There was a shock result at the 16th North American Brass Band Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio on the weekend, where Princeton Brass Band claimed its first ever National title success under the baton of Dr Stephen Allen (above).
Engaging
Formed in 2004, the band from New Jersey delivered a brace of engaging performances of the set work, 'Elgar Variations' and their own choice selection of Edward Gregson's 'Rococo Variations', to snatch victory from the grasp of favourites and four time former winners Fountain City Brass. They had to be content with the runner-up spot for the third year running.
Powerful
Directed by Joseph Parisi, Fountain delivered a set of powerful accounts, with their own choice selection 'Breath of Souls' gaining a standing ovation from the exuberant audience.
However, despite the rapturous applause it was still was not enough to deny Princeton, as the new National champion was crowned amid jubilant scenes in the rather surreal surroundings of the main auditorium of the Cincinnati Masonic Centre.
No hat-trick
Reigning champions Atlantic City Brass put up a brave defence of their title to end third under Salvatore Scarpa, as their set work and own choice selection of 'English Heritage' just failed to see them claim a hat-trick of titles.
James Madison University showed their growing potential under Kevin Stees as they ended fourth, with Brass of the Potomac in fifth and Chicago Brass in sixth – despite gaining the highest set of marks from the own choice judges for their performance of ‘Audivi Media Nocte’.
No luck
With 2006 champions Brass Band of Columbus in seventh, there was huge disappointment for fans of returning former winners Brass Band of Central Florida.
They fell away to come eighth after a disappointing rendition of the set work left them with too much ground to make up on their imposing performance of Bertrand Moren’s ‘Dreams’.
The foundation stone of Princeton’s success over the two days of contesting, came on Martin Ellerby stylistically difficult test piece, which by being weighted with 60% of the overall marks, gave them just enough leeway to fend off their powerful rivals, thanks to an emotionally charged reading of Edward Gregson’s former British Open test piece.
Temperature
Thankfully, Dr Stephen Allen, who was still running a feverish temperature after being taken ill on Saturday afternoon, had enough energy to bound through the auditorium to claim the National banner.
"It’s amazing – simply amazing," he told 4BR. "This will give us such a massive boost to keep improving year on year. Having founded the band back in 2004, to finally win this title is something of a personal dream come true."
He added: "This means so much for all the players who are involved in the band – they gave so much for this. Now we want to go on and win it again!"
Declaration
For Joseph Parisi and Fountain City there were congratulations for the winners and a declaration that they will be back to fight another day.
"Our congratulations go to Princeton – we know just what it means to become champions. Although we are a little disappointed, I’m very proud of my players and how they performed this weekend.
We will be back though and we will be fighting once again to win this great title."
Work harder
The same also applied to Brass Band of Central Florida, as Chad Shoopman later told 4BR: "We will learn from this and go back and work even harder. We knew we put our necks on the line this weekend, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the band."
First Section:
With the main action centred around the top flight bands on the Saturday evening, there was still much to enjoy in the other categories, as Five Lakes Silver Band claimed their first National title in the First Section in fine fashion.
Two well constructed performances of ‘Four Dances' from the ballet 'Checkmate’ and a controlled rendition of ‘Harmony Music’ saw them gain a commanding victory under the baton of Neil Barlow.
Second place went to Central Ohio Brass Band, who failed to make it five wins in a row at the contest, whist third place was secured by Oakland University Brass in a contest that varied in both quality and choice of repertoire.
Second Section
In the Second Section victory went to a delighted Chesapeake Silver Concert Band conducted by Dr Russell Murray, as they also claimed their first National title thanks to a brace of classy performances of the set work, ‘Labour & Love’ and their own choice selection of ‘The Plantagenets’.
The remaining podium places went to Brass Band of Huntsville, with Eastern Iowa in third.
Third Section
Former Wiliam Davis and GUS MD, Dr Keith Wilkinson led Chapel Brass to victory in the Third Section, thanks to two excellently delivered performances of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ and ‘Saint Saens Variations’, to beat off the determined challenge of second placed Bend in the River Brass.
Excellent Youth
Although there was only one entrant in both the Youth Ensemble and Youth Brass Band categories, Triangle Youth Brass and Triangle Ensemble showed considerable skill and quality to impress the appreciative audience packed into the main auditorium hall.
Triangle Youth Brass in particular showed that not all the very best youth bands in the world will have been on show in Manchester on the weekend, as they produced three excellent renditions of the march, ‘Celebration’, Eric Ball’s ‘Resurgam’ and ‘Jupiter’ from ‘The Planets’ under the direction of Tony Granados bring the packed hall to its feet before the announcement of the main results.
