The School of Creative Arts at Queen's University Belfast recently hosted the Northern Ireland Brass Band League's fifth Festival of Brass Entertainment Contest.
Impress
14 bands came to perform their programmes at Whitla Hall to impress a supportive audience as well as adjudicators Steve Sykes (music) and Angela Haley (entertainment).
Tight battle
The Championship Section saw possibly the tightest battle in the contest's history, with Downshire Brass directed by Michael Alcorn eventually taking the overall honours for a third year running ahead of Laganvale (Metal Technology) and Strabane Concert Brass.
Laganvale also took the 'Best March' prize with soprano star Mark Ruddock taking the 'Best Soloist' award for a stunning rendition of 'Flowerdale'.
Section wins
Although there were a number of late withdrawals from the Third and Second Sections, St Mark's Silver and CWA Brass provided fine performances as they took unopposed titles, whilst Maguiresbridge Silver achieved a clean-sweep of the prizes in the Fourth Section against stiff competition from Warrenpoint Silver and Dynamic Brass.
1st Larne Old Boys Silver conducted by Bill Clements commenced the day in the Fifth Section with William Hollinger taking home the soloist award for his super rendition of 'Buster Strikes Back'.
Unstoppable youth
Meanwhile, the seemingly unstoppable 1st Old Boy's Youth Band won the Youth Section for the fifth year in a row, claiming the 'Best March' and 'Best Soloist' prizes, with Downshire Brass Youth awarded the Entertainment Prize.
Pleasure
Music Adjudicator Steve Sykes told 4BR: "It was a great pleasure to adjudicate at the contest. Queen's University proved to be a first class venue and the bands revelled in the acoustic.
The programmes selected featured wide and varied repertoire and the audience was certainly entertained in style. I particularly enjoyed some fine solo playing and was also very impressed by the Youth Bands."
Thanks
A Brass Band League spokesperson told 4BR: "We would like to thank all the bands who took part in the Festival, compere William Caughey, Vice Chancellor, Professor Tony Gallacher, and staff of Queen's University for their support, and all of the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the event a success.
It was a great pleasure to adjudicate at the contest. Queen's University proved to be a first class venue and the bands revelled in the acousticAdjudicator, Steve Sykes
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Steve Sykes (Music); Angela Haley (Entertainment)
Music /Entertainment =Total
1. Downshire Brass (Michael Alcorn): 9/10=19
2. Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band (Brian Connolly): 10/6=16*
3. Strabane Concert Brass (James McCafferty): 7/9=16*
4. 1st Old Boys Silver (Steve Barnett): 8/7=15
5. Third Carrickfergus (Desmond Graham): 6/8=14
*Music adjudication takes precedence
Most Entertaining Band: Downshire Brass
Best March: 'Cross of Honour' (Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band)
Best Soloist: Mark Ruddock (Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band)
Second Section:
Music /Entertainment =Total
1. CWA Brass: 10/10=20
Roughan Silver Band: (withdrawn)
Most Entertaining Band: CWA Brass
Best March: 'The Cossack' (CWA Brass)
Best Soloist: Jackie Moore (CWA Brass)
Third Section:
Music /Entertainment =Total
1. St Mark's Silver (James Parks): 10/10=20
Most Entertaining Band: St Mark's Silver
Best March: 'Come Follow the Band' (St Mark's Silver)
Best Soloist: Aaron Watson (St Mark's Silver)
Fourth Section:
Music /Entertainment =Total Points
1. Maguiresbridge Silver (Adeline Magill): 10/10=20
2. Warrenpoint Silver: 9/9=18
3. Dynamic Brass: 8/8=16
Most Entertaining Band: Maguiresbridge Silver
Best March: 'Steadfast & True' (Maguiresbridge Silver)
Best Soloist: Matthew Kells (Maguiresbridge)
Fifth Section:
Music /Entertainment =Total
1. 1st Larne Old Boys Silver (Bill Clements): 10/10=20
Most Entertaining Band: 1st Larne Old Boys Silver
Best March: 'Elisa' (1st Larne Old Boys Silver)
Best Soloist: William Hollinger (1st Larne)
Youth Band:
Music /Entertainment =Total
1. 1st Old Boys Youth: 10/9=19*
2. Downshire Brass Youth: 9/10=19*
3. Third Carrickfergus Junior: 8/8=16
*Music adjudication mark takes precedence
Most Entertaining Band: Downshire Brass Youth
Best March: 'Marching Home' — 1st Old Boys Youth
Best Soloist: Connor Chambers & Conor Brannigan (1st Old Boys Youth)
