Posted: 04/03/24
On Sunday 3rd March, Derwent Brass competed at the 'Midlands Regional Championships' contest held at Corby Business Academy, Northamptonshire.
Derwent competed against 11 other bands, performing the set test piece 'Variations on an Enigma' by Philip Sparke. The ‘Enigma’ is a short snatch of a phrase taken from the test piece 'Contest Music' - a phrase which caught the imagination of the composer who took it as the basis of a sort of concerto for band with each section featured in turn.
The adjudicators David Hirst and Sarah Groarke Booth placed the band third in a tight battle for the podium spots. A fantastic result on a very challenging work which the band had thoroughly enjoyed the preparations on. The band once again with a third place just miss out on the trip to the Royal Albert Hall for the National Final Brass Band Championships.
The band are grateful for the support of everyone involved in helping us prepare the set work. Of course our Music Director Jack Capstaff delivered the vast majority of this, supported by some sessions with Paul Holland (MD of the Flowers Band, pictured above) in tandem with feedback from the rest of our musical leadership team, Richard Adams and Keith Leonard.
1. Desford Colliery (Ian Porthouse)*
2. GUS Band (Dr David Thornton)*
3. Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff)
4. Sovereign Brass (Alan Gifford)
5. Newstead Brass (Martin Heartfield)
6. Enderby (Gareth Brindle)
7. Ratby Co-operative (Mareika Gray)
8. Blidworth Welfare (Gary Perrin)
9. Brass Band of Central England (Howard Evans)
10. Gresley Colliery (Craig Stevens)
11. Shirley (Tom Stoneman)
12. Bilton Silver (Brad Turnbull)
*Qualify for an invitation to the National Finals.
