We’ve been busy since the start of the year with preparation for both the Welsh Open and Regional qualifying competition for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
Our “Easy like and Early Sunday Morning” themed entertainment programme included music from Mancini, Rutter and Bacharach, and this reflected the band’s Sunday morning early start at the Riverfront Theatre in Newport, having been pre-drawn to start the day off with a number one draw. On the day the band produced a neat performance which prompted adjudicator Tom Davoren to pen “Bravo, a very enjoyable performance and a great theme!” and placed the band a credible 5th out of the 14 bands on the day.
Just three weeks later, the band took part in the Welsh Regional competition for the National Finals, so had a quick turn around to prepare the test piece Variations on Was Lebet composed by Andrew Wainwright. The band put on a polished performance off a number 3 draw which found favour with both adjudicators and prompted adjudication comments of “An impressive performance, and a fine reading from the MD, congratulations all” & that the band really stood out in the competing field, and placed the band in 1st place. This saw the band take the title of Champion Welsh1st Section band for the second year in succession.