The Post Horn

Issue 02 The Post Horn

The Newsletter of the Camborne Town Band Music Society

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 J U N E 2 0 1 3 Editor: Mackenzie takes the helm Nick Wills Following the departure of David the West of England Bandsman’s we have a tremendous team to Hamilton to pursue a Musicians Festival in Bugle direct our performances over the career in the British Army, Cam- His return has been welcomed by coming year.” borne Band has announced the ap- Band and Chairman, Nick Sanders, Kevin added; “It’s a great pleas- INSIDE THIS pointment of a new Resident Musical who stated, “We are very pleased to ure to accept the invitation to I SSUE: Director, Kevin Mackenzie. Kevin have been able to secure the ser- return to the team at Camborne as studied in Yorkshire for a BA (hons) vices of Kevin once more for the Musical Director. This is a great Mackenzie 1 in Band Studies and also achieved an opportunity to work with a for- takes the ABRSM and LRSM in performance on ward thinking band on some Helm the euphonium, gaining a distinction exciting collaborations and musi- in both. During his time at Univer- cal projects. There are few bands Hitchens 3 sity in Yorkshire, Kevin was a mem- with the heritage and history of Return ber of the double National and Euro- Camborne and it is an honour to pean Champions Brighouse and be appointed to this role." Rastrick Band under Alan Withing- Bugle Results 4 ton. This will be Kevin’s second stint Kevin’s first conducting engage- in front of Camborne after previously Kevin Mackenzie ment with the Band was the conducting the band between 2008 George Lloyd Centenary Concert in National 6 St Ives earlier this month. The & 2011. During his initial tenure Camborne Band. His first stint with with Camborne, the band secured a Band would like to take the op- Success us was a great success and every- number of high profile contest suc- portunity to thank David Hamilton one is looking forward to working cesses and qualified to make two for all his hard work over the past George Lloyd 8 with him once again. We are sure appearances at the National Finals, year and wish him every success that together with John Berryman Concert as well as a hat trick of victories at in his new career in the military.

Player Profile 9 Lee Trewella Bugle Success for Camborne Juniors

Future Dates 9 Camborne Junior Contest Band, nel Edward Bolitho OBE, who also The Band certainly enjoyed their directed by Alan Pope, had yet enjoyed the competitive atmos- Bugle appearance as earlier in the more success, competing in the phere. The talented youngsters of day they won the Fourth Section West of England Bandsmen's Festi- West of England Fourth Section title thanks to a lovely rendition of val in Bugle. The contest was adju- Area champions showed that they Eric Ball’s Petit Suite de Ballet, dicated by Cory MD Philip Harper are in cracking form ahead of their aided by the excellent ‘Best Player’ who composed two of the test trip to Cheltenham as they ended contribution from euphonium pieces used on the day, whilst runner-up in the Third Section player David Wilton presentations were made by the from a performance of Gilbert More on page 4. Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colo- Vinter's Vizcaya. 2 P A G E 2 Camborne return for Hitchens

Camborne Band is very perform two similar gala bandsman is unquestion- pleased to announce the concerts; one held in the able." signing and return of top famous Leeds Town Hall, Chairman Nick Sanders Euphonium player John and the other in Inverness. added: “This is a major Hitchens. A former Princi- coup for Camborne. We pal of the Band and Eupho- have seriously high ambi- nium Champion of Great tions and want to perform Britain in 94 and 98, John at the very highest levels brings a wealth of experi- both in concerts and on ence to the Camborne ranks contest stages. Signing a after a period of rebuilding. player of John’s calibre He is in constant demand as will certainly help us to do a soloist and has performed this.” John added: "I’m in many concerts through- very happy to join the out the country as well as in Band. They are ambitious France, Germany, Holland and I feel that I can get the and Switzerland. In 1998 most out of my playing. John performed as a soloist Camborne MD Kevin The band work very hard in the Queen Elizabeth Mackenzie said, "I’m ex- and I am looking forward Hall, London in a concert cited to build further on our to playing at the very high- hosted by Donald Sinden to talented group, adding one est level again with Cam- an invited audience that of the most experienced borne." included Joan Plowright, players; he’s going to be a Maureen Lipman and Sir John made his concert de- real asset to the band, his Andrew Davis. The follow- but at the George Lloyd commitment as a player and ing year he was invited to Centenary Concert.

