We’ve done it again! LGB went to Stevenage on Saturday for the London and Southern Counties regional Brass Band Championships. Having drawn number 5, LGB went on to the stage and laid down a marker that was hard to beat. In fact, only one band managed it! Finishing second means we are off to the Finals in Cheltenham (for the third time in four years) on the weekend of 21/22nd September.
We had something of a traumatic lead up to the Regional Contest, with Principal Cornet, Christina Kearley having had an accident that prevented her from playing – just 2 weeks before the contest! Adam (Christina’s husband) stepped up to the mark and led the band to a fantastic 2nd place, in only our 2nd year in the 3rd section. We’ve also been promoted to the 2nd section from next year!
The piece we played was Hollywood! by Goff Richards. It featured Alex on flugel, in a laid back, jazzy solo, with major solo contributions from Adam (cornet), Angela (horn) and Peter (trombone).
The section was adjudicated by Paul Holland, MD of the Flowers Band from the West Country. Paul said that the we had ” a well directed performance” with “lots of attention to detail” and some “excellent moments of ensemble control”.
Once again we were wished good luck by Anneka Rice on her national show on BBC Radio 2. We’ve now decided to adopt Anneka as our celebrity lucky mascot…
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Ian’s excellent direction of the band wasn’t the only success of the weekend. He plays 1st trombone for Friary Guildford – who came 2nd in the Championship section of the same contest – and who will be going to the finals in the Albert Hall on 12th October.
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