National Youth Brass Band Championships 13th April 2008 - Report

The run-up to the National Youth Championships at Manchester started with an "Open Rehearsal" held at St. Stephens Community Centre on Friday 11th April. Lots of parents, friends and supporters turned up to listen to the band putting the final touches on their exciting 20 minute programme.

The test piece was Dimensions by Peter Graham, with the band's resident conductor Simon Dobson writing two of the other pieces, "Little Hymn" and "Showstoppa" and I'm sure everyone in the audience found Showstoppa very unique and Simon's Choreography of the band really eye catching. The haunting solo "Domen" was played by Yasmin Stevens, the band's flugel player. As well as being treated to some superb playing, supporters and friends were served with refreshments and there was also a raffle.
 

At the Open Rehearsal there was a presentation of flowers and a card to Sally Wilkins for her hard work with the running of the band over the last year.

Thanks also went to Georgina Gunningham who made several alterations to the brand new set of waistcoats that the band were to wear for the first time at the contest at Manchester.

She made sure they all fitted well and everyone looked smart.

The waistcoats are thanks to a wonderfully generous donation in memory of the late Ron Ewings, a dear friend to all and fervent supporter of the band, and known to most as "granddad".


The Open Rehearsal was a great success and our thanks go to Dawn Grose and the staff of St. Stephen community hall for their help in laying on the facilities of this excellent rehearsal facility.

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The new waistcoats modelled by Ron Ewings' Granddaughter Sarah Matthews.
 
The band left Lemon Car Park Eden on the Saturday morning at 08:00 and after an eventful journey finally reached The Britannia Hotel at Manchester at about 17:00. The band had a hard working evening rehearsal and then the rest of the evening was spent "relaxing" and playing pool.
 
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Everyone was up nice and early and breakfasted, before a last rehearsal at 09:30.

At the rehearsal Katie Matthews, who has been with the band for over 10 years was presented with a special certificate because as of Monday 14th April she became 20 and is now too old to contest with the band. Good job this contest was on Sunday 13th!!!

The band sang happy birthday and wished Katie all the best and we hope she will still play with the band at concerts and engagements.
Katie Matthews with her certificate.
  
 

Along with all the commitment to rehearsals the band would like to thank Simon for writing "Little Hymn" and "Showstoppa" especially for them. It was exciting for the band to be playing two brand new pieces and to debut them on stage at the National Finals.

The band's performance on stage was electric and it was obvious to all that the band is returning to form very fast. Yasmin Stevens stole the show when she walked away with the prize for the best instrumentalist of the day. The band achieved yet another prestigious Gold Award and are looking forward to the next challenge.

Simon Dobson had this to say about the contest:

"I am extremely proud of the kids for their amazing achievement at this year's National Youth Championships held at the RNCM in Manchester. Yet again they have returned home with another 'Gold' Award. From the very first note their performance shone with vibrancy and energy.

I feel they've got the bit quite firmly between their teeth again, and the competitions in the coming year should be very interesting indeed. A huge well done must go to Yasmin on Flugel who brought home the best instrumentalist prize for her stunning performance of 'Domen', also to all the other soloists and players who bought this very lucky composers new pieces, 'little hymn' and 'Showstoppa' to life!"

The band wishes to thank all of the parents and supporters who give up a lot of time and energy to keep the band moving forward and Miles Johns who lent a hand on Eb bass from the Senior Band.