Iwan Fox
This means so much for all the players who are involved in the band – they gave so much for this. Now we want to go on and win it again!Dr Stephen Allen
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicators:
Set Work: Elgar Variations (Martin Ellerby) (in order): Thomas Palmatier/Johan de Meij/Ray Tizzard
Own Choice (in order): John Lambert/Peter Meechan/Stephen Lytle
The overall score is weighted 60% set work, 40% own choice
1. Princeton Brass Band (Dr Stephen Allen) = 276.00
S/W: 93/93/92
O/C: 90/91/92 (Rococo Variations)
2. Fountain City Brass (Jo Parisi) = 275.40
S/W: 90/90/91
O/C: 91/96/95 (Breath of Souls)
3. Atlantic Brass Band (Salvatore Scarpa) = 275.20
S/W: 89/91/90
O/C: 92/95/96 (English Heritage)
4. James Madison University (Kevin Stees) = 273.00
S/W: 88/88/89
O/C: 94/93/98 (Montage)
5. Brass of the Potomac (Stephen Bulla) = 267.00
S/W: 85/86/86
O/C: 95/90/97 (Titan's Progress)
6. Chicago Brass Band (Colin Holman) = 259.60
S/W: 77/83/80
O/C: 96/94/99 (Audivi Media Nocte)
7. Brass Band of Columbus (Brian Stevens) = 255.80
S/W: 80/81/84
O/C: 89/89/94 (Between the Moon and Mexico)
8. Brass Band of Central Florida (Chad Shoopman) = 251.80
S/W: 75/80/82
O/C: 93/88/93 (Dreams)
First Section:
Adjudicators:
Set Work: Four Dances from the ballet Checkmate (Bliss arr Ball) & Own Choice (in order): Johan de Meij/Thomas Palmatier/Ray Tizzard
The overall score is weighted 60% set work, 40% own choice
1. Five Lakes Silver Band (Neil Barlow) = 282.40
S/W: 94/94/92
O/C: 95/95/96 (Harmony Music)
2. Central Ohio Brass Band (Jessica Sneeringer) = 267.40
S/W: 91/89/87
O/C: 94/90/84 (The Year of the Dragon)
3. Oakland University Brass (Kenneth Kroesche) = 257.40
S/W: 87/86/86
O/C: 85/83/87 (Lyonesse)
4. New England Brass (Stephen Bulla) = 257.20
S/W: 85/85/88
O/C: 84/83/89 (Rhapsody on a Theme by Purcell)
5. Motor City Brass (Craig Strain) = 242.00
S/W: 82/76/84
O/C: 80/81/81 (Fanfare and Love Songs)
6. Illinois Brass Band (Stephen Squires) = 240.00
S/W: 84/78/78
O/C: 81/80/79 (The Essence of Time)
7. Madison Brass Band (Craig Mason) = 237.20
S/W: 77/81/78
O/C: 79/82/78 (Variations on Laudate Dominum)
8. Natural State Brass Band (Rusty Morris) = 236.20
S/W: 70/79/80
O/C: 82/83/82 (The Bandsman's Challenge)
Second Section:
Adjudicators:
Set Work: Labour & Love (Percy Fletcher) & Own Choice (in order): John Lambert/Peter Meechan/Michael J Garasi
The overall score is weighted 60% set work, 40% own choice
1. Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass (Dr Russell Murray) = 280.00
Set Work: 95/93/94
Own Choice: 96/90/91(The Plantagenets)
2. The Brass Band of Huntsville(W. David Spencer) = 274.60
Set Work: 94/88/93
Own Choice: 95/89/90 (Tocatta Festiva)
3. Eastern Iowa Brass Band (Kate Wohlman) = 269.40
Set Work: 96/85/92
Own Choice: 97/78/89 (Tallis Variations)
Third Section:
Adjudicators:
Set Work: Saint Saens Variations (Philip Sparke) & Own Choice (in order): John Lambert/Peter Meechan/Michael J Garasi
The overall score is weighted 60% set work, 40% own choice
1. Chapel Brass (Dr Keith Wilkinson) = 282.40
Set Work: 97/93/96
Own Choice: 96/85/96 (The Dark Side of the Moon)
2. Bend in the River Brass (Faril Bunner) = 258.40
Set Work: 95/71/90
Own Choice: 95/73.5/93.5 (Prelude on Tallis & The Three Musketeers)
Youth Brass Band:
Own choice selection:
Adjudicators: Dr Wes Branstine/Ray Tizzard/Michael J Garasi
No points given
1. Triangle Youth Brass Band (Tony Granados)
Youth Open:
Own choice selection:
Adjudicators: Dr Wes Branstine/Ray Tizzard/Michael J Garasi
No points given
1. Triangle Youth Brass Ensemble (Jessie Rackley)
