News from the World of Brass Bands

The Year 2004

Long Eaton Uniform Fund

Long Eaton Silver Prize Band have announced that they have been awarded £500 toward new uniforms from The East Midlands Airport Community Fund. They are also having a busy Christmas with many concerts in and around Nottingham, see the diary page for further information.

Sharon Stonesfield

9/12/04

Wolverton Appoints new conductor

Wolverton Town Band, based in Milton Keynes, UK, has announced the appointment of a new Musical Director. Christopher Johnston, recently a baritone player with the Travelsphere Holidays Band, and in the past a euphonium player based mainly in Cornwall.

Prior to moving to Cornwall, he also played with Creswell Colliery Band in the days of the Mervin Griffiths a renowned cornet player at the time.

The band is keen to get the band on track, but his first challenge is to fill many vacancies within the band.

Chris Johnson

18/10/04

New Premises for Prima Arts

Prima Arts, the Nottinghamshire based Brass Band Publisher has moved to Newark. It's new address is:

Prima Arts
The Cottage
Main Street
Milton
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG22 0PP

The new telephone number is 01777 872339 (Fax: 01777 872852), though the old number will continue to be forwarded for six months.

David Hirst

15/10/04

New Conductor for Ifton Band Oswestry

Ifton Band Oswestry (Shropshire) have appointed John Proctor as Musical Director. He is pianist, but also plays the accordion, tenor cor and cornet. He has played in a number of bands throughout the UK including, the Milltown Silver Band, Dee Citadel Salvation Army Band and The Regimental Band of the 1st Bn The Royal Scots Guards (The Royal Regiment). He is a music teacher and has been giving brass tuition in the area since retiring from the Police Force in 1997.

Mark Rose

13/7/04

Brass in Bloom Entertainment Contest Results

The Brass in Bloom Entertainment Contest was held at The Dukeries Garden Centre Welbeck Abbey, on 4th July. The adjudicator was Kevin Wadsworth.

Carlton Brass	132
Strata Brass	126
Long Eaton	117

Best unplaced 3rd Section Band - Shirland Welfare Training
Best unplaced 4th Section Band - Kirkby Colliery

Best Soloist - Carl Ramplin - Euphonium, Long Eaton

Ray Ward

7/7/04

Long Eaton Solo Contest Results

Long Eaton Silver Prize Band recently held a solo, duet and quartet competition that they hope that will become an annual event. The adjudicators were Richard Walker and Simon Hooley.

Training Band Solo

David Hanson
Melissa Ramplin
Stuart Towlson

Training Band Duet

David Hanson & Jacob Grimoldby
Zoë Cordon & Stuart Towlson
Melissa Ramplin & Emma Ramplin

Training Band Quartet

David Hanson, Jacob Grimoldby, Melissa Ramplin & Emma Ramplin
Joseph Grimoldby, Jacob Grimoldby, Melissa Ramplin & George Ramplin

Mixed Duet

David Hanson & Mark Hanson
David Hanson & Carl Ramplin
Emma Ramplin & Samantha Turner

Mixed Quartet

The Bariphoniums: Carl Ramplin, Steve Larwood, Samantha Turner & Emma Ramplin
The Hansons: Mark, Carol, David & Catherine
The Ramplins: Carl, Elma, Melissa & Emma

Open Duet

Carl Ramplin & Mark Hanson
Kim Larwood & Carol Hanson
Carl Ramplin & Elma Ramplin

Open Quartet

Carl Ramplin, Elma Ramplin, Carol Hanson & Mark Hanson
Carl Ramplin, Elma Ramplin, Carol Hanson & Samantha Turner
Carl Ramplin, Steve Larwood, Samantha Turner & Emma Ramplin

Open Slow Melody

Mark Hanson
Carol Hanson
Chris Grimoldby

Sharon Stansfield

22/6/04

New Signings at Enderby

The Enderby Band has announced a few new player additions to their ranks. Firstly, the band welcomes Richard Stone, who played with the band as a youngster (in the 70's!) and more recently with the band when they were in the Championship Section, having to give up with health problems. With those days now behind him, Richard is back as an addition to the back-row cornet section. The band also welcomes Simon Cooke on Bb Bass and Katy Winfield on Horn.

