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2003 4BR AWARDS:
Newcomer of the Year
Read our nominations below for the above category. To vote, follow
the links at the bottom of this page.
It is always a pleasure to see new talent emerge in the banding
world, and 2003 was no exception as budding stars started to make
names for themselves.
We have had a look at the different spheres in our movement and
have come up with five names that we think can make a real mark
in the years to come. There are plenty of others of course, but
these are the ones that caught our eye, and ears.
 Herve Grelat (Switzerland)
Not the winner, but the runner up at the 2003 European Conductor’s
Competition in Bergen. Jesper Juul Sorensen from Denmark was deservedly
crowned the winner, but he was a rather more experienced MD and
in fact took Lyngby Taarbaek in the Championship European contest.
No, it was the rather slight figure of Herve Grelat and his very
precise, clear and calm style of direction of Sandefjord Brass Symposium
in the Final of the competition that marked him out for us and for
many rather better and experienced judges in the audience.
He impressed on the short straw test piece of “Stonehenge”,
but even with the least “audience friendly” work his
direction was outstanding. He may have been a tad disappointed not
winning, but we think this could be a young man that the Swiss brass
band scene could do with promoting. He has a very bright future
ahead.
 Judith Bingham
What is it about strong willed talented women and the brass band
world eh? Last year there was the unholy fuss about Cornelia Parker’s
“Breathless” and this year it was Judith Bingham’s
“Prague”. In years to come it will be seen in the same
light as “Spectrum”, “Fireworks” and “Images”
– a challenging work for sure, but nothing out of the ordinary.
What was all the fuss about?
We at 4BR though it a fine work for brass – it was technically
challenging, but not overly so, whilst musically it was esoteric
all right but it was chock full of atmosphere, subtleness and mood
– things that brass bands don’t do very well. That was
perhaps why it received such a hostile initial reception –
it didn’t deserve it. All we can hope is that we get to hear
more of Judith Bingham’s music – it has certainly enriched
our repertoire despite all the protestations.
Butlins Mineworkers Championships
Just look at our comments page. The mineworking industry may be
on its last legs, but through the intervention of Stan Lippeatt
and the Midlands Brass Band Association, plus a huge dollop of help
and financial assistance from Butlins, one of our great contesting
institutions will survive hopefully for many more years to come.
The first contest had a few teething problems, but thanks to a
very sympathetic organiser in Stephen Walker (a bandsman no less),
some excellent facilities and prize money that put even the Open
and Nationals to shame, it is a contest that demands our support.
Lets hope it gets it.
 Emma Farrow
The young (only 17) and very talented euphonium player of the Hepworth
Band has really made a name for herself this year. She appeared
with the European Youth Brass Band in Bergen and impressed all who
heard her with her playing – a fine light tone, secure technique
and lovely sense of musical style, whilst she was one of the star
performers on this year’s National Youth Brass Band of Great
Britain course.
To cap it all though she beat off some pretty impressive rivals
(Morgan Griffiths, David Thornton and Glyn Williams no less) to
win the Arthur Bedwell Trophy as Best Instrumentalist at the Pontins
Championships and impressed even further at the recent Scottish
Open. A player with a fine future ahead of her.
 Alliance Brass
Although they are not quite “newcomers” in the exact
meaning of the word, the London based band made their debuts at
the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in 2003 under John
Clarke – just
three years after they were formed. The band is made up of current
and former players of the Guildhall School of Music, plus others
who ply their professional trade around the capital, but they
all have a love for the brass band world. They have had a few
dodgy moments though (as students do !).
To have come so far in such a short space of time is a super achievement,
especially as there is a desperate need for strong competitive bands
from south of the Watford Gap. Now that they have made it to the
National Finals, they will need to show they can build on it and
progress even farther. 2004 should be an interesting year.
Previous winners:
2002: Simon Dobson
© 4BarsRest
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