City of Bristol Brass Band
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Biog
    • History
    • Gallery >
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2000s
      • Older
    • Learners
    • Charity
  • News
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Contact
  • Links
  • Policies

​City of Bristol conductor taken ill

27/2/2019

1 Comment

 
The City of Bristol Brass Band were sad to learn that M.D. Ian Holmes, a popular conductor from the west country, was taken ill last week and will be unable to conduct them at the Area contest in Torquay.  The band has kept in close contact with Ian and send him very best wishes for a speedy recovery.
 
Bryn James came to the rescue taking the band to the Oxfordshire and District Brass Band Association contest on 23rd February, at just 48 hours notice, achieving a creditable 3rd place on only one rehearsal.
Picture
The band is pleased to announce they have secured the services of Christopher Bond to conduct them at the West of England Regional Championships in Torquay on 9th March.
 
Band Chair, Steve Ellis, said:
"We were all distressed to hear that Ian was in hospital but are looking forward to seeing him back in the bandroom as soon as possible.  We are very lucky to have many good friends in the band community and Bryn James did a fantastic job for us at Oxford and we are now really looking forward to working with Chris Bond in our final preparations for the Regional Championships."
1 Comment

West of England Areas

12/3/2014

0 Comments

 

National Brass Band Championships

    The weekend of the 8th and 9th of March saw the annual contest commonly known as the Areas.  This year as in the past (and for years to come) it was held in Torquay.  Over 70 bands from around the region descended upon the English Riviera all hoping for a place in the National Brass Band Championship Finals later on this year.  Saturday saw the 4th, 3rd and 1st Section bands compete, with wins for Corsham, Bratton and Filton, respectively.  Sunday was our day, in the Second Section, followed by the Championship section bands eventually won by Flowers).
Picture
    On Saturday evening the Band assembled to have a final practice before enjoying the spring-time evening.  An early bed for most and an early breakfast the following morning gave time for an 8.30 warm-up and run through.  During the session we were told that we had drawn the dreaded number one spot, so a quick rendition of the National Anthem ensued before getting changed and ready to go on stage.

    Changing room - Registration (no problems there, thank goodness, after bands have been disqualified for late registrations!) - and then onto the stage.  With a welcome speech by the MC we were into the National Anthem and then after welcoming the Adjudicators, Mike Kilroy and Steve Pritchard-Jones and making sure they were ready, we started our test-piece, Chaucer's Tunes by Michael Ball.

        After an uncertain start, things improved a little in the middle, but went a little awry towards the end, with intonation and clarity getting lost in the excitement.  With our performance over, we then had a long wait (in the bar!) before the results were announced:

1. Forest of Dean Brass
2. St. Keverne
3. Ocean Brass
4.  Poole Borough
5. Wotton-under-Edge & District
6. A W Parker (Drybrook)

    We finished a disappointing 14th out of 16.  Not the result we had hoped for and certainly much worse than the Band is capable of achieving; but we will return next year to carry on the fight!
City of Bristol kick things off with a strong performance #regs2014  (British Bandsman)

It's just as keen a battle in the sartorial elegance stakes here in Torquay this morning as it is with the music making. First we had Kevin Robbins looking dapper at the helm with City of Bristol in a tasty whistle and flute.  (4BarsRest; live comments)

A trio of solid, musically intersecting and well led performances to kick off proceedings here in Torquay.
City of Bristol recovered from a hesitant start and some nervousness to deliver a stylish and compact account under Kevin Robbins.  (4BarsRest; live comments)

0 Comments

West of England Area

11/3/2013

0 Comments

 

The National Brass Band Championships
West of England Area

    The Band has been rehearsing solidly since the start of the year on one testpiece: Edward Gregson's The Plantagenets.  This was the piece chosen as the Second Section Area testpiece to be performed across the country to decide who would represent their respective Area in the National Finals later in the year.

    With all the extra rehearsals done and the Band settled into the Torquay hotel on the Friday night, it was an early night for some (not so for others!).  Breakfast on the Saturday morning was early: 7am, in time for a warm-up and final run-through of the piece.  The draw gave us the number 12 slot (of 16 bands) and everything looked very promising.  Knowing how much time we had before our performance, another practice time was booked for a quick final final play before we wandered over to the Riviera Centre for a coffee and bite to eat, a nosy through the trade stands or to mingle with the crowds and catch up with old friends.

Read More
0 Comments

Area Contest bands announced!

26/1/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture


The bands entering the National Brass Band Area Contest in Torquay have been named.


They are:

Championship Section:

Aldbourne
Bournemouth Concert Brass
Brunel Brass
Camborne Town
Chalford
Flowers
Lydbrook
Mount Charles
Sherborne Town
St Dennis
Woodfalls

First Section:

Filton Concert Brass
Forest of Dean Brass
Helston Town
Hyde
Lanner & District Silver
Lympstone South West Telecoms
Michelmersh Silver
Otterbourne Brass
Poole Borough
Shrewton Silver
St Austell Town
Verwood Concert Brass
Yeovil Town

Second Section:

AW Parker (Drybrook)
Bath Spa
Bream Silver
Bugle Silver
Cinderford
City of Bristol Brass
Downton
Ocean Brass
Pendennis Brass Falmouth
Pheonix Brass (Crewkerne)
Sidmouth Town
Soundhouse Brass
St Keverne
St Pinnock
Swindon Pegasus
Weston Brass
Third Section:

Andover Town
Bodmin Town
Bratton Silver
Bristol East & Kingswood
Denmead Brass
Gillingham Imperial Silver
Hatherleigh Silver
Heyl Town
Launceston Town
Midsomer Norton & Radstock Silver
New Forest Brass
Pillowell Silver
St Stythians
Test Valley Brass
Wotton-under-Edge & District

Fourth Section:

Camborne Junior Contesting
Chalford Academy
Corsham
Gosport Solent Brass
Lydney Town
Nailsworth Silver
Okehampton Excelsior Silver
Pendeen Silver
Saltash Town
Shanklin Town Brass
South Molton Town
Spinnaker Brass
Swindon Brass
Tiverton Town
Torbay Brass
Totnes
Verwood B
Wellington Silver
Weymouth Concert Brass
Wilton & District
Wincanton Silver
    The contest starts at 10am for the Second Section on the Saturday.  We will be performing Edward Gregson's The Plantaganets to the two adjudicators, who are Lt Col Nick Grace RM & David Thornton.  Chorum Records will be there as well, recording the whole event and producing a CD of the winners.

    For more information, visit the West of England Brass Band Association website.
0 Comments

Band steps up in Torquay

12/3/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
The band travelled to Torquay for the Regional Championships to try and gain a place at the national finals in Cheltenham. With a disappointing result last year, the band was looking to bounce back and try and take a step forward in returning to the First Section. After an early morning rehearsal, the band took to the stage playing number 2 in a strong field of 16 bands. The band felt they played well, especially given the musical and technical difficulties in this year's set test piece Cross Patonce by Goff Richards.


Read More
1 Comment
    Picture
    Follow @bristolbrass

    Archives

    January 2022
    December 2020
    April 2020
    November 2019
    February 2019
    May 2018
    April 2018
    June 2016
    October 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010

    Categories

    All
    Adopt A Composer
    Brass Band
    Bristol
    Christmas
    Concert
    Conert
    Contest
    Entertainment
    Gbba
    Grand Appeal
    Learners
    Md
    Radio
    Regional Championship
    Tv
    Wallace & Gromit
    Whit Friday

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Biog
    • History
    • Gallery >
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2000s
      • Older
    • Learners
    • Charity
  • News
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Contact
  • Links
  • Policies