Results: 2011 Brass in Concert
20-Nov-2011
'Top Cat' Richard Evans leads Leyland to 2011 Brass in Concert title at
The Sage, Gateshead.
The remarkable Richard Evans literally turned back the clock at the
Brass in Concert Championship on Sunday as he led Leyland to victory in
the world’s premier brass band entertainment contest.
Four decades
In doing so he not only won the Peter Hartley Memorial Trophy, given to
the winning conductor for an unprecedented ninth time, but also created
history by leading a band to victory at the contest in four consecutive
decades.
Fittingly it was with Leyland – the band he helped reinvigorate in the
late 1970’s, and with whom he first tasted success here in 1989.
Musical memories
A programme that owed its inspiration to a selection of some of his own
musical memories - including the obligatory award winning swagger march,
‘Imperial Echoes’ (which he also won on back in 1987), saw Leyland beat
off the inspired challenge of closest rivals, Brass Band of Central
Florida and Masters champion Tredegar.
The result also created Brass in Concert history, with Leyland becoming
the first band to be crowned champion without winning either discipline
of the contest – Tredegar taking the ‘Quality of Performance’ Award
(started in 1993), whilst Florida took the ‘Best Performance in
Entertainment and Presentation’ trophy.
Margin overturned
However, when the overall points were collated, it was Leyland who
overturned Tredegar’s two point margin from music judges Philip Sparke
and Rob Wiffin, whilst they only fell a single point behind the
Americans in the opinion of entertainment judges Luc Vertommen and David
Horsfield.
That proved crucial as it ensured that despite ending level on points
with Florida, the extra point gained from the music judges gave them the
£4,000 first prize and the World of Brass Championship Trophy.
My band
A thrilled Richard Evans later spoke of immense personal satisfaction of
leading what he called ‘my band’ to yet another entertainment title –
his fourth with them at this contest, but their first since 1997.
"This means so much," he told 4BR. "The band is so close to my heart
that I always call them, ‘my band’. This victory was down to them today
though. They are such a great bunch, and so willing to work for the
Leyland cause. I can’t thank them enough. This has turned the musical
clock back for me in more ways than one."
'This victory was down to them today though. They are such a great
bunch, and so willing to work for the Leyland cause. I can’t thank
them enough. This has turned the musical clock back for me in more
ways than one'
~ Richard Evans
Inspiration
Leyland’s John Doyle echoed those sentiments. "It’s been amazing to work
with the great man once more," he said.
"You just want to enjoy playing your best for him when he conducts –
he’s such an inspiration. This win gives us a huge boost of confidence
to take into the new season. We are a young band (14 year old Richard
Kaye took the ‘Youngest Player’ Award) but a very ambitious one and this
shows what we can achieve."
Florida celebration
Despite coming second, Brass Band of Central Florida celebrated on the
stage of The Sage almost as enthusiastically as the Leyland players,
buoyed by a quite remarkable result, less than 24 hours after producing
a rather uneven performance at the Brass in Concert Gala Concert.
"We were honoured to be invited to compete against the very best bands,"
Dee McAfee, the band’s soprano player told 4BR. "We knew we had to
perform better than ever to make an impression, so to come second is a
dream for us. We came to entertain, and I think we did just that."
Florida will now have to find room in their baggage for an extra £2,000
in prize money as well as the trophies for ‘Best Flugel’, ‘Best Horn’,
‘Best Percussion’, and ‘Best Entertainment’. No wonder MD Chad Shoopman
could only say one word to 4BR before leading the on stage celebrations
– “Wow!”
Tredegar comfort
Meanwhile, Tredegar will take some comfort from the fact that they left
for the long trip back to South Wales with the individual prizes for the
‘Best Soprano’, ‘Best Principal Cornet’ and ‘Best New Composition’.
However, it still meant that for the first time since the ‘Quality of
Performance’ Award was introduced in 1993, that the band which won it
had not gone on to either win or come second overall.
Outstanding
Matt Hall, who won the composition award for the second year running
told 4BR. "We felt we couldn’t have done any more today. We left the
stage knowing we produced an outstanding performance – something
confirmed by the music judges. So to miss out after we felt we also
delivered a polished entertainment set was disappointing."
Missing out
Missing out on a podium finish was the heavyweight trio of Foden’s,
Grimethorpe and Fairey (Geneva), with Foden’s pipping their rivals to
claim the £750 fourth prize and the defending champion heading back to
Grimethorpe with only the ‘Best Basses’ Award for their endeavours under
the baton of Sandy Smith, who stepped in to conduct the band on one
rehearsal following MD Brian Grant illness.
