the type of energy that seemed to fizz through the veins of MD Jason Smith.

At one point he lifted himself off the floor as if hit by the type of punch George Foreman once elevated Joe Frazier with.

You couldn’t fault the desire and you couldn’t fault the approach. It was seat of the pants stuff at times, but it never for a moment did anything other than keep you fully engaged.

Commiserations


With two such fine qualifiers, it was a case of commiseration for Catterick Brass.

Brenden Wheeler's band can consider themselves a touch unfortunate not to be heading to the finals after a fine performance that was based on control and consideration of dynamics and tempo.

It perhaps just lacked the vibrancy of its rivals, but it was still a very fine effort.

Robust

Both Harrogate and GT Group Peterlee will have headed home proud of their efforts – even if they were a little way off the pace of the top three.

These were robust accounts, that at times just lacked that extra degree of finesses, although MDs Craig Ratcliffe and Jo Cook kept the music flowing.

Two emerging bands with two emerging conducting talents showed a great deal of potential.

Quality not quantity

It may have been a short contest, but it was certainly one where it was the quality and not the quantity that won though.

Two excellent qualifiers will head to Cheltenham with high hopes of claiming further glory – even if they may be up against quite few more rivals.

Malcolm Wood



The Hepworth Band - A Summer Proms Concert

Sunday 20 July • Hepworth United Sports Club, Far Lane, Hepworth, Holmfirth. HD9 1RN


Petworth Town Band - Ebernoe Horn Fair

Friday 25 July • Ebernoe Cricket Ground GU28 9LD


Petworth Town Band - Dorset House School Fete

Saturday 26 July • Dorset House School RH20 1PB


Haverhill Silver Band - A Nightingale Sang... (an evening concert)

Saturday 2 August • Foakes Hall, Dunmow CM6 1DG


Haverhill Silver Band - East Anglian Beer & Cider Festival

Sunday 24 August • St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QX


Rushden Town Band

July 18 • Second Trombone vacancy. A friendly Midlands 1st Section Band, Rushden are looking for a Second Trombone player to come and join us. Great repertoire and concerts plus contests twice per year. Every other year, the band goes on tour.


Welwyn Garden City Band

July 18 • We are a friendly & sociable Second Section Band with an exciting and varied summer season of concerts. Due to an employment relocation, we have an immediate vacancy for a FRONT ROW CORNET player.


Bedford Town Band

July 18 • Bedford Town Band have vacancies for 1st trombone, 1st horn, EEb and BBb bass. We have several concerts and Wychavon contest in the Autumn. In the last few years the band won the Butlins 2nd section , been promoted to 1st section then 3rd at Wychavon


Rob Nesbitt

BSc, PG Cert. Ed.
Cartoonist , illustrator, writer


               

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