A S E B R S B A T H N D BRIDGE H issue 113 The Official Publication of the North American Brass Band Association march, 2009 the Georgia Brass Band, as the eighth Editor UNDER THE BRIDGE of The Brass Band Bridge, effective with issue IN THIS ISSUE 114. I know you will support Betsy as you have me, and continue to submit your news, Douglas Yeo photographs, articles, programs and other items ATOP THE BRIDGE for inclusion in The Bridge. Betsy will bring From the President, pg. 2 Editor her own style to The Bridge, and I am sure it will continue to be the high-quality publica- tion our members have come to enjoy. At its NABBA AT BUTLINS he great composer Paul Hindemith annual meeting on April 2, the NABBA Board MINEWorkers’ penned these memorable lines in his of Directors will elect a new Vice President, CONTEST poem, The Posthorn: and I encourage interested NABBA members T pg. 3 to consider running for a seat on the Board The old is not good because it is past, when that opportunity is announced later this nor the new supreme because we live with it. spring. NABBA's members are its strength, BUFFET CRAMPON And, so it is, as I write my last column as Edi- and we continue to need hard-working, com- mitted people to serve on the Board. NABBA XXVII MAJOR tor of The Brass Band Bridge, and look both SPONSOR back and forward and strive to keep both in a As I turn the page from this time of active pg. 5 healthy perspective. service for NABBA, I wish to thank those with When then-President Anita Cocker Hunt asked whom I have worked with on the Board who me to serve NABBA as the seventh Editor have both helped and supported me in my NEWS FROM NABBA of The Bridge, I scarcely knew what it would various offices. Rusty Morris, Jim Grate, Anita BANDS Cocker Hunt, Susan Henthorn and Linda Det- entail. My first issue was Issue 99, published pg. 10 on May 15, 2006, and it is hard to believe that man have worked tirelessly along side of me on since that time, a further 14 issues have come the Executive Committee. Others, particularly forth from my home office, utilizing computer, John de Salme, Ronald W. Holz, Joe Johnson, scanner and camera. Theresa MacDonald and Linda Yeo have also “gone the extra mile” in assisting me with many COMPACT DISC REVIEWS Over these 15 issues, The Bridge has migrated NABBA related tasks. by Ronald W. Holz, pg. 11 to an all-electronic format, is now in full color, accepts paid advertising, and finds each issue While I am leaving the NABBA Board of downloaded over 10,000 times. It has been Directors, I will continue to support brass very rewarding to see The Bridge move into this banding in a variety of ways, working as guest NABBA XXVII new era while building on the excellent work of conductor, clinician and soloist with bands around the world. I will continue to be a CHAMPIONSHIPS past editors, each of whom brought their own PREVIEW AND CONTEST look to our flagship publication. NABBA member and look forward to attend- ing future NABBA Championships and other INFORMATION As I mentioned in my column in Issue 112, I events. pg. 15 have thoroughly enjoyed serving NABBA as Bridge Editor, Vice President and a member of As many of you are preparing for our XXVII the Board of Directors. But to everything there Championships, I salute you in your efforts EXIT RAMP to implement NABBA’s mission to “foster, is a season, and with many other commitments Contribute to the Bridge, and activities calling for my atttention, I simply promote and encourage the growth and devel- opment of British-type brass bands in North Credits, pg. 24 cannot continue my NABBA obligations past J June 30 when my current term expires. America.” As we move forward, I am very pleased to announce that President Rusty Morris has ap- pointed Betsy Jones, baritone horn player with the brass band bridge, issue 113 1 ® the official publication of nabba march, 2009 dered table covers you will see this year at the opening. The trade stands were very well ATOP THE BRIDGE NABBA information table in Louisville, and so organized and well stocked. Instrument dealers much more. Make sure you stop by the TOR with entire lines of instruments, music dealers Banners display and tell Jon “thank you” for all with boxes upon boxes of brass band music, Russell Morris that he does for NABBA. music shops with every conceivable mouth- piece, mute, and new gadget that you can I know that Steve and Jon are working on ways think of were there. And the people! For me to