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Community Church of Vero Beach

The BBCF performed patriotic selections for a capacity crowd on Sunday July 6, 2008 and looks forward to returning again on July 5, 2009.

"WOW! What a great service yesterday—I have had nothing but fabulous comments and applause for the band's spectacular performance. 864 people in attendance---888 is maximum capacity!

My compliments to all the band members and Mr. Garasi—Not only are they talented musicians -- they were a pleasure to have around."

Suzanne D. Rice - Director of Music Administration

Community Church of Vero Beach

From the Community Church web site:

A Service and Celebration of Freedom!

The Brass Band of Central Florida ~ Sunday, July 6th

Come prepared for an inspiring morning as we celebrate our traditional patriotic service! This year we will feature the Brass Band of Central Florida. This fine ensemble features thirty of central Florida’s finest brass and percussion musicians performing in the traditional British brass band style with a uniquely American twist.

The group, which has an active performance schedule including concerts and competitions nationally and internationally, will be featured at our next Community Church Concert Series.

The band competes at the United States Open Brass Band Championships where it won first place several times and in the Championship section of the North American Brass Band Association competition and where it captured first place in 2005. The BBCF is currently ranked number 35 in the world.

Join us on July 6th as we sing together with the chancel choir and BBCF to some of our favorite patriotic hymns!

St. Luke's 08 - 09 Concert Series

The BBCF will open the 2008 - 09 concert series at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Oviedo for two concerts on September 13.

Lake Sumter Community College

The BBCF returns to Lake Sumter Community College in Leesburg, Florida once again for two concerts on October 25 and 26.

St. Luke's 2008 Christmas Concerts

The BBCF will take the stage again at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Oviedo for a total of three concerts on December 5 and December 6.

“An Evening of Brass and Percussion”

SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2008 at 7:00 PM

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA - MAIN CAMPUS (Visual Arts Building)

Presented by the UCF Brass Quintet, UCF Brass Ensemble, Youth Brass Band of Central Florida and Brass Band of Central Florida.

Garasi to the Brass in Concert competition

BBCF Conductor Michael Garasi returns to The Sage, Gateshead, this year as entertainment adjudicator at Brass In Concert on November 18, 2007.

Dee McAfee performs with Leyland Band

In October of 2007, BBCF Soprano Cornetist Dee McAfee joined the Leyland Band performing as Soprano Cornet at the 2007 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS OF GREAT BRITAIN at London's Royal Albert Hall. Dee is the first American to perform at the British Nationals.

SING, SANG, SUNG is now available!

SING, SANG, SUNG is the BBCF's latest CD, recorded at the Croyland Abbey in the UK.

Click Here to order Sing, Sang, Sung

$20.00 plus $5.00 shipping

DVD Set - Highlights from the

2006 Brass in Concert Championship

and

World of Brass in Concert

The 3 DVD set is available from World of Brass - http://www.worldofbrass.eu/

(Be sure to specify DVD reference #26037 - Region 1 NTSC to play on US DVD players)

