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2010 |
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Posted Feb 2010
First Contest of the year returns runner up spot |
| Boys Band today got the 2010 contesting year off to a great
start obtaining second place at the Preston Contest. Performing at the
Charter theatre for the first time the band drew number 5 out of 8 and
performed the piece selected as this years Regional 4th section test,
Saint-Saens Variations. In a strong field the band were able to maintain
their consistent start to this years contesting season and for the third
local contest in a row came 2nd to local rivals Darwen Brass, who performed
another Philip Sparke piece Music for a Festival. Speaking after the
announcement of the results MD James Holt had the following to say Today has been a great day for the band we had some new faces around the stand and some players in new seats for the first time and it all came together very well. I'm really pleased with the consistency the band have found over recent months and hope that this can continue. We are a solid unit and are starting to produce the goods on stage which is very pleasing for both myself and the band. I must congratulate Darwen Brass for recording their third consecutive win they are a friendly bunch and I've had some really nice comments from their members. We look forward now to the area and hope we can maintain this recent run of form we have hit. I am really proud of the band from the players through to committee and parents and it is an honour to lead them. Boys band are now only five weeks away from their regional test if you can make it to support them, great, for those who can't you can rely on BBB.com to give a full account of the day and follow the progress during the event via our twitter page. |
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Posted Jan 2010
Band start year in social style |
| The band began the new year with the holding of their
annual solo contest, this year returning to the Unsworth Cricket Club. The
adjudicator for this years event was Chris Wormald who, in his remarks,
talked of his affection for the band with which he started his playing
career. He spoke of his pleasure at being asked to adjudicate at the event
and of how impressive the standard on show was. The day got under way with the training band section boasting 10 entries, the highest for several years. The quality of solo playing was clear for all to see with excellent performances from all the honours this time were taken by Courtney Moses who displayed a beautiful tone in her performance of the infamous On My Own. 2nd place was awarded to George Mitchell who performed Cum Ba Ya on trombone, his instrument for only a few months. The final podium place was given to Luke Vindice one of the training bands percussionists. Once again it must be said the standard on display from all the participants was superb and they are a credit to training band MD Jon Taylor and his team of tutors from the main band. Then came the first of three sections the main band are split into, the preliminary section. Due to some unavoidable late withdrawals there were only two competitors in the shape of percussion Leah Fogo and cornet player Tom Leach. On this occasion Tom came away with the first prize with his performance of The Prince of Denmark's March though both players gave highly commendable performances. Next up came the Intermediate section containing many brass players for the band, as commented by adjudicator Chris Wormald at the conclusion of the day this was the hardest section of the day to judge with every player having a case for a podium finish. On this occasion pole position was taken by Cornetist Catherine Fox who showed maturity beyond her years and a great degree of control playing On My Own (as played by Training Band winner Courtney Moses). Runner up was multi-instrumentalist Fern Evans who on this occasion showed her euphonium abilities playing Party Piece with aplomb. The final prize went, on this occasion, to newly appointed Flugel player Paul Mitchell playing the lovely Softly Awakes My Heart beautifully. The advanced section was the penultimate section of the day showcasing the elder members of the bands talents. The standard of playing, as has been said about the whole day, was sublime showing just what a good state the band is currently in. For the third successive year band percussionist and Training Band MD Jon Taylor took the top prize playing Czardas on xylophone displaying a great sense of musicality in his performance. Runner up on the day was the bands repiano player Adam Galloway playing the infamous Concerto De Aranjuez from Rodrigo's Guitar concerto. In third place was band soprano player Eleanor Parkes playing Jennifer Rush's The Power of Love. The final section of the day was the ensemble section was a chance for groups of any size to perform, winners on the day were Eleanor Parkes and Adam Galloway playing Andrew Lloyd Webber's Pie Jesu, closely followed by percussion duo Jon Taylor and Leah Fogo playing Jon's own arrangement featuring many famous film themes Jozza Wozza. Also appearing in the section were Paul Mitchell and Catherine Fox performing In The Mood