BRITISH BandsIssue no. 5509 – 17 May 2008 the leading internationalman brass magazine Price £1.25 Leyland back in the big time after a grand day out in Blackpool 12 year-old trombonist wins BBC Young Musician title BB 1.indd 1 13-05-2008 18:24:43 MAILBOX HAVE YOUR SAY WRITE TO THE EDITOR WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON ANY BANDING SUBJECT Listen to the Band Points error at Truro Recently, our band took part in the 53rd Annual CBBA Contest, under fire held at Truro, and was awarded third place in the ungraded I am writing to you as an official band journal, which, I’m sure, section. The adjudicator, Phillip Harper, gave us 179 points - will carry more weight with the BBC than I would. only three points behind the winning band! Unfortunately, the Could you please complain about the fact that Listen to the contest organiser gave out the wrong points on the day (174) Band was cut short recently by five minutes. We only get and, although this was verbally pointed out to the organisers, one 30-minute programme per week on national radio, so to cut five minutes off was an insult to the players of the band obviously no corrections were made - as you have also been that had just started to play a new piece of music by a young given the wrong number of points gained by our band. Foden’s stars thrill composer, an insult to him, and a kick in the teeth to brass This was our band’s first contest in almost 40 years and we Rushden audience band listeners. were thrilled to be marked so closely, and the difference of Rushden Mission Band has just celebrated its 110th T. Boddington, five points make a lot of difference in the world of brass band Anniversary with a service and tea held in the church. Past and Wollaston. contests, as I’m sure you know. current members of the band were present, several of whom Editor: Your complaint has been duly lodged. We await the reply Would you kindly print a correction for us - so that everyone had traveled considerable distances to be there. with interest. knows we were hot on the tails of the first and second bands, The Training Band played at the opening of the service, and not trailing miles behind. followed by the Senior Band, which played for the hymns and Proud to be British M. Prior, also included several band pieces. Correspondence re British brass bands in America (BB 5505) Newquay. A few days later, a special concert was held, featuring Glyn turned my mind to another but related point. Williams, Foden’s principal euphonium. Glyn conducted part For a while now, I have blamed the subtle but near of the rehearsal, something the members will remember for disappearance of BRITISH from your masthead on failing Link with the past a long time, and he enchanted and amazed the audience and eyesight. However I am now convinced that you may be With reference to page two of BB 5498 and the article ‘Where the band with his superb playing and his excellent rapport working towards eliminating the word! I trust not. Blow it Are They Now’, I have a certificate for my grandfather being with the audience. Accompanying Glyn was Helen Fox, Foden’s up a bit is my advice. The whole brass band thing is a British made an honorary life member of the Brass Band Club. I think flugel player, who sat in with the band for the concert. What a phenomenon. Try not to forget it, and be proud! this might be of interest to the writer, P. Bignell. gesture and a great thrill for Rushden’s flugel player. D. Leed, P. Millest, T. Boddington, Emsworth. Scunthorpe. Wollaston. BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 2 BB 2-3.indd 2 13-05-2008 18:22:17 NEWS 12 year-old Peter Moore is BBC Young Musician of the Year The youngest-ever winner in the 30-year history of the competition, 12 year-old trombonist, Peter Moore, has been crowned the 2008 BBC Young Musician of the Year, following the Final, which was held in the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, last weekend. Only the third brass player to win, Peter follows in the footsteps of trombonist, Michael Hext, who won in 1978, then aged 17, and French horn player, David Pyatt, who won in 1988 at the age of 14. Peter is currently a student at Chetham’s School of Music and is a pupil of Andrew Berryman. He is also principal trombone of Wingates Band and the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain. In a BBC interview, he said, “I have really enjoyed the whole competition and feel really privileged to take part. It has been great to work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. When my mum said I should enter I thought she was off her rocker, but she talked me into it.” Throughout the competition, Peter beat off stiff opposition from other competitors including his brother, David, who studies the trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music. In the