The 2017 contesting year for the band has begun with the annual Brass Band League NI “Brass In Concert” entertainments competition which was held, as always, in the Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown on Saturday 4th March. The usual packed hall watched and listened to the performances of the competing bands and a very enjoyable day was had by all.
Our thanks go to all at the BBL for the had work in keeping this contest going under difficult circumstances and giving the opportunity of all the competing bands to perform and show their hard work to the attending audience and also to enjoy the friendship and competitive spirit between the bands.
The music adjudicator this year was Mr Andrew Porter and the entertainment adjudicator was Rachel Bingham. The event was compered by Mr Bill Caughey.
The music played by the band was:
Imperial Echoes – Arnold Safroni arr. J Ord Hume
Don’t Doubt Him Now – Leonard Ballantine arr. Craig Woodland – Soloist: Claire Hueston (cornet)
Don’t Stop Me Now – Freddie Mercury arr. Philip Harper
Trumpet Blues and Cantabile – Harry James arr. Bill Geldard
Crimson Tide – Hans Zimmer arr, Klass van der Woude
Nightingale Dances – Matthew Hall
We would like to thank Joe Sharpe guested for us today at only a few hours notice due to the sudden illness of one of our players.
Unfortunately it was not to be our day today but the band left the stage happy with the given performance and will keep working hard to improve and look forward to competing again in Strabane.
Congratulations all the winning bands and conductors in their respective sections and to all the winning soloists.
Results of the day are as follows:
Total Points (music points, Entertainment points) N.B. In the event of tied points, precedence will be given to the band with the highest music points.
Championship Section
1st: 1st Old Boys Association Silver Band – 18 points (9,9)
2nd: Downshire Brass – 18 points (8,10)
3rd: Murley Silver Band – 17 points (10,7)
Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band – 15 points (7,8)
Third Carrickfergus Band – 12 points (6,6)
Most Entertaining Band: Downshire Brass
Best March: Murley Silver Band (The Cossack)
Best Soloist: James Cooke, soprano cornet (Murley Silver Band) – Live And Let Die
Second Section
1st: Roughan Silver Band – 20 points (10,10)
Ballyduff Silver Band – 17 points (9,8)
Comber Silver Band – 17 points (8,9)
Most Entertaining Band: Roughan Silver Band
Best March: Roughan Silver Band (The Champions)
Best Soloist: Jenny Hill, flugel horn (Ballyduff Silver Band) – Crazy
Third Section
1st: Wellington Memorial Silver Band – 20 points (10,10)
Dungannon Silver Band – 18 points (9,9)
St Mark’s Silver Band – 16 points (8,8)
Most Entertaining Band: Wellington Memorial Silver Band
Best March: Wellington Memorial Silver Band (The Cobblers)
Best Soloist: Lauren Stewart, flugel horn (Wellington Memorial Silver Band) – Concerto de Aranjuez
Fourth Section
1st: Letterbreen Silver Band – 19 points (9,10)
2nd: Warrenpoint Silver Band – 17 points (8,9)
* Poyntspass Silver Band – 16 points (10-1,7)
Dynamic Brass – 15 points (7,8)
Maguiresbridge Silver Band – withdrew
* band played under minimum time, 1 point penalty applied to music score.
Most Entertaining Band: Letterbreen Silver Band
Best March: Poyntzpass Silver Band (Kenilworth)
Best Soloist: Mervyn Smyth, tenor horn (Warrenpoint Silver Band) – Maids of the Mourne Shore