The Verwood Concert Brass organisation is celebrating a fantastic end to what has been a memorable contesting year, with a brace of victories at the recent Wessex BBA contest held in Bournemouth.

Wessex Champion

The Open Section event saw 18 bands take part, and as reported on 4BR it was Verwood Concert Brass that claimed the overall Wessex Champion honours with a cracking performance of 'Dances & Arias' under the baton of Kevin Smith.

Not to be outdone in beating higher nationally ranked bands to the silverware, the sibling Verwood Town Band also romped home to take the 'Best Fourth Section Band' honours with a classy rendition of 'A Haslemere Suite', led by Emma Button.

Brilliant note

All this though and to top things off on a brilliant note, Verwood Youth Band under Kevin Smith performed a short concert during the contest lunch break, with the youngsters, aged between 6 and 18 delighting the audience with their playing.

Wonderful day

Kevin told 4BR: "It was such a wonderful day for the whole Verwood Concert Brass family, with over 70 players taking part. There was a great start with Emma and the Town Band, followed by a wonderful concert and then the senior Concert Brass victory.

Emma is doing a wonderful job and our youth players are ensuring we secure our future. As for the senior band — what a performance! I thank them all for all their hard work and dedication."

Fantastic year

Band Manager, Mike Dunnings added: "Becoming Wessex Champion rounds off a fantastic year for Verwood Concert Brass adding to the Oxford & District and Weston-super-Mare victories earlier in the year.

Alongside the Town Band's great win, this is a brilliant achievement and stands us in good stead for competing in the Championship Section in March at the West of England Area."

Emma is doing a wonderful job and our youth players are ensuring we secure our future. As for the senior band — what a performance! I thank them all for all their hard work and dedicationVerwood Concert Brass, MD, Kevin Smith

So proud

Emma meanwhile was equally delighted: "I'm so proud of the band and the effort they put in during rehearsals. The result just shows it was all worthwhile. I couldn't be happier!"

In addition to the band awards there were also individual and section awards to the 'Best Percussion' team of Henry Boler, Ella Walker and Emma Graves and 'Best Instrumentalist', principal cornet Elaine Close.