Camborne Youth play for OCS Delegates

Old Cornwall Society Champions no less than seven times at the National Youth delegates gave a standing Brass Band Contest in Manchester, the players beguiled an audi- ovation to young Cornish ence of some 250 who were representing a total membership of brass band champions at 2,700. the start of their summer Hosted by Camborne OCS secretary Ivor Corkell introduced festival. president David Thomas, FOCS president Duncan Paul Mat- Camborne Youth Band thews, Camborne mayor Mike Champion and Grand Bard Mau- opened a day of entertain- reen Fuller, who exhorted members to recall the wishes of OCS ment and debate at the founder Robert Morton Nance to hold on to the "Cornish spirit". event, which saw mem- Citing a number of ways to do this, Mrs Fuller included teach- bers of 46 OCS branches ing Cornwall's history in schools and learning key Cornish gather at Pool Academy. words and phrases. The festival included visits to places of local Under conductor Alan interest and Camborne OCS arranged trips to Gwithian, Heart- Pope their playing, which lands, King Edward Mine Museum, Rosewarne Duchy College, included a sparkling xylo- Camborne town centre and Treslothan for an insight into the life phone solo by Charlie of miner poet, John Harris. Hodge, wowed the audience and set the tone for The musicians and singers of Proper Job brought the day to an the day. end with Cornish songs, dialect tales and a rousing rendition of Trelawny.

THE POST HORN 3 P A G E 3

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2

32nd Constantine Brass on the Grass

Camborne Band along with Helston, St Keverne and Pendennis Band performed in this years Constantine Brass on the Grass evening. Played to a capacity audience in the Grand Marquee, Camborne was the fourth band to entertain a very receptive and enthusiastic audience led for the evening by John Berryman. Camborne started it’s set with a new composition from the pen of Black Dyke horn player Jonny Bates. Tortuguero 6 is a Latin inspired work composed for the RNCM Festival of Brass. The Band then moved on to Michael Garasi's arrangement of Fu- niculi-Funicula Rhapsody, which is a work unique to Camborne and the Brass Band of Central Florida. The soloist for the evening was Principal Cornet Darren Hendy, choosing to play the classic cornet solo The Nightingale by Harold Moss. Darren gave a very pol- ished performance of this piece and the band accompaniment was sympathetic to the soloist. Camborne then slowed the pace down with the beautiful Mist of the Forest. It is the atmospheric penultimate movement of Gareth Wood’s extended suite Brass Trium- phant, which was written for the Cory Band as part of their 125th anniversary cele- brations in 2009. It was also used as the first section area test piece this year. To close the Band played Respighi’s March from The Pines of Rome, arranged by Howard Snell, which has become very popular with brass band audiences across the world. After a quiet beginning, where the marching soldiers can almost be heard approaching from the distance, the volume and tension increases all the way to the grand final chords. Shostakovich's Folk Festival proved a popular encore showing great skill and no small amount of flair which brought the concert to a triumphant close.

Congratulations and Au Revoir

We would like to congratu- back in Cornwall he has helped Cam- late Jeremy Meddows- borne to qualify for the British Open Taylor on his appointment Senior Cup and conducted Heyl Band of Music Teacher at Wells to 5th in the West of England area Cathedral School. Jeremy this year. We wish him every success will take up his new posi- for the future with his appointment as tion in September and has principal percussionist with the Flow- already moved up to Bath to ers Band of Gloucester. be near his new place of work. In his short time 4 P A G E 4 West of England Bandsman's Contest Third Section: Test Piece: Vizcaya (Gilbert Vinter) 1. Heyl Town (Shaun Marsden) - 182 2. Camborne Junior Contest (Alan Pope) - 179 3. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman) - 178 Best Player Award: Adrian Allen - Solo Cornet (Heyl Town )

