We are delighted to announce that on Sunday we placed 3rd in the Fourth Section of the Midlands region of the National Brass Band Championships. We competed against 16 bands, each performing a set test piece called ‘I, Daedalus’ by Andrea Price which is based on the Greek mythological figures of Daedalus and his son Icarus and their ill-fated attempt to escape from a tower in Crete in which they were imprisoned.
The adjudicators commented “A solid and well managed performance. Good solo lines and well-constructed sections. Musical Director has a musical approach – an enjoyable performance” and “There was much to commend about this well lead performance. Confident playing, well balanced, and stylistically accurate for the most part”.
The two adjudicators felt that our performance was worthy of 3rd place, winning the band a trophy, £100 prize-money and an invitation to the National Finals in September. This is where the top bands in the Fourth Section from each of the regions come together to see which band is the best in the country. This will be the first time since 2002 the band has qualified for the Finals.
It’s been a rather challenging run up to the ‘Area’ contest this year which makes the success all the sweeter but also poignant.
At the end of December following many months working to improve the band Clive Keech stepped down as our Musical Director. Peter Bassano who had moved into the Brackley area agreed to take the band to the contest. On the last day of January, we received news that Peter was not feeling well, an old friend and ex-player of the band Nigel Hall stepped in to continue rehearsals whilst we hoped Peter would return; less than a week later, the tragic news came that Peter had sadly passed away.
Mark Probert kindly agreed to prepare and conduct the band for the Area contest. The Friday before the contest, Witney Band conductor Guy James stepped in at our last regular rehearsal while Mark was busy finalising his own preparations for the contest with GUS band.
Sunday was a long day with our rehearsal booked for 8:30 in the function room of a social club in Bedworth. We spent a short time warming up, playing hymns, going over sections of the test piece for the last time before the contest. Then we received "the call"; Floss had managed to draw us first.
We took the stage, played the National Anthem, a benefit of being drawn first and then began our performance of ‘I,Daedalus’. We did our best and, like every other band, hoped it would be enough to achieve a good result. The rest of the day was spent in and out of the Bedworth Civic Hall both watching bands whose players, following the new borrowed player rules, have helped us and of course watching other bands.
It was a great day for the band, whilst we were saddened that we couldn’t go to the contest with Peter, we were delighted that we managed to go at all and to receive such a great result under the guidance of his former student, and friend, Mark was just reward for all the work that everyone has put in. We are very grateful and want to say a sincere thank you to all those who helped us on our journey.