Change of Musical Director |
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Times change and after about 4 years
as our MD David Bishop-Rowe decided that the opportunity to become
Resident Musical Director with the Lydmet-Lydney Band based in
the Forest of Dean was too good to miss. Dave told us before
the Midland Regional Qualifying Championships that his final
official engagement would be the Worcester Contest. Perhaps it
spurred us on to fantastic 3rd place?! Would have been interesting
if we had qualified for the finals how much Dave would have liked
to conduct us<G>. However, through no fault of us or Dave
the Worcester result wasn't the best send-off :-( We wish David well trying his hand again at controlling a Championship Section band (to my knowledge he has conducted Stinchcombe Band in the past) but I know we will still be seeing him from time to time :-) We then had to find a replacement in a short time and made contact with some local MDs we thought may be interested in "taking us on". I'm pleased to report that we have been fortunate in obtaining the services of David Maplestone :-). I'm sure many brass band players know David both as a conductor and an accomplished cornet player. I don't know personally David's history but I will be remedying this by getting a biography to put on the web site in the near future. We had a full band rehearsal with David and both he and the band were pleased at the result. Unfortunately, David has commitments on our regular Thursday rehearsals and we have had to change to a Friday - probably curtailing some members partying exploits<G>. So welcome to David at our first formal rehearsal on Friday 26th March. As David Bishop-Rowe used to say "You don't have to be mad to be in Stourport band - but it definitely helps!" |
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I don't think I'm alone in the band
at being surprised - and "over the moon" - at our result
this year! I joined the band just after they were demoted from the 2nd Section after the 1996 Regionals. We have always believed (and others who should know, have said) that we usually play to a good 2nd Section standard and have done quite well whenever we have entered local 2nd Section contests. In 1997 and 1998 we had high hopes of doing well and gaining promotion back to the 2nd section, but have only had mediocre mid-table results although being confident of being able to play the pieces to a good standard. This year we didn't feel very confident playing "Main Street" - fairly easy to play the notes but a lot of exposed parts plus changes of tempi and style and needing to play together. Luck was on our side for the draw with a last but one No 17 and we played as well as we have in rehearsals. We thought a Top 10 position could be there and would be pleased with a Top 6. Being late in the draw we decided to have a drink and still get in for the results but most of us failed and as we went back for the results hardly believed it when someone said we were 3rd! It certainly has boosted morale in the band with this result helping us to have a small outside chance of being promoted back to the 2nd Section next year. But more realistically a good result next year should set us up for promotion the following year. |
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7th March 1999
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 The contract has now been signed and we have got the music sent from Duncan :-) - plus various instructions of what to play and when - which will no doubt change before the date and at the dress rehearsal! Some of the band are hoping to go to one of the performances (before we actually play<G>) and looks like the best in terms of timing and location is one of the performances At Cardiff New Theatre in the week commencing 19th April - I think this is Tredegar Band playing here. Although the Theatre has opened for seat bookings - one source has said that it's already 80% booked! - it isn't actually shown in the "What's On" section :-( So, now there is plenty to do with practicing the music and all the other administration tasks. As this is our big public event of the year I have started some separate pages for news on how this is going. Oh - and for fun - there's a "Countdown Clock" like a Millenium one showing the time until "Curtain Up" on the first night!<G> Click on this image 
or on the menu panel button for news, theatre seating and booking
details.In the future after the performances I'll add some newspaper reviews, any funny incidents etc |
 For information and booking for this here is the link for The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Early days yet as Brassed Off isn't listed in the future dates but it will give our band members, friends and relatives a taste of what we hope to be doing in May! |
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20th March - WORCESTER COMPETITIVE FESTIVAL |
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Perhaps the less said about this
competition the better! We had won the past 2 years and were
going for "three in a row". Although our local rivals Arrow Valley Brass were not competing, and we almost didn't as there was no prize money due to the organisers not being able to secure sponsorship, we decided that as defending champions we would enter. Surprisingly there were six entries - 3 local High School bands (loose term I think as several were more small brass ensembles!), a youth band and a local non-contesting band - and after achieving 3rd place in the Midlands 3rd Section Area Qualfying competition 2 weeks earlier we must have been favourites - although not complacent! We were last to play and had a good performance - I don't know how this compared with the other bands except Perscoran Brass who played "Disney Fantasy" as well as I've heard them at other times, but at the top end of their abilities to play well. Some of us could feel that the adjudicator from her general comments wasn't a brass band officionado but were totally dumbstruck that we were placed joint last! The adjudicators report ran to three lines with no useful indication of what she was judging on - but I imagine she was judging also on the age, attempt or even something else to get the results - not ideal standards for an Open Class! The programme notes for her "accreditation" to be the adjudicator were slim and didn't seem well qualified for the job:- "Elizabeth Palmer was a Foundation Scholar at the Royal College of Music where she studied wind instruments and piano. She is currently engaged in teaching orchestral wind instruments, together with ensemble coaching at independent, primary and comprehensive schools. She also undertakes professional engagements." Enough said! - Except I'm getting a lot of grief at home from my son who plays 3rd Cornet with Perscoran Brass!<G> At least it makes it easy to know that we are very likely not to enter next year for a competition class that should read anything but "Open Brass Bands"! |
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PLAYER CHANGES |
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| NEW PLAYERS | We welcome Denise Ottey (2nd Cornet) and Lee Ottey (2nd Horn). |
| LEAVERS | Rhonda Caveney unfortunately has had to resign as she and husband Mike have moved out of the area. However, I'm sure we will see them both at various contests and concerts - in fact they were at the Regionals in the front row supporting us! :-) Good Luck Rhonda and Mike and see you frequently we hope. |