Fourth Seciton: Test Piece: Petit Suite De Ballet (Eric Ball) 1. Camborne Junior Contest (Alan Pope) - 180 2. Lostwithiel Town (Denzil Stephens) - 178 3. Okehampton Excelsior Silver (Richard Beardon) - 177 4. Porthleven Town (Tom Bassett) - 175 5. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman) - 174 6. Pendeen Silver (David Hamilton) - 173 7. Indian Queens Silver (Kevin Ackford) - 172 CJCB Marching to the contest field Best Player Award: David Wilton - Euphonium (Camborne Junior Contest)

All Roads Lead to Cheltenham for Youth band

Camborne Youth Band are organising various events to help raise funds to take them to the National Finals at Cheltenham Race Course on the 21st September 2013. As well as the recent race night, a sponsored concert was held in Camborne Square on Saturday 11th May between 3pm and 6pm, where the Band played various pieces of music, including some from their latest CD/DVD, a Bit of Cornish, with only 90 seconds break between each piece. Band members asked friends and family to sponsor them with the member obtaining the most sponsors winning a prize. Another fundraiser was their annual Brass on the Grass concert at Camborne Community Centre. The weather was kind, albeit a little cold by the end of the evening. The band played a variety of pieces, some new and some old favourites requested by the public. There were stalls available for the support- ers to browse while listening to the band play, including tom-bola, raffle stall, BBQ, cream teas and a cake stall. All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening as always. Their latest fundraiser was bag packing over the May Bank Holiday weekend, with players and parents giving up their free time to pack bags at The Range in Truro. The weather kept some customers away from the store on Saturday and Sunday, enjoying the sunshine on the beach rather than shopping. However, on Monday the weather was not as favourable and this increased the public through doors improving the bands collections. Further events will be taking place over the coming months, please check the website for further infor- mation or contact one of the Youth Band management team.

5 P A G E 5

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2

World Music Festival in Kerkrade 1973— by Tony Mansell Following their 5 th place at the National borne came out on top and were crowned champi- Championships in 1973 the Band was invited ons. to take part in the 1974 Brass Championship of the World Music Festival at Kerkrade. Un- Mike Hocking recalled the final stages of the jour- fortunately euphonium player Neil Peters ney home with car drivers acknowledging the win was taken ill and was in such a state that he from Indian Queens all the way back to Camborne. could not take part in the marching contest. After a brief stop at the Crossroads Motel to change Courtney Berryman took his place and re- into their uniforms the players assembled at the top membered the judges walking beside the end of the town. Band Queen Margaret Ellis led the Band and taking account of any little imper- march down through Trelowarren Street to The Cos- fections in either the marching or the playing. sack – what else? Mike said, “It was evening time He said, “It took place in a Dutch football and the reception laid on in Commercial Square was stadium and we played The Standard of St something really special”. One particular banner in George. We were placed second behind a the jubilant crowd seemed to sum up the feelings of German band which we thought was a good the town, it simply said, “We are proud”. result.” It seems that the players were lucky to make it back Neil recovered for the test piece contest when to Camborne. The return trip took them to Le Havre each band had to play two pieces. The set test to catch the ferry. They were already late when the piece was played by all the bands but two driver followed a direction sign off the main route other pieces had to be brought to the contest on to a narrow country road. The dust was flying but and it wasn’t until the players were on stage in the distance they could see the port. Approaching and ready to start that they knew which piece a narrow bridge he ploughed on and the coach they would have to play. Camborne’s two bounced across the surface of what seemed like pieces were Triumphant Rhapsody and Le sleepers. It was only when the passengers looked Roi d’Ys and with Neil Peters still feeling a back that they realised that it was only supported by bit unwell the players were relieved to hear it poles and was intended for bicycles and pedestrians. was the former. Competing against a number of good bands, including William Davies Construction under John Berryman, Cam- 6 P A G E 6