On a day when the packed auditorium was presented with only occasional
musical innovation, but plenty of musical ‘nostalgia’ in choices of
repertoire, the minor placings were headed by Reg Vardy, ahead of
Whitburn, Carlton Main, Redbridge and Rothwell Temperance.
Awards
Other individual awards were claimed by Kirsty Abbotts as ‘Best Soloist’
for a stunning performance of ‘Shenandoah’ with Carlton Main Frickley,
whilst Danny Brooks of Leyland took the ‘Don Lusher’ Trophy and Toni
Howden of Carlton Main the ‘Best Euphonium’ prize.
Top Cat
However, the prize as the undisputed ‘King of Entertainment’ went to
Richard Evans (who also turned the clock back by wearing one of his
famous cravats) once more – or ‘Top Cat’ as the Leyland players referred
to him in unison playing and singing at the start and the end of yet
another Tricky Dickey inspired winning performance.
Results:
Music* + Entertainment** = Total
1. Leyland (Richard Evans) 196/10 = 206*
2. Brass Band of Central Florida (Chad Shoopman) 195/11 = 206
3. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse) 198/6 = 204
4. Foden's (Michael Fowles) 193/9 = 202
5. Grimethorpe Colliery (Sandy Smith) 194/7 = 201*
6. Fairey (Geneva) (Steve Sykes) 192/9 = 201
7. Reg Vardy (Ray Farr) 190/6 = 196
8. Exchange Communications Whitburn (Simon Dobson) 189/3 = 192
9. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Phillip McCann) 188/2 = 190
10. Redbridge Brass (Jeremy Wise) 185/4 = 189
11. Rothwell (David Roberts) 185/1 = 186
*Music is marked out of 200 points
** Placement marks are awarded for entertainment 11 - 1 (most
entertaining gaining the highest mark)
Individual awards
Don Lusher Trombone Award: Danny Brooks (Leyland)
Harry Mortimer Best Principal Cornet Award: Dewi Griffiths (Tredegar)
The Fesa Trophy for Best Flugel Award: John Cappella (Brass Band of
Central Florida)
The Shaw Trophy for Best Soprano Award: Steve Stewart (Tredegar)
Best Euphonium: Toni Howden (Carlton Main)
Best Baritone/Horn: Will Kus (Brass Band of Central Florida)
John Fletcher Best Basses Award: Grimethorpe Colliery
Best Percussion: Brass Band of Central Florida
Best Entertainment Performance: Brass Band of Central Florida
Own Choice March: Imperial Echoes (Leyland)
Best Soloist: Kirsty Abbots, Cornet (Carlton Main)
New Composition/Arrangement Award: Nightingale Dances - Matt Hall
(Tredegar)
Quality of Performance: Tredegar
Winning MD: Richard Evans (Leyland)
Youngest Player: Richard Kaye - Leyland (aged 14)
Florida sunshine set for UK
27-Oct-2011
The exciting talents of Brass Band of Central Florida will be bringing
plenty of musical warmth to the UK this November.
Brass Band of Central Florida is putting the final touches to its
preparations ahead of its second tour to the UK next month.
Jet set
The band is set to perform at the US Open Championships on November 5th,
before jetting across the Atlantic to touch down in Britain for a string
of concerts culminating with their appearance at the Brass in Concert
Championships in Gateshead.
As a pioneering force, the band has been instrumental in flying the flag
for the British style brass band in the Unites States, raising awareness
of the genre as a result of its highly successful concert and contest
appearances throughout the country.
Wowed
On their previous trip to the UK, they wowed audiences with their mix of
high class playing and spectacular presentation skills.
This time should be no different, with expert arrangers such as Rick
Mizell and Jim Derrick, both of whom hold key musical positions with
Walt Disney World in Orlando, providing a steady stream of glittering
arrangements that bring more than a touch of glitz and pizzazz to the
band’s concerts.
'My desire is to give audiences amazing performances of music and
styles they might never expect to hear in the brass band world'
~ Chad Shoopman
Sell outs
Led by professional trumpet player Chad Shoopman the band recently
provided a series of sell out concerts in Orlando.
Speaking of his first visit to the UK with the band, Chad Shoopman told
4BR: "The opportunity to perform in the birth place of brass banding is
something I have wanted to do ever since I joined the band. What better
way is there to make BBCF an infinitely better ensemble?"
Pizzazz
Chad also promised that Florida would bring with them plenty of their
trademark showmanship and pizzazz.
"Our programme brings a uniquely American twist to the concert stage. My
desire is to give audiences amazing performances of music and styles
they might never expect to hear in the brass band world. I want British
audiences to see and hear what we do best and I believe they will find
the BBCF to be passionate, refreshing, unique, and a lot of fun!"
