We bring great news of success at winning the West of England First Section Championships in Torquay. More information detailed inside.
This year’s performance at Upham Road, the Band’s 42nd annual concert at this venue, was one of the best concert performances the Band has put together in many years. Directed by Phillip Harper, the programme included some of his own stunning compositions including The Muppet Show, and Salsa P’Gozar. The Band thoroughly enjoyed the rehearsals for the concert, and we hope to work with Phillip again.
We staged our 3rd annual Spring Concert at St Michael’s Church on 26th Feb. Nigel Seaman returned to conduct the Band. Nigel has made a great recovery from illness last summer and is back working with the Band on a regular basis. We have kept in regular contact with Nigel since then on his long road to recovery. We would like to thank everyone involved in organising this concert – especially our helpers who have prepared the refreshments for the interval.
The next contest is then Blackpool on 8th May in the Winter Gardens. The Senior Trophy music piece this year is Edward Gregson’s “Connotations”. We are directed here by Steve Sykes. Steve lives in Somerset now, although initially from northern roots has played in some of the very best Bands including a long spell at Grimethorpe Colliery Band. As a virtuosi Tuba player Steve is one of the very best players in the World! He has a wealth of experience directing bands at the very highest levels and rehearsals so far have been excellent. Look out for more news in the next edition.
Our next concert date is Saturday 23rd April, in the Devizes Corn Exchange – see back page for details.
Aldbourne Band is delighted to announce winning the First Section of the West of England Regional Championships at the Riviera Centre, Torquay, on the 13th of March. The result on the musical piece “Comedy Overture”, by John Ireland, scored 190 points out of 200, beating the 2nd placed band significantly by two clear points, in a section of 12 Bands from Wiltshire through to Cornwall.
Competition Judge, John Maines commented about Aldbourne’s performance “Overall, an excellent show; well directed and always musical”. Much of the credit for the success has to be given to Musical Director Melvin White who brought so much style and quality out in the Band’s performance.
The result guarantees Aldbourne Band’s return to the Championship Section, the highest national grading, for 2006’s West of England Championships. In addition, Aldbourne represents the West of England at the National Finals in Harrogate in September 2005 to compete for the First Section National title against the winners and runners-up of the other 7 regions across the United Kingdom. The last time we performed at Harrogate, 1998, the Band was placed 3rd, so let’s hope to go better than this.
Chairman James Sheppard said...' This is a well deserved victory which reflects the commitment and calibre of players within the Band. We are delighted to have been invited to represent the West of England at the National Championships in September, and are looking forward to many new and exciting challenges ahead.‘
There have also a few personnel movements this Spring. We said farewell to Paul and Jacqui Uzzell who have played with the Band for 10 years. We thank them for their continued commitment and wish them luck for the future. Ralph Rowden and Steve Chapman (Aldbourne’s former Principal Cornet) will be playing the forthcoming contest at Blackpool.
In Paul and Jacqui’s absence, Jo Sykes (Steve Skyes wife), joking called ‘the little lady with the small sound’ has been doing a super job filling out the sound on the back row.
Some of the junior players that have had tuition from Band members delighted the WI with some musical items. Sam Hutchings, Natalie Muirhead-Davies, Lucie Walton and Zoe Walton each played 2 solo items in a recent WI meeting. Well done to all, and thanks to the WI for the donation and support.
