The concert got off to a great start with the Junior Band under the guest baton of Geoff Swann. Garry Lannie (who was on holiday) has been tutoring the 15 Junior members since June and it was great to hear the band play 7 pieces, to a very good standard. Everyone played with a smile on their face, and even included some 'ho ho ho-ing' during the performance.

The audience was really impressed with the progress each member had made, and really look forward to hearing them again very soon.

The Youth band took the stage next under Derek Johnson, who really got everyone's toes tapping. A mixture of slow melodic playing, and some real up tempo playing included a rendition of 12 days of Christmas, that included 12 volunteers and the whole audience, all of which went down a storm.

A quick 20 minute break for the complimentary sherry and mince pies, was then followed by the senior band, who under Jon Small took the opportunity to roll out those Christmas favourites and also a couple of new items that could well feature in the band's Yeovil contest programme in February next year.

The grand finale, was the youth and senior band's performing together playing Schneewalzer and Jingle Bells which set everyone off to enjoy their well deserved break.

Overall it really was a great evening. Great music making, great enthusiasm, the meeting of old friends and the making of new friends!!

Here's to a successful 2009!!

The senior band have recently completed their summer programme finishing with 3 sell out concerts at the world famous Minack Theatre.

Once again the band's annual 'Proms at the Minack' sold out weeks after tickets went on sale and the band were delighted that they were able to perform to full houses in what turned out to be one of the best weekends weather wise for the year!

The band performed a mix of entertaining music throughout the first half and followed this up with the traditional Proms music for the finale.

Starting the concert of with 'There's no business like Show business', the band moved into that great Verdi overture Nabucco, which was very well received by the capacity audiences. A new arrangement of 'It don't mean a thing, if you ain't got that swing' got the crowd in party mood, before calming things down with Adrian Drover's arrangement of 'Here's that rainy day'. Luckily there was no rain, and the band's soloist Andy Rice, Bass Trombone entertained everyone with his performance of Wandrin Star, ably accompanied by the 3 cowboys and one cowgirl at the opening and ending of the piece. Complete with campfire and cowboy hats Ian Thomas, Sarah Whitehead, Mark Bray and Tim Whitehead opened the piece in true western style, and received a warm ovation themselves!!

Cheryl Brendish, our guest soprano soloist has performed with the band on many occasions now and she was a featured soloist in a new arrangement by Andy Duncan of Gershwin's 'Summertime', before the band closed the first half with another one of Andy's arrangements 'A Witches Sabbath' which the audience really enjoyed.

The second half opened in traditional style with the Dambusters March complete with Lancaster bomber fly past, before the band featured their cornet section in Goff Richards arrangement of the Beatles tune 'Yesterday'. In full formation across the stage the audience certainly appreciated the great balanced playing that the cornets delivered.

Bringing Cheryl back to the stage the band performed 'Fantasia on British Sea Songs', with plenty of audience participation, 'Jerusalem' and then 'Pomp and Circumstance' featuring the audience favourite tune of Land of Hope and Glory.

Following the presentations to Cheryl, Andy Duncan and our compere John Maines the band performed 1812 complete with cannons and a full firework display to a standing ovation. Trelawney finished the evening off, amid a flurry of whistles, hooters, rattles and flag waving.

We all look forward to the same weather in 2009!!!

The band are delighted to announced some changes to their line up in preparation for the National Finals.

Tim Whitehead returns to the band on Flugel, after 2 years off focussing on his ever growing business.

The band would like to place on record their thanks to Yasmin Stevens who did a great job during her time in the band.

Joel Oliver has also joined the band on percussion and has performed with the band over the last 2 months.

The band are delighted to have Leonard Adams on the back row for London who has dusted off his mouthpiece and cornet as well as bringing with him a wealth of experience.

The band will be announcing the new look cornet line up after the National Finals.

The Senior Band continued the run of excellent results for the organisation on Saturday 28th June 2008 returning from the English Nationals with an absolutley superb 4th place!!!!

The event is run by the British Federation of Brass Bands at the Guild Hall in Preston and attracts the cream of English Brass Bands. This year was no exception and also saw Black Dyke entering for the first time.