DVD 1 - World of Brass in Concert

Featuring the Grimethorpe Colliery Band and The Brass Band of Central Florida

01	Valero	Grimethorpe Colliery Band	Jim Swearington arr. Sandy Smith
02	Overture to The Bartered Bride	Grimethorpe Colliery Band	Bedrich Smetana arr. Derek Broadbent
03	Concert Etude	Grimethorpe Colliery Band Soloist: Roger Webster (Cornet)	Alexander Goedicke arr. William Broughton
04	Slava	Grimethorpe Colliery Band	Leonard Bernstein arr. Luc Vertommen
05	Pie Jesu	Grimethorpe Colliery Band Soloists: Kevin Crockford (Soprano Cornet) and Ian Shires (Flugel Horn)	Andrew Lloyd Webber arr. Sandy Smith
06	The Cuckoo	Grimethorpe Colliery Band Soloist: Shaun Crowther (Eb Bass)	Elgar Howarth arr. Sandy Smith
07	Song of the Volga Boatmen	Grimethorpe Colliery Band	Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev arr. Tyzik
08	Flight of The Comedians	Grimethorpe Colliery Band Soloist: Gavin Pritchard (Xylophone)	arr. Pritchard
09	The Pines of the Appian Way	Grimethorpe Colliery Band	Ottorino Respighi arr. Howard Snell
10	Fanfare for the Common Man	Brass Band of Central Florida	Aaron Copland arr. Howard Snell, adpt. Michael Garasi
11	Scherzo for Trombone and Band	Brass Band of Central Florida Soloist: Herb Bruce (Trombone)	James Cheyne
12	The Prayer	Brass Band of Central Florida	Carol Bayer Sager & David Frost arr. Michael Garasi
13	Sing Sang Sung	Brass Band of Central Florida	Gordon Goodwin arr. Mizell
14	Beauty and the Beast	Brass Band of Central Florida	Alan Menken arr. Michael Garasi
15	Funiculi Funicula Rhapsody	Brass Band of Central Florida	Luigi Denza arr. Goto adpt. Michael Garasi

DVD 2

01	Fat Bottomed Girls	PolySteel Band	Brian May arr. Philip Harper
02	The Water of Tyne	PolySteel Band	Traditional Folksong arr. Philip Harper
03	On My Own	Reg Vardy Band Vocal Soloist: Natalie Farr	Claude-Michel Schonberg arr. Ray Farr
04	King of Heaven - Finale	Reg Vardy Band	Kenneth Downie
05	Valero	Foden’s Richardson Band	Jim Swearington arr. Sandy Smith
06	Bobby Shaftoe	Foden’s Richardson Band	Traditional Folksong arr. North
07	Where Eagles Sing	Brighouse & Rastrick Band	Paul Lovatt-Cooper
08	Elegy	Brighouse & Rastrick Band	Leigh Baker
09	Green Hornet	Brighouse & Rastrick Band Soloist: Alan Morrison (Trumpet)	Billy May arr. Alan Morrison
10	New Colonial	Brighouse & Rastrick Band	Robert Browne Hall
11	Bare Necessities	Brighouse & Rastrick Band Soloist: Dave Hebb (Eb Bass)	Terry Gilkyson arr. Baker
12	Russian Christmas Music	Brighouse & Rastrick Band	Alfred Reed
13	Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair	Mount Charles Band	Stephen Foster arr. Howarth
14	Armenian Sabre Dance	Mount Charles Band	Gomidas Vertabed arr. Howard Lorriman
15	Fanfare for the Common Man	The Fairey Band	Aaron Copland arr. Leith
16	You Are the Sunshine of My Life	The Fairey Band	Stevie Wonder arr. Richards
17	Impossible Dream	The Fairey Band Soloist: Morgan Griffiths (Euphonium)	Joe Darion & Mitch Leigh arr. Smith

DVD 3

01	Rince Eireannach	Scottish Co-op Band	Jan Sorensen
02	My Sister Kate	Scottish Co-op Band	Armand Piron arr. Allen
03	Bolero	Brass Band of Central Florida	Maurice Ravel arr. Michael Garasi
04	Birdland	Brass Band of Central Florida	Joe Zawinul arr. Lane & Sharp
05	‘Tis a Gift	Brass Band of Central Florida	Joseph Bracket arr. Michael Garasi
06	Rolling Thunder	Brass Band of Central Florida	Henry Fillmore arr. Robertson
07	Malaga	Brass Band of Central Florida	Bill Hollman arr. Michael Garasi
08	La Napolitaine	Leyland Band Soloist: Lesley Howie (Tenor Horn)	Oscar Bohme arr. Westwood
09	Autumn Leaves	Leyland Band Soloist: Runar Varnes (Trombone)	Joseph Kosma arr. Alan Catherall
10	A Musical Toast	Grimethorpe Colliery Band	Leonard Bernstein arr. Luc Vertommen
11	Those Endearing Young Charms	Grimethorpe Colliery Band Soloist: Michael Dodd (Euphonium)	Simone Mantia arr. Hunsberger & Maldomado
12	Entry of the Gods Into Valhalla	Grimethorpe Colliery Band	Richard Wagner arr. Howard Snell
13	Dance Zeibekikos	Whitburn Band Soloist: Richard Kidd (Euphonium)	Philip Wilby
14	Finale from Swan Lake	Whitburn Band	Petr Tchaikovsky arr. Andrew Duncan
15	Here’s to the Heroes	Sellers International Band Soloist: Iain Culross (Cornet)	John Barry arr. Paul Drury
16	Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl	Sellers International Band	Klaus Badelt arr. Paul Drury

