Bringing bands together for more than 80 years

P R E S S R E L E A S E 9th April 2009

LBBA 2009 Spring Festival results

The halls of Groby Community College were once again ringing with the sound of slow melodies, duets, air varies and quartets, as the Leicestershire Brass Band Association’s Spring Solo Contest got underway on Sunday 5th April, performing to the trusted ears of Adjudicators Sharon Stansfield, Keith Leonard and Ian Bartram. An impressive turnout from local bands, as well as those from further afield showed that the tradition of brass banding continues to thrive in the Midlands.

Members of Shirland Band and their Junior Quartet Trophy Winners of the Open Quartet: Amington

Over 50 competitors under the age of 14 battled it out in the two youngest sections, with increasing entries in the Open sections also. Shirland Band continued its recent successes claiming titles in a Junior Slow Melody and both Junior Quartet sections. There was also a fine array of instruments on display; Soprano Cornets in the Junior Slow Melody and three Bass Trombonists competing in the Open Slow Melody. This year the first prize went to Bass Trombonist Stephen Lomas who was delighted to finally add a slow melody title to his increasing successes in the art of Air and Variations.

Open Slow Melody and Air Varie Catherine Ashley from Shirland Band with Adjudicator Sharon Stansfield Winner Stephen Lomas

Leading the way in the Open Quartets were the ladies from Amington band, closely followed by a foursome from City of Coventry. A number of special prizes were also awarded in the Open sections including the highest placed Duet under 19 years of age, which went to the brother and sister act of Alcha and Smain Mokrane from Bestwood band.

Congratulations to all of the winners.

Alcha and Smain Mokrane collect their special prize in the Open Duets from Adjudicator Ian Bartram.

The prize winners in each section were as follows:

Section A: Junior Slow Melody (Ages 10 and under)

1st Josh Watson - Harborough2nd Alice Watson - Harborough3rd William Davies – n/k

Section B: Junior Slow Melody (Ages 11-14)

1st Catherine Ashley – Shirland2nd Smain Mokrane - Bestwood3rd Alcha Mokrane - Bestwood

Section C: Junior Slow Melody (Ages 15-18)

1st Ian Mildowski - Hathern2nd Lewis Squires - Shirland3rd Adam Jones - Harborough

Section D: Open Slow Melody

1st Stephen Lomas - Hucknall2nd Emma Walton - Shirland3rd Steve Barham – Leics Co-op

Section E: Junior Air Varie (Air and Variations)

1st Adam Jones - Harborough2nd Adam Whittle - Shirland3rd Lewis Squires - Shirland

SecretaryLesley Bentleylesley@lbba.org.uk

Section F: Open Air Varie

1st Stephen Lomas - Hucknall2nd Steve Barham – Leics Co-op3rd Chris Lock - Derwent

Section G: Open Duets

1st Sam Scutt & Graham Jacklin – Leics Co-op2nd Richard Capstack & Nick Lear – Leics Co-op3rd Patricia & Peter Woodings – Newhall- Special Prize – Highest placed under 19 Years:- Alcha and Smain Mokrane - Bestwood

Section H: Junior Hymn Tune Quartets

1st Shirland A2nd Hathern Youth3rd Hathern Training

Section I: Junior Quartets

1st Shirland Cornets & Flugel2nd Shirland MW3rd Shirland Euphs and Troms

Section J: Open Quartets

1st Amington2nd City of Coventry3rd Newhall

Section K: Open Percussion

1st Luke Timson – Bestwood- Special Prize – Highest placed under 19 Years:- Luke Timson – Bestwood

SecretaryLesley Bentleylesley@lbba.org.uk