This years test piece was "Infinity" commissioned for the contest by the BFBB from renowned Salvation Army composer Robert Redhead. See more about the piece from 4barsrest here.

Full Report & Adjudicators Remarks...See Articles

Pictures Online 06/07/08

Link To Videos Online 14/07/08: Mount Charles & Others

Full results (from 4barsrest.com) were:

Adjudicators:
David Read, Nigel Boddice, Chris Wormald

Test piece:
Infinity, Robert Redhead

Full Results:

1. Grimethorpe Colliery, Allan Withington
2. Black Dyke, Dr Nicholas Childs
3. Brighouse and Rastrick, Alan Morrison
4. Mount Charles, Andrew Duncan
5. Fodens Richardson, Garry Cutt
6. Hepworth (Cookson Homes), Ian Porthouse
7. Rothwell Temperance,David Roberts
8. Leyland, Jason Katsikaris
9. Fairey, Philip Chalk
10. Reg Vardy, Steve Malcolm
11. YBS Band, Morgan Griffiths
12. PolySteel, Philip Harper
13. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, Russell Gray
14. Redbridge, Jeremy Wise
15. Fishburn, Ray Farr

Best instrumentalist: Soprano, Kevin Crockford, Grimethorpe
Youngest player: Matthew Shaw [16], Hepworth

Click The Links Below For More (from 4barsrest):

Introduction

Preview

Results

Podcast

Retrospectives

The Youth Band consolidated it's return to form with an absolutely outstanding result at the annual West of England Bandsmen's Festival at Bugle on Saturday 21st June 2008.

The band was under the baton of guest conductor, Garry Lannie, who was standing in for Simon Dobson who was away getting married on the same day!! Garry, who also conducts St. Breward Band, had rehearsed the band for the previous two weeks and directed the band to give very polished and mature performances of the two set works required for the day, the march "Molinnis Park" and the great Eric Ball tone poem "The Kingdom Triumphant".

The band had worked extremely hard for this contest and were rewarded with every prize possible to win in the Youth Section!!

Not only were the band given first prize by the adjudicator Stan Lippeatt over longstanding local rivals St. Dennis Youth, but they also took the prize for best cornet player (Sarah Matthews), best player (Zach Lawrence on soprano cornet) and Garry was awarded the trophy for the winning Bandmaster!!

Full Report, Results & Adjudicators Remarks...See Articles

New Pictures Online 05/07/08

Full results (from 4barsrest.com) were:

Championship Section:
Test Piece: Salute to Youth - Vinter
Elegiac Melody No. 2 - Spring

1. St Austell Town (Gareth Pritchard)- 196pts
2. Camborne Town (Frank Renton) - 194pts
3. Wantage (Philip Bailey) - 191pts
4. St Keverne (Stuart Chappell) - 190pts
5. St Dennis (Brian Minear)- 189pts

Best Player: Robert Jose(Euphonium – Camborne Town)

First Section:
Test Pieces: Beatrice & Benedict - Berlioz
March Mephistopheles - S. Douglas

1. Helston Town (John Hitchens) - 193pts
2. Egham (Gareth Green)- 190pts
3. Lanner & District (Colin Toghill) - 189pts

Best Player: Jeremy Squibb(Soprano Cornet – Helston Town)

Second Section:
Test Pieces: Three Saints - Goff Richards
Hymn Crimond arr. Peter Graham

1. Bugle Silver (David Pope) - 188pts
2. Camborne B (Alan Pope) - 186pts
3. Heyl Town (Derek Johnston) - 184pts
4. Soundhouse Brass (Gary Pumford) - 181pts

Best Player: Helen Dunstan(Solo Trombone – Bugle Silver)

Third Section:
Test Piece: Malvern Suite - Bryan Kelly

1. Hatherleigh Silver (Robin Wonnacott) - 179pts

Best Player: Gregory Morgan(Solo Cornet – Hatherleigh Silver)