final, Peter’s outstanding performance of Henri Tomasi’s Trombone Concerto saw him gain victory over fellow finalists, Jadran Duncumb (guitar), Erdem Misirlioglu (piano), David Smith (flute) and Jim Molyneux (percussion). As well as winning the prestigeous title, Peter also received a prize of £2,000 and the opportunity to give a solo recital at the Wigmore Hall in London. New Gregson piece Titan’s Progress Australian Championships for British Open for Swiss ‘National’ heading for Sydney Organisers of the British Open Championship have announced The test-pieces chosen for the 2008 Swiss National It has been announced that the 2009 Australian National the test-piece for the 2008 Championship, which will take Championships include a new commission for bands in Band Championships will take place between 9 and 13 April place in Birmingham on Saturday 13 September. the 2nd Section, keeping in line with the organisers’ policy in Sydney. Commissioned jointly by the British Open and Norwegian of commissioning new works for its lower section bands. The venue will be the impressive Seymour Theatre Centre, Band Federation, Rococo Variations is the first major test- Interest will also surround the set work for the Championship which provides suitable venues for all the main band and piece to be written by Professor Edward Gregson since 1991. Section, Hermann Pallhuber’s Titan’s Progress, which made solo events, while the traditional marching competition will Commenting, the composer said: “I am delighted to have a great impression at the 2007 European Championships in form part of Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, taking place at the been commissioned to write the test-piece for the 2008 Birmingham, being chosen to test Switzerland’s finest bands. Sydney Show Ground. British Open Championship. The ‘Open’ is undoubtedly the The test-pieces chosen are: The provisional schedule is: finest brass band championship in Britain and has a long and Championship Section Thursday 9 April: Solo and ensemble contests proud record of commissioning new works.” Test-piece: Titan’s Progress (Hermann Pallhuber) Friday 10 April: ‘Open’ Grade hymn tune and test-piece The music pays homage to six composers, all of whom have Own-choice: Any test-piece apart from a transcription Saturday 11 April: Street march made significant contributions to the brass band repertoire, 1st Section Saturday 11 April: ‘Open’ Grade concert bands but whose identities Professor Gregson has yet to reveal. Dances and Arias (Edward Gregson) Saturday 11 April: Junior Grade brass bands While the Co-operative Group has sponsored this year’s 2nd Section Saturday 11 April: Gala Concert test-piece commission, the organisers have revealed New work by Stefan Hodel Sunday 12 April: ‘Open’ Grade brass own-choice and stage march that Besson will be the new sponsor of the British Open. 3rd Section Monday 13 April: Junior Grade concert bands Commenting to BB, Martin Mortimer said: “We are obviously Legenda Rumantscha (Oliver Waespi) The adjudicators have been announced as Professor David King delighted with this news. This is a major development for the 4th Section (brass bands) and James Curnow (concert bands). Championship.” Petit Suite de Ballet (Eric Ball) Youth Brass 2000 Auditions for National Youth Brass Band to top ‘Masters’ bill SCABA at The Hawth The following audition dates have been set for aspiring Organisers of the All-England Masters International Brass The Southern Counties Amateur Band Association (SCABA) is members of both the National Youth Brass Band of Great Band Festival, which will take place in Cambridge’s Corn preparing for its annual Entertainment Contest, which will Britain (NYBBGB) and the National Children’s Band of Great Exchange on Sunday 25 May, have announced that Youth take place this Sunday (18th) at The Hawth in Crawley. Britain (NCBBGB): Brass 2000, conducted by Chris Jeans, will top the bill in a The organisers hope, once again, to put on a day of varied Sunday 22 June: Royal Academy of Music, London 20-minute entertainment feature at the close of the contest. entertainment from the member bands. SCABA’s PR Officer Saturday 28 June: University of Leeds An exciting day of music is expected, as bands from across commented, “We hope that we can attract a healthy Sunday 21 September: St. Dennis Bandroom, Cornwall Europe come to grips with Martin Ellerby’s specially audience to this popular contest, and SCABA is delighted to Sunday 19 October: Leicester Arts Centre commissioned test-piece, Malcolm Arnold Variations. The welcome David Horsfield to cast his eyes and ears over our Saturday 8 November: University of Salford evening gala concert will feature The Fairey Band, Scottish competing bands as adjudicator.” Saturday 15 November: University of Sunderland Co-op Band and cornet soloist, Russell Gray.