At the recent North of Ireland’s Band Association contest in Armagh a new name appeared on the list of competing bands and prize winners in the Fourth Section.

Strength

The Letterbreen Band was initially formed in 1957 as a marching band, but in recent years has been going from strength to strength under the guidance of 20 year old Stephen Crooks, who is already making a name for himself both as a conductor and tuba player.

Stephen is currently a 2nd year student at the Irish Academy of Music in Dublin where he studies under the watchful eye of Francis Magee, tuba player with the RTE Symphony Orchestra.

Work hard

Before the contest Stephen invited conductor Huw Thomas over to work with the band on the set test ‘An English Folk Song Suite’, and after a weekend of enjoyable hard graft they were just about ready for their appearance at the contest the following weekend.

Wonderful experience

Huw told 4BR: "It was a wonderful experience for me, because the welcome I received was amazing and the players all wanted to work hard and improve. The progress of the band was excellent over the two days, which culminated in a great run-through on the Saturday evening. Stephen told me that they were even better on the contest stage!"

The progress of the band was excellent over the two days, which culminated in a great run-through on the Saturday evening. Stephen told me that they were even better on the contest stage!Huw Thomas

Second place

The MD was right, and against a strong field of rivals the band ended up in second place, just two points behind the eventual winners Warrenpoint Silver.