National Success- By Tony Mansell

In 1925 Mr A W Parker from Treharris in south Wales was appointed Musical Director of Camborne Town Band; he made an immediate impact as the Band swept the decks at the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival at Bugle with first place for Euryanthe, the hymn Calcutta and Hymn to Music. Wathew Parker had been a member of the famous St Hilda’s Band and had also played with Besses o’ the Barn and now he had moved to Cornwall to conduct the ambitious players of Camborne Town Band. During the 1930s Mr Parker took the Band to many local contests and to compete at the Crys- tal Palace in London. Under his direction the playing standard steadily rose and in August 1945, at Packer’s Ground in Bristol playing Beethoven’s 5 th Symphony, the Band qualified to compete in the Second Section** National Final at Belle Vue, Manchester (**now the first section). Trombone player Fred Waters said, “I remember getting off the night train from Manchester on the Sunday morning – we couldn’t afford overnight accommodation”. Gerald Fletcher recalled them having trouble with one particular entry and Mr Parker deciding to give a beat to each note. To ensure that everyone remembered he wrote it down and stuck copies on the windows of each railway compartment. Kenilworth was the test piece and, knowing that a large number of Camborne players worked at Holman’s, Mr Parker played a Foden’s Band recording of the piece over the works’ tannoy system for a few days prior to the contest. It worked. The Band won and became the first Cornish band to win a National Cham- pionship. When the result was announced there was a spontaneous outburst of Camborne Hill and the organiser, Henry Iles, threatened to clear the hall. The following year Camborne Town Band played Oliver Cromwell in the Championship Section, they claimed 6 th place and have played in the top flight ever since. 7 P A G E 7 Memory Lane—April 1983

Fresh from the Band success at the 1982 National Finals of Great Brit- ain, Camborne continued it’s rich vein of form with a victory at Bream Sands holiday park in Somerset. Playing the Accursed Huntsman by Ce- sar Franck, the band pulled off another magnificent victory from the number 8 draw with Derek Greenwood at the helm. Two weeks later the band would also go on to claim second spot at the West of England area behind the mighty Sun Life band on John McCabe's Images in the Col- ston Hall, Bristol.

News - New Signings Camborne Band has announced two more signings to their ranks. Simon Kendal joins on Solo Baritone and Dominic Turner on Bass Trombone, Musical Director Kevin Mackenzie said: "I’m delighted to have these players on board. I have worked with Simon and Dominic in the past and they are a fantastic young talent with a great future ahead of them." 'We are looking forward to a long and successful association with both players'

Chairman Nick Sanders added: "Simon joins us from our highly successful youth band where he played for seven years, his ability and experience fits perfectly into what is already a strong and very experienced section." He added: “Dominic joins after a brief spell with Mount Charles having also played with the Cornwall Youth Brass Band and St Dennis Band. These signings add to our growing strength as a band as we mount our serious challenge for qualification for London in 2014 and back to back promotions at the Spring Festival.”

Both players are a product of our successful youth organisation and are a credit to the vision and investment the CTBMS Youth has maintained over the past decade under Alan Pope.

Demelza set for rep debut

Camborne Band are pleased to announce the signing on Repiano Cornet of Demelza Sturges re- placing Roland Woods who left the band after the Spring Festival due to work commitments. De- melza has played with the Helston Town Band for the past ten years, most recently as Principal Cornet. Speaking about the signing, MD Kevin Mackenzie said: "We are extremely pleased to announce the signing of Demelza; she is a proven soloist and will be a huge asset to the band." Band Chairman, Nick Sanders, added: "I'm delighted that Demelza, who has done such a fabulous job as a guest player with the Band, has been appointed. She is a great talent. Her appointment together with others announced in recent weeks demonstrates our aim to compete at the very highest levels." 8 P A G E 8 George Lloyd Centenary Concert - by Phillip Hunt