NABBA President to include more NABBA presence at future be able to meet and talk with such brass band Butlins contests. This is the premier brass band- icons as Dr. Nicholas Childs, Peter Roberts, ing event in the UK - with nearly 100 bands - Philip Sparke, David Read, Frank Renton, and it will only continue to grow. I am honored Andrew Duncan, was very exciting. In one Greetings and Happy New Year to each of you. to have been a part of the weekend and it will weekend, I was in attendance at concerts by the I hope that your holiday season was a joyous not be my last to attend. Desford Colliery Band, Grimethorpe, Fodens, one and that your preparations for the upcom- Wingates, and the Grimestein Oompah Band! ing NABBA Championships are going well. NABBA was also very well represented at But- You will find in this issue of The Bridge impor- lins by our Vice President, Douglas Yeo. Doug I was struck at the interest in North American tant information regarding Bands from the British the Friday and Saturday audience. They were very events of our 2009 Cham- eager to learn about what pionships. If questions we are doing and how we arise as you read through are progressing. There were this material, please do not six NABBA bands that hesitate to contact me or donated materials (CDs, any Board member. We are books, promotional items) here to help you and your that will go a long way bands enjoy a very success- towards bringing North ful weekend in Louisville. America and the UK brass banding communities In January, my wife and closer together. I want to I were able to attend the personally thank those Butlins Mineworkers’ Con- groups for their most kind test in Skegness, England donations to the Butlins (January 16-18). We owe experience: the New York a huge debt of gratitude Staff Band, New England and thanks to Steve Walker Brass Band, Sunshine and Jon Handley. Steve is Brass Band, Whitby Band, the entertainment direc- Weston Silver Band, and tor for the Butlins resorts Natural State Brass Band. and is the organizer of the Thank you! contest. The hospitality of him and others and was one of the featured guests on Friday in an their interest in North American bands is re- interview session with brass band legend Stan There is much that we can learn from our freshing and exciting. NABBA had a very high Lippeatt. Doug did a bit of playing and then friends across the Atlantic. We at NABBA profile at this event attended by thousands. had an interview with Stan and others. Doug have made remarkable progress in the past 26 attended Butlins two years ago and was a big years. But we can certainly draw on 150+ years Jon Handley is no stranger to NABBA. Jon’s part of the “Big Blow”, an event that was an of experience “across the pond” and discover company, TOR Banners, is responsible for attempt to create the world’s largest brass band. what can work for us so that we may continue the beautiful stand banners that we all use More importantly, he helped to raise money our growth. Thanks to all of you for your sup- during the Championships. TOR Banners also for Brass Band Aid. This year’s event, “Bone port and for your hard to work to make this provides the winning banners for each section. Blow 2009”, was aimed at raising money for organization successful. Keep going and I look Jon will be in attendance for his third consecu- National Youth Brass Band and the National forward to seeing and hearing you in Louisville tive NABBA Championship next month. Jon Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain. Doug in just a few weeks! J is a personal friend and the doors that he is amassed a choir of exactly 50 trombones play- opening for NABBA and NABBA bands are ing arrangements done specifically for this remarkable. It was due to Jon’s hard work and event. It was a tremendous success! diligence that NABBA had a display at Butlins. He provided the table space, a set of stand ban- The entire Butlins experience was very new president @ nabba . org ners of North American bands, the embroi- to me. The sheer size and scope was very eye www.nabba.org the brass band bridge, issue 113 2 the official publication of nabba march, 2009 NABBA AT THE BUTLINS MINEWORKERS’ CONTEST - SKEGNESS, ENGLAND JANUARY 16 - 18, 2009 Photos by John Stizaker, Douglas Yeo, Rusty Morris and Jon Handley. NABBA President Rusty Morris interacts with bandsmen at the NABBA display. Rusty Morris with the British Open Grand Shield (Foden’s Band, current champoins).