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Mount Charles Band
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>> News Archive -     2011     2010     2009               >> Back to News Desk

South West Brass Band Association, Torquay Contest  - 9 November 2010

In the run up to Torquay contest Jerry Wilcock worked extremely hard with the youngsters in both the youth and junior band to see how many would be able to join in with the youth band to take part in the contest. It was worth the wait as we were able to bring in 6 new youngsters from the junior band and 2 new players joined the youth band as well.

It was a brilliant day, we set off from the Eden Project by Roselyn coach at 8.30am and travelled up to Torquay where we rehearsed at the Rainbow Hp90-890otel before going on to the contest at the Riveria Centre.

The Youth Band won the contest for the 3rd consecutive year and the experience for all the young people especially the new ones was great and hopefully fun. Well done also to Rachel Crabb who won the best instrumentalist trophy.

A big thank you to all who supported the band and played on the day.

Sally Wilkins

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New Musical Director, John Maines - 10 August 2010

Mount Charles Band is delighted to announce that John Maines has accepted the position of Musical Director with the band.

John is returning to Cornwall, where he previously spent many a happy year playing solo trombone.

John said 'My wife Jackie and I have been planning a move back to Cornwall for some time now, and we are delighted to have now moved, just in time for the summer! I have had connections with Mount Charles over the last 5 years as a conductor, compere and a player, so I am very pleased to be able to work with the band on a regular basis'.

John recently took the band at Bugle contest, where we started to build a working relationship, so this will no doubt develop over the weeks and months to follow.

Derek Thomas, Chairman said, 'John brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to us, which will be of benefit, as well as the stability of working with a regular conductor'.

The band has worked with numerous conductors and will continue to work with guest conductors in the coming year.

Derek went on to say 'we plan to work with guest conductors throughout the year, however John will be the consistent factor in the band's development, which we strongly believe to be the right approach'.

The band is now working hard on their Proms concert which the band will perform at 5 concerts in September all over the county.

As well as his work with Mount Charles John will continue with his other brass band commitments and his new contact details are: 39 Alexandra Road, St. Austell, Cornwall, PL25 4QW. Tel. 01726 70013, Mob. 07901528059

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West of England Bandsmen's Festival - Bugle (19 June 2010)

Championship Section

Test Piece - Un vie de Matelot (Robert Farnon)

Result:

1. Camborne - Gary Cutt
2. Mount Charles - John Maines
3.Helston - John Hitchens
4. St Austell - Gareth Pritchard
5. St Dennis - Darren Hawken
6. Markham and District Colliery - Nigel Seaman

Youth Section

Test Piece - Saddleworth Festival Overture (Goff Richards)

Result:

1. Mount Charles Youth
2. St Dennis Youth

Best Player - Rachel Crabb (Euphonium – Mount Charles Youth)
Best Cornet Player - Stephanie Wilkins (Mount Charles Youth)
Winning Conductor - Jeremy Wilcock (Mount Charles Youth)

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Clean sweep at the Grenland International Brass Festival 2010

Results - Elite Division:
Church programme, test piece, and own choice

1. Mount Charles (95/95.5/96) = 286
2. Oslofjord Brass (94/95/95) = 284
3. Sandefjord Brass Symposium (91/95/92.5) = 278.5

Soloist Prize: Ian Thomas (cornet) - Mount Charles
Best Test Piece: Mount Charles
Best Hymn: Mount Charles

Church Programme - Knight Templar, Share my Yoke (Soloist, Tim Whitehead), The Light of the World, Light Walk, Russian Christmas Music
Test Piece - On a Holy Crusade
Entertainment - Walking with Heros, New Colonial, Elergy, Concerto for Trumpet (Soloist, Ian Thomas), Mr Sandman, Widor's Toccata.
 

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Miller Countrywide Cornwall's Brass Band Entertainment Champions 2010 - 10 April 2010

On 10 April 2010 the band took part in the first Miller Countrywide Best of Brass Festival held at the Hall for Cornwall, adjudicated by Dr Robert Childs. The top 8 ranked bands in Cornwall were invited to take part but unfortunately St Keverne and Helston gave notice that there were unable to compete. The six competing bands were Camborne B, Camborne Town, Lanner, Mount Charles, St Austell Town and St Dennis.