Fourth Section:
Test Piece: Suite in Bb - Gordon Jacob

1. St. Breward Silver (Gary Lannie) - 180pts
2. Lostwithiel Silver (Denzil Stephens) - 177pts
3. Hatherleigh Silver (Adrian Edwards)- 176pts
4. St Agnes Silver (David Olds)- 175pts

Best Player: Jeff Swan(Euphonium – St. Breward)

Youth Section:
Test Piece: The Kingdom Triumpant - Eric Ball

1. Mount Charles (Gary Lannie) - 188pts
2. St Dennis (Brian Minear) - 187pts

Best Player:Zac Lawrence (Soprano – Mount Charles)
Best Cornet Player:Sarah Matthews (Mount Charles)
Winning Conductor: Gary Lannie (Mount Charles)

Special Awards:
Best Soprano: Rachel Whitaker - St Austell Town
Best Solo Cornet: Hanah Hawken - St Austell Town
Best Euphonium: Robert Jose - Camborne
Best Solo Horn: Mark Letcher- Camborne
Best Set of Basses: St Austell Town

The Mount Charles Band organisation are pleased to announce the appointment of Garry Lannie as the new tutor of the Mount Charles Junior Band. This is our beginners group and rehearsals are from 5.15pm until 7.15pm on Tuesdays at the Keay Theatre, St. Austell.

Garry is currently musical director of the St. Breward band and has a long history in the world of Cornish banding. He has also been persuaded to take the Youth Band to Bugle Contest on Saturday 21st June whilst Simon Dobson is getting married!!!

Garry said "I am really looking forward to appointment of Junior Band tutor for Mount Charles and hope that all three bands can work together to bring on and encourage the youth in the area and keep the tradition of brass bands alive. I also keen that a link between Mount Charles Band and St. Breward Band can be forged"

Garry takes over the Junior Band tutor role from Jane Whitehead who has moved on to other projects. The organisation sincerely thank her for her hard work in getting the Junior Band off the ground and wish her the very best for the future.

Junior Band rehersals resume at 5.15pm on Tuesday 24th June 2008.

For more information on the Junior Band click here.

There was a little disappointment at having missed out on a "top 3" placing in the community section, but the band had given an extremely polished performance of it's 20 minute programme and came away with one of only 5 gold awards given out of the 15 entries.

However, they were extremely delighted that their flugel player, Yasmin Stevens, was awarded the best instrumentalist award with her amazing performance of "Domen" a Norwegian jazz number.

The band have entered this competition 6 times and have an impressive tally of 6 gold awards and 3 first places!

Our congratulations go to Camborne Youth Band who were awarded first place. So gold for Cornwall again!!

Full Report & Adjudicators Remarks...Articles

Photo's Online 14/04/2008

Full results (from 4barsrest.com) were:

Adjudicators: James Scott and Simone Rebello

1. Camborne Youth, Alan Pope, Gold Certificate
2. Youth Brass 2000, Chris Jeans, Gold Certificate
3. Sellers International Youth, Mark Bousie, Gold Certificate

In alphabetical order:

Carnoustie & District Youth, Richard Evans, Gold Certificate
Mount Charles Youth, Simon Dobson, Gold Certificate

Dalmellington Junior Band, Ian Taylor, Silver Certificate
Elland Silver Youth, Samantha Harrison, Silver Certificate
Horbury Victoria Youth, Tom Greatorex, Silver Certificate
Lions Youth, Nigel Birch, Silver Certificate
Poynton Youth, Andy Hirst, Silver Certificate
Tewitt Youth, Craig Ratcliffe, Silver Certificate

Astley Youth, Toby Hobson, Bronze Certificate
Chalford Youth, Steve Tubb, Bronze Certificate
Enderby Youth, Trevor Hounsome, Bronze Certificate
Macclesfield Youth, Bronze Certificate

Aberystwyth Youth & Dobcross Youth withdrew.

Best Instrumentalist: Yasmin Stevens, Flugel, Mount Charles

The Co-operative Community Service Award: Macclesfield Youth
The Brian Hicks Memorial Shield: Kathleen Harrison, Elland Silver

Click The Links Below For More (from 4barsrest):

Introduction

Preview

Results

Retrospectives

Gallery

The Youth Band will be making it's annual pilgrimage to Manchester for the National Youth Brass Band Championships on Sunday 13th April 2008.

