The Brass Band League in association with The School of Creative Arts at Queen’s University Belfast held the 3rd “Festival of Brass” entertainment contest in the Whitla Hall, Belfast on Saturday 23rd November 2013.

The music adjudicator was Philip Harper
The entertainment adjudicator was Angela Haley
The compere was William Caughey

It was a good day for the Third Carrickfergus Band which resulted in a 1st place (both in music and in entertainment) and the prize for the best march, John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars And Stripes Forever”.

We also congratulate our Junior Band who achieved 2nd place in the Youth Band Section on Sunday 24th November under the direction of conductor Peter Arthurs.

The music played by the band was;

There’s No Business Like Show Business – Irving Berlin are. Goff Richards
Georgia On My Mind – Hoagy Carmichael & Stuart Gorrell arr. Alan Morrison Soloist: Claire Hueston – Cornet
The Stars And Stripes Forever – John Philip Sousa
For The Love of A Princess – James Horner arr. Andrew Duncan
MacArthur Park – Jim Webb arr. Alan Fernie

Our congratulations to all who competed today and also to those who won in their respective sections.

After the contest, the worlds No 1 ranked band, 2013 European champions and current Brass In Concert Champions, The Cory Band, under the direction of the day’s adjudicator Mr Philip Harper gave a concert of simply stunning musicality to an almost filled, very appreciative, Whitla Hall audience.

The full results for the weekend are noted below.

Youth Bands This section was held on Sunday 24th November 2013
1st: 1st Old Boys Association Youth Band
Third Carrickfergus Junior Band
Downshire Brass Junior Band

Best March: Blaze Away, 1st Old Boys Youth Band

5th Grade
1st: Dynamic Brass
1st Larne Old Boys’ Silver Band

Best March: Monia, 1st Larne Old Boys’ Silver Band
Best Soloist: Alistair Crawford – Bass, Dynamic Brass

4th Grade
1st: Dungannon Silver Band
Letterbreen Silver Band

Best March: True And Trusty, Dungannon Silver Band
Best Soloist: Mike Tarrant – Euphonium, Letterbreen Silver Band

3rd Grade
1st: CWA Brass
2nd: Comber Silver Band
Wellington Memorial Silver Band

Best March: Star Lake, Comber Silver Band
Best Soloist: Phil McCurry – Tenor Horn, CWA Brass

2nd Grade
1st: Third Carrickfergus Band
2nd: Lourdes Brass Band
Roughan Silver Band
Ballyduff Silver Band

Best March: The Stars And Stripes Forever – Third Carrickfergus Band
Best Soloist: Ashley Elliott – Xylophone, Roughan Silver Band

Championship Grade
1st: Downshire Brass
2nd: Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band
1st Old Boys Association Silver Band
Murley Silver Band

Best March: Wo Unsere Fahnen weht, Murley Silver Band
Solo Prize: John Murdock – Euphonium, Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band