The Brass Band League in association with The School of Creative Arts at Queen’s University Belfast held the 7th “Festival of Brass” entertainment contest in the Whitla Hall, Belfast on Saturday 25th November 2017.

The music adjudicator was Leigh Baker
The entertainment adjudicator was Meaghan Lyons
The compere was William Caughey

Yet another year has flown by and the final contest of the year saw the band perform a varied and entertaining programme of music under the direction of conductor, Brian Connolly. The band achieved a third place and also won the best march prize with their performance of The Cross Of Honour. Soprano cornet player, Jackie Moore, gave a powerful and emotional performance of Flowerdale which was dedicated to the band’s former soprano player, Peter Arthurs, who sadly passed away earlier in the year. Congratulations also go to Niamh Burgess on her debut solo performance with the band, to Alan McCarley on his percussion debut with the band and also to David Hawthorne who wrote and compered the introductions to today’s performance. We also wish to thank our guests, Jenny Hill, William Hill and Gary Proctor for doing a sterling job for us this afternoon. Our congratulations go to all the other winning bands, conductors and soloists.

The music played by the band was;

Malaguena – Ernesto Lecuona arr. Mark Freeh
Flowerdale – Philip Sparke Soloist: Jackie Moore – Soprano Cornet
The Cross Of Honour – William Rimmer
Fever – Davenport/Cooley arr. Marc Jeanbourquin
Shine As The Light – Peter Graham

Partial results for the contest are noted below. Full results will be updated soon. Music points are shown first – i.e. music,entertainment = total points. (In the event of a tie, the band with the highest music points will be awarded the higher place.

Championship Grade
1st: 1st Old Boys Association Silver Band – Conductor: S Cairns – 10,10 = 20 points
2nd: Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band – Conductor: S Crooks – 9,9 = 18 points
Third Carrickfergus Band – Conductor: B Connolly – 8,7 = 15 points
Downshire Brass – Conductor: Prof. M Alcorn – 7,8 = 15 points

Best March: Third Carrickfergus Band
Solo Prize: Alan Haworth (Euphonium) – Delilah, 1st Old Boys’ Association Silver Band
Most Entertaining Band: 1st old Boys Association Silver Band