Antony Szafranek

21/6/04

Water Brass in Sponsorship Deal

The Water Brass Band (Ron Holt) has announced a sponsorship deal with First Bus. This deal will be used to allow the band to restart contesting - starting with this year's Whit Friday Marches.

Paul Knight

1/6/04

Dearham to compete in US Open

The Dearham Band (CUMBRIA, UK) has received an invitation to compete in Chicago in November from Dr. Christine Moore, a former player and member of the US Open organising team, who believed it would be a great idea to bring the band over to compete. During the four day tour the band will perform at two concerts and hold master classes as well as competing in the festival on 6^th November.

The 32 strong band of voluntary, local musicians see this as a unique opportunity to project their region internationally by constructing a musical programme that reflects Cumbria giving the American audiences an insight into the area where they live. Upon their return they intend to make a CD of the music used in the project to sell at concerts over the next year and thus giving all their supporters an opportunity to share the experience.

John Thomas

17/5/04

News from Long Eaton's Bandroom

At the recent AGM of Long Eaton Silver Prize Band (Nottinghamshire, UK), Melissa Ramplin (2^nd cornet) was awarded the prize of "most improved player".

This was the end of another good year after their second prize in the finals in 2003 in Dundee, the fifth year under Sharon Stansfield.

Sharon Stansfield

16/5/04

Drybrook Sponsorship Deal

Drybrook and District Silver Band have announced that they have signed a sponsorship deal with local coal distributor and retailer A W Parker Ltd. This will safeguard the financial future of the band and will allow them to concentrate more on raising the playing standard of the band and less on raising the necessary funds to keep the band going.

As part of the deal, the band has changed its name to the A W Parker (Drybrook) Band.

David Harding

13/5/04

Irish National Contest Results

In the first section, Arklow Shipping Silver Band was triumphant last weekend (17^th April 2004), where they retained their Irish Senior National Brass Band title at the Notre Dame College in Dublin. This was the band's fifth time in a row that they have won the Senior National Title and this is the first time in the competition's history that any band has achieved this. Arklow have now won the title 10 times in the last 12 years.

The second section was won by St. Joseph's Brass (94)

**Section 1 - Resurgam**
Award	Band	Marks
1st	Arklow Silver Band	98
2nd	Drogheda Silver Band	85
3rd	Lourdes Brass Band	81
4th	Stedfast Band	78

The adjudicator was Denis Wilby.

Kevin Fiztgerald

27/4/04

Bill Shaw Slow Melody Contest Results

The second Bill Shaw Memorial Slow Melody Contest took place on Sunday 28th March. 25 players entered both sections. The junior section attracted seven entries including the current Scottish intermediate champion Ross Brotherston from St. Ronans Band. A very strong field of eighteen entries in the open section included former Scottish Senior champion Gareth Ross of Newtongrange and reigning Northern Counties champion Calum Booth of Granite City Brass.

The contest opened with the junior section which was won by Ross Brotherston of St. Ronans band playing the Stephen Roberts arrangement of the Irish air Carrickfergus. In second place came trombonist Heather Singer of Forfar Academy playing Spring Lullaby by P. S. Hall. None of the junior players went away empty handed though, all of them were awarded certificates and medals. Ross Brotherston then who takes with him the Bill Shaw solo trophy and a cheque for £25. The prizes in the Junior section were awarded by Marie Imrie.

The winner of the open section, and recipient of the Bill Shaw Memorial trophy and a cheque for £50, was Whitburn Band Eb Bass player Graham Fraser playing the John Golland composition Peace. In second place was last year's champion John Martin of Lochgelly Band.

