PRESS RELEASE BLACK DYKE CLAIMS NATIONAL BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS The National Brass Band Contest was held at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall where Black Dyke claimed their 23rd title, extending their record as the most successful in history. This particular contest is the FA Cup for brass bands and of course was immortalized in Pete Postlethwaite’s classic film ‘Brassed Off’. Performing the test piece The Legend of King Arthur by composer Peter Meechan, Black Dyke won the National Championship and also created their first double since 1995, after winning the British Open last month, ensuring the band’s ranking as Number 1 in the world, (by Brass Band World magazine.) The Director of Music commented The band were drawn last out of 20 competing bands, the tension within the capacity hall was electric. There was some stunning solo playing from Gary Curtin (the band’s Principal Euphonium) and Zoe Hancock (Flugel Horn soloist), and there were genuine moments of magic which created a performance that I will remember for a long time. Professor Nicholas Childs The contest, organised by the Kapitol Promotions, had invited 20 bands, all of which claimed their places through qualification in regional contests held throughout the UK. Yorkshires other representatives were Carlton Main (placed 18th), Grimethorpe (9th) and Brighouse & Rastrick (3rd) however it was Cory, challengers from Wales, that came second. The prestigious Best Soloist Award was won by Black Dykes Flugel star, Zoe Hancock, about whom the adjudicators commented “ the Flugel solo created a moment of genuine magic.” The composer Peter Meechan who wrote The Legend of King Arthur, the test piece for all the competing bands commented “Thanks for such a stunning performance. Zoe and Gary were exquisite, but you had an army of soloists and ensemble players all so focused, too.” The adjudicators Michael Bach, Stephen Roberts and Derek Broadbent were experts from the world of music. Stephen Roberts made the observation “it was a stunning performance which won and as the stats have recorded, it is 59 years since the band who performed last, won the contest.” Derek Broadbent and Michael Bach both commented “it had been a hard fought contest and although they had chosen the winning band, the door was still left open, however when the last band performed they closed the door and claimed the title.”
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 10:03:02 +0000
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