BBCF performs at FBA

The BBCF performed to a sold-out audience at the Florida Bandmasters Association summer convention on July 13, 2007.

BBCF IN TOP 25

Top 50: updated 07-Dec-2006 BBC

Position	Band	Region	Points
1	Black Dyke	Yorkshire	1,524.82
2	Buy As You View	Wales	1,202.57
3	Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal)	Yorkshire	1,130.80
4	YBS Band	Yorkshire	766.73
5	Brighouse & Rastrick	Yorkshire	642.86
6	Foden's Richardson	North West	559.61
7	Scottish Co-op	Scotland	528.68
8	Leyland	North West	477.17
9	The Fairey Band	North West	469.47
10	Brass Band Willebroek	Belgium	361.13
11	Sellers International	Yorkshire	347.00
12	Whitburn	Scotland	319.67
13	Kirkintilloch	Scotland	260.86
14	Reg Vardy	North	257.62
15	Rothwell Temperance	Yorkshire	247.24
16	Desford Colliery (Aggregate Industries)	Midlands	232.45
17	PolySteel	West	209.46
18	Carlton Main Frickley Colliery	Yorkshire	201.06
19	Tredegar	Wales	163.32
20	Hepworth (Lanson Homes)	Yorkshire	155.58
21	Brass Band Fribourg	Switzerland	145.54
22	Mount Charles	West	137.25
23	Fishburn	North	96.32
24	Aveley & Newham	LSC	95.69
25	Brass Band of Central Florida	USA	94.48
26	Brass Band 13 Etoiles	Switzerland	90.01
27	Stavanger	Norway	69.72
28	Staffordshire	Midlands	64.14
29	Burry Port Town	Wales	62.39
30	Eikanger-Bjørsvik	Norway	58.32
31	Ransome	Midlands	57.36
32	Wingates	North West	56.92
33	BTM	Wales	55.84
34	SWT Woodfalls	West	49.75
35	Pennine Brass	Yorkshire	49.55
36	GUS	Midlands	48.12
37	Lyngby Taarbaek	Denmark	42.18
38	Newtongrange Silver	Scotland	40.89
39	Redbridge Brass	LSC	40.68
40	Kingdom Brass	Scotland	39.45
41	Tongwynlais Temperance	Wales	37.08
42	Cwmaman Institute	Wales	35.18
43	Newstead Welfare	Midlands	34.99
44	Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel	Yorkshire	34.52
45	Buizingen	Belgium	33.46
46	Unison Kinneil	Scotland	32.52
47	Kibworth	Midlands	32.19
48	Parc & Dare	Wales	31.86
49	Ashton-under-Lyne	North West	31.40
50	Camborne Town	West	30.43

BBCF returns from the UK - November 2006

Crowland Abbey, Lincolnshire

The BBCF returned to Orlando late on Monday, November 20, 2006 from a hugely successful and whirlwind trip to England. The weeklong trip began with an overnight flight from Orlando to London's Gatwick airport arriving at 7:30 AM on Tuesday, November 14. That evening, the band performed at the Salvation Army's Regent Hall in downtown London and was joined by the Regent Hall Band led by Steve Hanover.

On Wednesday morning, the band got an early start out of London for a two hour trip to the historic town of Banbury for an afternoon rehearsal followed by civic reception with the town's mayor. That evening the band performed at St. Mary's church to a very appreciative audience.