George Lloyd Phillip Hunt

The Camborne Town Band and the Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble both performed at a special concert at the Guildhall in St Ives to mark the centenary of the birth of composer George Lloyd at the Invitation of St Ives Town Council. The concert on 28 th June, the actual day of his birth, was attended by the Mayor of St Ives as well as members of the Lloyd Family, including his nephew, William Lloyd. Despite being inspired by the sound of the St Ives Salvation Army Band as a young boy, it was many years before George Lloyd started to compose his now well-loved and popular works for brass band. Camborne, conducted by newly appointed Musical Director Kevin Mackenzie, started the concert in fine style with the march HMS Trinidad, composed by George Lloyd when he was a cornet player in the Royal Marine Band aboard HMS Trinidad. The Band’s other major contribution to the memory of George Lloyd was their performance of Royal Parks, written for the 1985 European Championships in Copenhagen. The second movement of this extended work, In Memoriam, is particularly poignant, as it was written in memory of the young military bandsmen killed in a terrorist bomb attack in Regents Park in 1982, so close to George Lloyd’s home that he heard the explosion. In addition the Band also marked the centenary of Benjamin Britten’s birth by playing an arrangement of his The Spider and the Fly and gave a spirited performance of Labour and Love by Percy Fletcher, the first original Test Piece written for Brass Band in 1913. Principal Cornet, Darren Hendy entranced the audience with his performance of the Londonderry Air and the Band joined forces with the Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble for Festmusik der Stadt Wein by Richard Strauss. The Ensemble, conducted by Gareth Churcher, also played movements from George Lloyd’s two orchestral brass compositions, Miniature Triptych and his 10 th Symphony, November Journeys, as well as a selection of lighter items. Speaking on behalf of the large audience William Lloyd thanked the Band and Ensemble for their efforts in performing his uncle’s music in such an enthusiastic manner and making the actual day of his centenary such a memorable one, just yards from his birthplace in the town.

Phillip Hunt has been presenting BBC Sounds of Brass regularly since 1985, to which Camborne Band play the theme tune each week. Phillip is also Secretary of The Cornwall Youth Brass Band and was made a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd in 2004 in recognition of his services to Brass Bands.

Sounds of Brass is broadcast on BBC Radio Cornwall every Sunday evening at 7.05, it is also available on BBC iplayer for 7 days after the broadcast. 9 P A G E 9

Player Profile

Lee started playing in Helston Town Band in the late 80s before leaving Cornwall for University in Nottingham. Whilst studying there, Lee was invited to join the Nottingham City Transport Band under Martin Heartfield, and then Desford Colliery Band, under Frank Renton, for the 1997 British Open. Lee returned to Cornwall after his studies and, after a brief spell working in London he was invited to join Camborne Band in 2000. Since then Lee has been for- tunate enough to work with some great conductors and experience Name : Lee Trewhella some wonderful performances. His favorite memories include win- Position: Principal Eb Bass ning the West of England Area with Frank Renton on ‘Jazz’ and Date Joined: 2000 ‘Prague’, and also with Gary Cutt on ‘Salute to Youth’. More recently, he has particularly enjoyed the encouragement and advice Interesting fact: Lee was a useful given by world renowned Tuba Player Steve Sykes, of whom he rugby player and at one time and played has been an admirer since he first helped the band as a young boy for Redruth!! in a concert in the late 1980’s.

Dates for your Diary

Sep 15th Camborne Youth - National Finals Concert, @ Penventon Hotel 3pm 21st Camborne Youth - National Final of GB, @ The Race Course, Cheltenham 21st Camborne Band Proms Concert @ Padstow Church 6pm 26th Camborne Band Proms Concert @ St Ives Guildhall 7,30pm Oct 20th Camborne Band - Lowender Peran Festival @ Ponsmere Hotel, Perranporth 5pm 20th Camborne Youth in Concert, @ Camborne Wesley 7.45pm 24th Camborne Band Prom Concert, @ Hall for Cornwall 7.30pm Nov 2nd SWBBA Annual Championships, Rivera Centre, Torquay