and also very pleasing for audience and adjudicator alike was the combination of main band and training band Bradley Hirst, Daisy and Courtney Moses and Jennifer Garrett playing their own arrangement entitled Variations on Saint Saens Variations, that sounded very much like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, when questioned about the title of the piece Bradley told BBB.com it classed as a variation as he took the notes he wanted from different bars and put them in the order he wanted them :-) After the presentation of the results there was a new section providing some light entertainment aptly entitled the open entertainment section, containing 3 performers. The section was open to anyone wanting to do something "a little different". First up was duo Tom Leach and Paul Mitchell dressed as the blues brothers playing Everybody Needs Somebody on Trumpets including choreography! Next up came a musical interlude with Training band percussionist showing he is a boy with quite literally many strings to his bow performing violin! Finally came something that certainly was VERY different. Alana Evans, Fern Evans, Catherine Fox, and Eleanor Parkes performed a mini version of The Sound of Music. This included costumes, chorography, lines, and of course playing, this truly was an entertaining section with a difference. After everyone had been served with refreshments and the party was well and truly underway it then came time for the special awards to be presented. Firstly came the Training band most improved player this year awarded, by training band MD Jon Taylor, to Jennifer Garrett. The main band awards started with the attendance prize described, by MD James Holt, as one of his two favourite awards as he didn't have to pick anyone for it! This year the prize was taken by Catherine Fox. Next up came the award for the most promising new recruit to the band that was this year awarded to new back row cornet player Tom Leach to go with his 1st prize from the intermediate section. Next up came the Frank Johnson Memorial trophy awarded to the player deemed to be the most improved player from the band. James explained that it was never easy to single out players for any of these awards though this year has seen the rise, to solo horn, of Alana Evans. Alana, a French horn player by trade, has been with the band a little over a year starting out on 2nd horn and progressing through the ranks in under a year culminating in a fantastic performance of the tenor solo in the second movement of the Pontins test piece A Bournemouth Suite, for these reasons Alana found herself a very deserving winner. The next award was the award for services to the band, this award goes to the player who is deemed to have given a great service to the band over the past 12 months. The recipient of the award, chosen by band chairman Neil Matthews, was principal cornet Claire Mumford. Neil explained that he had chosen Claire for her great efforts as band and section leader including giving many sectionals over the past 12 months. The penultimate award was the second of MD James' favourites, another one he did not have to pick, the Derek Hilton Memorial Cup presented by the members of the band who vote for their band member of the year, this year going to the ever deserving Paul Mitchell. The final presentation of the day was that of the Sandra Powell Memorial trophy presented by MD James Holt to his Bandsperson of the year. James explained that this year was undoubtedly the hardest year to pick this award as there were so many members of the band that would be deserving of this award and that he has changed his mind no less than 7 times that day! This year the award was presented to Catherine Fox, capping off a good day for her after taking the spoils of the Intermediate section. James explained his decision was down to the hard work and dedication Catherine has shown over the last twelve months and all agreed she was a most deserving winner of this prestigious award. All that was left was for band contest percussionist Warren Tuite to DJ for the remainder of the evening as the band let their hair down for a well deserved party. Speaking after the presentation of the awards BBB.com caught up with MD James Holt The solo contest is always a great day for the band and a fantastic way to start the year. I have been so very impressed by every single members performance today, it shows the strength and depth we have as a unit both inside and outside of the bandroom and can only be a good thing for this wonderful band. After today's preparations continue for our first contest of the year at Preston next week and we are a stronger band for that after this event. A selection of pictures from the day will shortly be appearing on the bands Gallery Page |
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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL ASSOCIATED WITH BESSES BOYS BAND. The band have many exciting plans for the year ahead and BBB.com will be here to provide coverage of them all, so make sure you keep checking the site for updates on how the band are getting on. Good luck to the band from all at BBB.com for the upcoming year. |
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