The National Youth Brass Band Championships is an annual event at the Royal Northern College of Music at Manchester run by the British Federation of Brass Bands. The Youth Band have taken part in the "community section" for several years and have won several times. Naturally, they are looking to repeat this performance!

The Band are required to play a set test piece and a short programme of music not to exceed 20 minutes.

This year the set piece is "Dimensions" by Peter Graham. The band will be directed by it's resident conductor & composer - Simon Dobson (see the conductors page).

As part of it's preparations the Youth Band will be holding an open rehearsal at St. Stephens Community Hall on Friday 11th April from 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome so, if you can, please come along and listen to Simon and the band putting the final polish in this year's programme. Tea & coffee will be available along with a raffle!!

The band will travel up to Manchester on Saturday 12th April and will be staying at the Britania Hotel at Northendon.

More information on the contest can be found here and here (from 4barsrest).

More 4barsrest previews & predictions can be found here.

Youth Band players, parents & supporters - click here for Hotel information.

The Senior Band and visitors to the Spring Flower Show at Boconnoc had a bit of a shock surprise when, on the second day of the show on Sunday 6th April, the sky went black followed by a very heavy snow shower!! The band's conductor, Jon Small, thinking on his feet and ever the showman quickly changed the programme and gave the amused and very delighted audience a performance of Jingle Bells!! This was probably the highlight of the afternoon for everyone!!

The Senior Band continued it's run of good form with an absolutely fantastic win at the area qualifers for the National Finals at the Riviera Centre, Torquay on Sunday 9th March 2008. They fought off stiff competition from 11 other Championship Section Bands to win the West of England Championship and to qualify for the prestigious National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in October. The band will now represent the West of England for the 4th time in the last 5 years, and as Champions for the 3rd time.

The band was prepared for the contest and conducted by it's professional conductor Andy Duncan and the test piece was the old Eric Ball favorite Festival Music. This was written in 1956 but is still a very intricate test of Brass Band skill at the highest level.

In summing up the adjudicators, Alan Hope & Colin Hardy said they were looking for consistancy of good playing across the three movements and for observance of the myriad of dynamic changes throughout the work. They also said that the two qualifying bands would be excellent representatives of the West of England Area at the National Finals.

Derek Thomas, Band Chairman said ' We are absolutely delighted to have won the championships again, and qualified to represent the West at the National Finals again. The band have been working extremely hard with Andy Duncan, and I am proud of the way the band have performed this year so far'.

Full Report & Adjudicators Remarks...See Articles

Photo's Online 10/03/08

Full results (from 4barsrest.com) were:

1. Mount Charles, A. Duncan, 193
2. SWT Woodfalls, Dr. N. Childs, 192
3. PolySteel, P. Harper, 190
4. St. Keverne, S. Chappell, 189
5. Lydbrook, T. Brevik, 188
6. Camborne Town, F. Renton, 187
7. St. Austell Town, Dr. R Newsome, 186
8. Yeovil Town, D. Barringer, 185
9. Poole Borough, P. Randell, 184
10. Bournemouth Concert Brass, Major P. Parkes, 183
11. Hyde, P. Wise, 182
12. Aldbourne, M. White, 181

Top 2 bands qualify

Click The Links Below For More (from 4barsrest):

Introduction

Preview

Results

Retrospectives

Pete and Emma Jackson are the proud parents to Luke Andrew who arrived on Thursday 14th February weighing in at 7lbs 7oz.

The band send their sincere congratulations, and look forward to seeing all three Jacksons in the bandroom soon!!!

Click here for pictures!!

Nick West has decided to take a break from the band, due to work commitments.

A professional musician in the Royal Marines Band, Plymouth sees Nick travelling to New Zealand, and Singapore in the coming weeks and months, which does not allow him to compete with the band for the foreseeable future.

Nick has held the 2nd Euphonium position for the last 18 months and has been a model bandsman travelling to band regularly from Plymouth.

