Towcester Studio Band will be enjoying their Christmas celebrations this year following a year in which they continued to make excellent musical progress under the baton of Neil Brownless.

Considerable success

Neil took over the role in January and despite a disappointing return at the Midlands Regional contest, they have enjoyed considerable success, including victories in the Third Section at the Oxfordshire Winter contest and the Bolsover Entertainment contest.

To round things off on a high, the band produced a cracking rendition of 'Kingdom of Dragons' at the recent Milton Keynes event (above) to beat off the challenge higher nationally graded rivals and take the B Section honours.

Solid progress

"It's been a great year of solid progress,"Neil told 4BR, "and we'll be looking to build on this success going into 2016 — starting with the defence of our Oxfordshire Winter contest title.

We will also be aiming to secure a place at the Third Section National Final in Cheltenham, so the hard work carries on. There is a great group of hard working people here all determined to take Towcester back to where we belong."

Three titles out of four was a great return in 2015, but we are now aiming to do even better in 2016MD, Neil Brownless

Attracting players

He added: "We are now attracting players of the quality of Andy Rigby on solo euphonium, who won the 'Best Soloist' award at Bolsover, have outstanding experienced players such as principal cornet Dave Nicholson and an emerging batch of talented younger players.

Three titles out of four was a great return in 2015, but we are now aiming to do even better in 2016."