**Junior Section**
Award	Name	Band	Instrument
1st	Ross Brotherston	St. Ronans	Cornet
2nd	Heather Singer	Forfar Academy	Trombone

**Open Section**
Award	Name	Band	Instrument
1st	Graham Fraser	Whitburn	Eb Bass
2nd	John Martin	Lochgelly	Eb Bass
3rd	Gareth Ross	Newtongrange	Euphonium
4th	Calum Booth	Granite City	Cornet

The adjudicator was Mr Archie Hutchison from Kirkoswald. He is a former conductor of Lochgelly Band and was a friend of Bill Shaw. The accompanist was Robert Duncan.

John Martin

3/4/04

KM Medway Concert Brass New Conductor

K.M. Medway Concert Brass is pleased to announce the appointment of Garrie Harvey as its new musical director. It is hoped that Garrie will lead the band to success in the third section in Area Contest in Stevenage and the future.

The band would like to thank Mr Tim Andrew who stood down as M.D. last year, for all his hard work with the band and are pleased at his decision to remain with the band and welcome him back to the cornet section.

Mr Wally Hammonds fulfilled the conducting duties whilst a new M.D. was being sought. The band are looking forward Wally's return to the euphonium section.

Tracy Gardner

14/3/04

City of Bristol Appoints New Conductor

The City of Bristol Brass Band has appointed Andrew Jones ALCM LWCMD to take them to the areas in Torquay. He took over from Ian Dickinson who has helped them recently.

Andrew is well known in South Wales and is currently appointed as an advisor on brass bands to the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Amateur Music Federation and is Course Manager of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales.

His playing includes bands such as Rogerstone, Parc & Dare and Tredegar where he has appeared at the National Championships, The British Open and numerous European Championships.

Andrew was one of numerous applicants for the position after the band advertised it on The Brass Band Portal.

Mark Bodenham

6/2/04

Long Eaton Signings

Long Eaton Silver Prize Band has announced the return of principal euphonium player Carl Ramplin who rejoins to be with eight members of his family.

Carl returns from a busy spell with Carlton Main Frickley Band. Another player joining to be with his family is Clive Purnell who joins on solo cornet to be with wife Sylvia and son Darren. Clive has also played with top bands in the past including Desford, Travelsphere Holidays and more recently with Jaguar (Coventry) Band.

The band is looking forward to it's first contests in the 3rd section after being promoted.

Sharon Stansfield

3/2/04

Watchet Town Band invests in the future

Watchet Town Band in Somerset have just celebrated their 110th Anniversary. The band has 20 members and they always looking for new blood, the younger the better.

The two main tutors in the band have over 75 years experience between them, and have at some point taught every member of the band.

They have an extensive library of music dating back to the 19th century, including many pieces that are unavailable today.

They are constantly buying new scores, to appeal to the younger generation. Their tutors would be pleased to offer instruction to anyone who might want to learn brass.

Thomas Izzard

26/1/04

News about the US Open

The 2004 U.S. Open Brass Band Championships has a working date of 6th November 2004, tickets for audience admissions will be available during the summer.

The U.S. Open will release a CD entitled "The Very Best of the U.S. Open 2003" which will feature highlights from the first year's performances. Selections will include the winner of each category: Grand Champion, Most Entertaining, Best March, Best Featured Soloist, Best New Arrangement and even the best "Busker"(!!) along with other selections. Audio samples will be posted to their website. The finished product will be available for purchase in a few months. Photographs from last year's event, press releases and reviews are also now available on the site.

If your band is interested in participating and competing at the U.S. Open or if you just have questions about the event, please contact them.

Clark Niermeyer

19/1/04

Re-union for Jaguar/Rolls Royce Band

A re-union to celebrate the last Twenty Years as The Rolls-Royce (Coventry) Band and to the future as The Jaguar Band will commence at 7.45pm at the Jaguar Sports and Social Club, Browns Lane, Coventry on 23^rd January.

Did you used to play in the Rolls-Royce Band? If so drop the band a line so they can send you more details, phone 07968 969720.

The band was associated with Rolls-Royce PLC for twenty years so there are a lot of people they need to contact so please get in touch and pass the word. And for those who may have been associated with the Jaguar Band for even this short time this is for you as well.

Kevin Lea

5/1/04