Highlights of the trip included the recording sessions on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning in the 11th century Crowland Abbey just outside of Peterborough. The band was truly privileged to work with one of the foremost producers of brass music in the world - Brian Hillson. On Friday afternoon, the band was feted at a civic reception with the mayor of Peterborough followed by a concert that evening at the Salvation Army's Peterborough Citadel with the Peterborough Songsters led by Julian Bright.

Saturday morning found the band on a four hour trip to the northern city of Gateshead where the the group was honored at a civic reception with its Lord-Mayor. The band rehearsed its World of Brass in Concert show and Brass in Concert championship programs late that afternoon at The Sage and returned to The Sage on Saturday evening for its sold-out World of Brass in Concert performance.

On Sunday, the band was very happy with its number eight draw of twelve in the performance order and took the stage to a full-house at approximately 2 PM. Following the final band's performance, came the awards ceremony. Rob Connelly, Sergio Carreno, Josh Priest and Karl Riecken took home the Louis and Colin Johnson Memorial Trophy for the Best Percussion Section followed by Frank Renton's announcement that the BBCF was to receive the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Trophy for the Best Performance in Entertainment and Presentation.

The highlight of the awards presentation for the BBCF was the announcement that the band had captured 4th place, competing with many of the most famous names in British brass banding.

Thanks to Ray Maycock for making each day happen so smoothly, Trevor Cafful and his World of Brass team for their outstanding efforts in creating this opportunity for the Brass Band of Central Florida and many thanks to Jackie and Paul Beere, Roy Newsome, David Bennett, Steve Hanover, Nicola Babb, Julian Bright and Brian Hillson along with his team from B & H Sound. Thanks to everyone in Peterborough who graciously opened their homes to members of the BBCF for two nights.

The Sage Gateshead

The BBCF goes back to the UK

Below is the press release detailing the BBCF's acceptance to perform at the Brass In Concert competition this coming November.

The Brass Band of Central Florida is to make its debut at Brass in Concert this year as the contest goes for a real international appeal.

As was revealed in the British Bandsman newspaper today, organisers of the Brass in Concert Championship, Paul and Jacqui Beere, have announced a major coup for the 2006 event with the news that the Brass Band of Central Florida have accepted an invitation to participate.

The Brass in Concert Championship, already rejuvenated after its move to The Sage Gateshead, and the enlargement of the event last year, will no doubt be further enhanced by the visit from this highly innovative band who made such an impact during last year’s British Open weekend.

Commenting on behalf of Brass Band of Central Florida, Band President Dee MacAfee said: “We are pleased and honoured to be invited to the 2006 Brass in Concert Championship. The band is absolutely thrilled and humbled to return to the UK. The BBCF Board of Directors had little difficulty persuading the band membership to accept the invitation and commit to the enormous task of making the trip to revisit the wonderful people of Britain. We will again share the stage with some of the greatest brass bands in the world, including a proposed short tour of concerts and an appearance with the current and long-time Brass in Concert champions, Grimethorpe Colliery Band. In its own right Brass in Concert is looked upon in the United States as the premier Brass Band competition in terms of entertainment for the genre.”

Reputation for entertainment

Paul Beere, commenting further, added “We were delighted when Brass Band of Central Florida accepted our invitation. Their reputation for entertainment is well known over here despite many bandspeople in the UK having not yet seen them perform. We are also very pleased that many of the other bands to receive early invitations for this year’s event have already responded positively. Early signs are of an even stronger line-up than last year.” Hinting at further good news for the event Paul also suggested that ‘positive discussions’ were being progressed with a couple of leading European bands.

Grimey and Florida to head Gala Concert

Brass in Concert organisers also announced that the World of Brass in Concert, the gala concert which precedes the Championship, will this year feature Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band, together with Brass Band of Central Florida. Co-organiser for the event, David Bennett, described this line-up as “a dream team” and expressed “real optimism for a full house and a fabulous concert.”