The band played a 25 minute own choice entertainment programme conducted by Darren Hawken. The programme consisted of

 The band was crowned 'Cornwall Open Entertainment Open Brass Band Champions 2010' and received the Miller Countrywide Championship Trophy and £1,000 prize money. The band's principal cornet player, Ian Thomas also won Best Soloist of the day for his fantastic rendition of Harry James' Concerto for Trumpet.

Result:

1. Mount Charles (Darren Hawkin)
2. St Austell Town (Gareth Pritchard)
3. Camborne B (Alan Pope)
4. Camborne Town (Kevin MacKenzie)
5. St Dennis (Garry Lannie)
6. Lanner & District Silver (Stuart Chappell)

Adjudicator: Dr Robert Childs

Best Soloist: Ian Thomas (Mount Charles)
Best Section: Trombone section of Camborne B
Best Percussion Section: St Austell Town

The band would like to thank St Dennis band for the use of their band room prior to the contest and Miller Countrywide for organising the festival.

The band now look forward to working with Darren to take part in Norway on 23-24 April.

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Dinner and Dance 27/02/10

On 27 February the band held its annual dinner at the Lakeview Country Club, Bodmin.  An enjoyable evening was had by all with the best karaoke section going to the back row! Other prizes included...

Players player - Ian Thomas
Best section - Horns
Best Split - Andrew Jay
Bandsman - Sarah Whitehead
Improved player - Becki Richards

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Mount Charles Announce New Signings 08/01/10
Mount Charles Band have been busy in the transfer market in preparation for the new season.

After a period of time consolidating their position and working on their new bandroom, the band are delighted to welcome some new faces into the band.

Long serving Soprano player Jon Small has decided to hang up his mouthpiece after being part of the band for the last 25 years.

The band are of course sorry to see Jon retire, but welcome in Brendan Caddy who has been making a name for himself in the NYCBB as well as the NYBBGB more recently.

Jon said 'it was a difficult decision for me, as I have been part of the band for so long, but now is the time for me to spend more time with my young family, and I am pleased to be welcoming Brendan into the hot-seat and I am sure he'll do a great job'.

Angela Retallack joins the Euphonium section after helping the band out during the summer months. Also Matthew Allen joins the percussion section.

Derek Thomas continued 'We have signed 3 young players into the band, which is great news all of whom bring with them enthusiasm and commitment. We hope they will all be making their contesting debut at Yeovil Contest in February, although Angela recently badly broke her ankle and is awaiting a further operation. The band wish her a speedy recovery.'

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Mount Charles Announce Plans For 2010 20/12/09
Mount Charles Band are delighted to share their plans for 2010 in preparation for the contesting calendar.

The band have a busy schedule of contests and engagements planned, and are delighted to be working with some great conductors in the New Year. Engagements include working towards local and National contests as well as accepting an invitation to attend the Grenland Festival in Norway.

Richard Evans will be taking the band in the new year at the Yeovil contest, and Phillip McCann will be preparing and directing the band for the West of England area and Grand Shield.

Derek Thomas, Chairman said 'We are very pleased to be working alongside Richard again at the Yeovil contest, he has selected a typically entertaining programme which the band are already enjoying!

Later on in the year the band will work with Phillip McCann on English Heritage a piece he had great success with Sellers on.

Phillip said 'I am really looking forward to working with MCB , a band that I had the great pleasure of being Guest Soloist with in recent years . They have what seems to me to be a wonderful set up which does focus quite correctly on a very strong youth development strategy . Also a band that I believe are a true example of what the grass roots of brass bands are and should be about . I will give 110% in my efforts to ensure they will perform the best that they can be'.

The band have been working hard over the last few months to be well prepared for the new year.

Derek Thomas continued 'We have signed some new players in the band, and after a break from contests, we feel ready to 'go again' in the new year.

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