However his work now means he cannot attend rehearsals as often as the band require him too, and he has decided to step down for now. Nick says 'Being in a Championship section band means, that twice weekly rehearsals are the minimum expected, and work does not allow me to be able to commit to that at present.'

He does intend to keep his 'brass band' lip in though when his work allows, and he has plans to help out a work colleague who conducts Bodmin on the contest stage as and when he can.'

He will be missed, and we do hope that he is able to play with the band again, once his work commitments allow him too.

In the meantime the band are delighted that Mark Bray will be taking up the 2nd Euphonium seat for the forthcoming area contest on 9th March.

The senior band recently returned to perform at the Yeovil Entertainment contest, held annually at The Octagon Theatre. The band had not been to this contest since 2004, and were delighted to return to Cornwall with a very creditable 3rd place and the best soloist award.

Full Report & Adjudicators Remarks...See Articles

Full results (from 4barsrest.com) were:

1. PolySteel, Philip Harper, 197pts
2. Camborne, Frank Renton, 196pts
3. JAG Mount Charles, Andrew Duncan, 195pts
4. SWT Woodfalls, Melvin White, 194pts
5. Friary Guildford, Chris King, 193pts
6. Tredegar, Ian Porthouse, 192pts
7. Parc and Dare, Richard Evans, 191pts
8. BTM, Graham O’Connor, 190pts
9. Bournemouth Concert, Chris Davies OBE, 189pts
10. Jaguar (Coventry), Dave Lea, 188pts
11. Sovereign Brass, Stephen Roberts, 187pts
12. Zone One Brass, Paul Archibald, 186pts
13. Aldbourne, Melvin White, 185pts

Hyde, withdrawn
Tongwynlais Temperance, withdrawn

Best Soprano: Steve Barnsley, Tredegar
Best Section: Percussion, Friary Guildford (Chris Atwood, Laurence Hill, Emma Stoffer, Matt Tallamy)
Best Soloist: John Small, Mount Charles

Click The Links Below For More (from 4barsrest):

General

What The Bands Played

Results

Retrospectives

After having had a year away last year, the senior band travelled to Butlins Skegness on the weekend of 19th to 21st January 2008 to compete at the Mineworkers Championships. It is a bit of a trek from Cornwall to the east Coast of the Country and they certainly weren't going for the beauty of the place! That aside, the contest is one that our travelling supporters particularly enjoy given that the Championship section bands perform a set test on the Saturday and compete in an entertainment contest on the Sunday with the scores then being aggregated to find the overall champion.

The band gave a very solid performance of the set test piece Life Divine on the Saturday and came an extremely creditable 4th. Unfortunately the bands entertainment programme did not find favour with the adjudicators on this occasion and the band were placed in last place on the Sunday. This gave a dissapointing 9th place overall.

Full Report & Adjudicators Remarks...See Articles

Full results (from 4barsrest.com) were:

1. Desford Colliery, Russell Gray, 9/3, 193+194-0.5=386.5
2. Wingates, Andy Berryman, 1/9, 191+195=386
3. Tongwynlais Temperance, Gareth Pritchard, 7/2, 186+192=378
4. United Co-op Milnrow, John Ward, 10/7, 189+186=375
5. Virtuosi GUS, Jeremy Wise, 4/5, 185+190=375
6. Yorkshire Imps (Urquhart Travel), Jim Davies, 6/10, 187+187=374
7. Thoresby Colliery, Ian McElligott, 2/1, 183+188=371
8. SWT Woodfalls, Dr. Nicholas Childs, 5/4, 184+184=368
9. Mount Charles, Andrew Duncan, 8/6, 188+180-1.5=366.5
10. Bactiguard Wire Brass, Paul Andrews, 3/8, 182+182=364

Minus points for going over time on the concert programme for Desford and Mount Charles

Highest placed mining band:
Desford Colliery

Best soloist:
Gavin Pritchard, percussion, Tongwynlais

Most entertaining band:
Bactiguard Wire Brass

Click The Links Below For More (from 4barsrest):

Introduction

Preview

Results

Retrospectives