There was plenty of great entertainment to be enjoyed at the recent ‘Battle of the Bands’ Contest hosted by Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Band in partnership with Staveley Town Council.
Held at the local Speedwell Rooms in the town, adjudicator David Hirst had a number of well worked entertainment sets to consider before deciding on the destination of the various titles, whilst he also commented on how encouraging it was to see so many young players in each of the competing bands.
Training Section:
The day kicked the Training Section contest with seven bands battling for the prizes.
Top honours eventually went to Coleshill Youth Band under Stephen Fagg, for their programme based on all things ‘Space’ — from ‘Star Wars’ and the cornet solo ‘Russalka’s Song to the Moon’ to ‘Orion’, ‘Jupiter’ and the cracking finale, ‘The Final Countdown’. The band’s principal cornet player took the ‘Best Soloist’ prize.
The band was pushed all the way by runner-up Dronfield & Lowedges Community Band under Ryan Stacey, who produced a highly entertaining set that included ‘Radetsky March’, ‘Annie’s Song’, ‘Edelweiss’ and ‘Everybody’ by the Blues Brothers.
Unregistered Section:
Although there were only two competitors this year, the Unregistered Section was full of encouraging enthusiasm and some excellent playing between the contenders.
The winners were Thurlstone under the baton of Black Dyke’s young horn star Johnny Bates, who offered a programme that started with ‘Bandology’ and finished with ‘Russian Circus Music’, with their star trombone player taking away the ‘Best Soloist’ prize for a great performance of ‘The Acrobat’.
Pushing them close was Carlton Brass Training under the direction of Geoff Hawley, who gave cracking renditions ‘Blaze Away’, the tenor horn solo ‘Ashokan Farewell’, ‘Sandpaper Ballet’, ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Moscow’ from “Four Cities Symphony’.
Third & Fourth Section:
Despite three withdrawals there was still plenty to enjoy in the Third/Fourth Section event with Cheltenham National Finalists Dinnington Colliery maintaining their outstanding 2014 form by claiming the £300 first prize under MD Jonathan Beatty.
The trio of competitors offered a wide range of music that included ‘Breezin' Down Broadway’, ‘Rock Around the Clock’(Maltby), ‘Fire in the Blood’, ‘Share my Yoke’ (Dinnington) and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘On Flanders Fields’ (Oughtibridge).
The hard fought soloist award went to cornet player Ian Nash of Oughtibridge for his outstanding playing, whilst the band also picked up the awards for ‘Best Deportment’ and ‘Best Entertainment’, although by running well over their allotted time, they dropped points to eventually finish behind Dinnington Colliery with Maltby Miners Welfare a close third.
Great day
Organiser Ian Knapton told 4BR that he was delighted how the eighth running of the event had turned out.
"It was a great day of music making and we would like to thank all the bands and supporters. We would also like to thank all members of Ireland Colliery Welfare Band, Staveley Town Council and our two sponsors Conceptunet Ltd and Raw Brewery for supporting us once again."
there was still plenty to enjoy in the Third/Fourth Section event with Cheltenham National Finalists Dinnington Colliery maintaining their outstanding 2014 form by claiming the £300 first prize under MD Jonathan Beatty4BR
Results:
Third/Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: David Hirst
1. Dinnington Colliery (Jonathan Beatty)
2. Oughtibrdge (Gavin Somerset)
3. Maltby Miners Welfare (Terry Clifford)
Best Soloist: Ian Nash (Oughtibridge)
Best Deportment/Entertainment: Oughtibridge
Best Entertaining Number: Oughtibridge
Bands Representative Award: Oughtibridge
Training Band Section:
1. Coleshill Youth Brass
2. Dronfield & Lowedges Community Band
Other Competitors: Rotherham Schools Youth, Thurcroft Training, Leicester Co-op Training, Oughtibridge Training, Thurlstone Training
Best Soloist: Solo Cornet (Coleshill)
Youngest Player Award: Thurcroft Training
Unregistered Section:
1. Thurlstone Band
2. Carlton Brass Training Band
Best Soloist: Trombone (Thurlstone Band)
