2004 Spring Festival - The adjudicators
5-May-2004Six men will make the decisions that will make or break the bands this weekend. Nice to see some fresh new faces to add to the undoubted experience of the likes of Roy Newsome, James Scott, Geoffrey Whitham and Derek Broadbent.
James Scott
James Scott is well known internationally as a conductor and adjudicator of brass. In his early years he had a brilliant career as a cornetist, twice winning the title of Champion Cornet Player of Great Britain in 1959 and 1960.
He began what was to become a successful conducting career in 1960, at the same time widening his musical experience as a trumpet player with the major northern symphony orchestras. His reputation continued to grow, and he has now ben in demand for many years at the highest level, having adjudicated at the All England Masters, National and European Championships, in addition to regular visits combining conducting and adjudicating at festivals in Norway, Holland, Denmark, Switzerland and Belgium. He has conducted the winning bands at both the National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall and at the European Championships.
He has worked with many of Britain's top bands, and in 1977 was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians of the City of London for his contribution to the band world. James recently gained a BA degree from the Open University.
Dr. Roy Newsome
Dr Roy Newsome is well known throughout the brass band world as conductor, adjudicator, teacher and composer and was, for several years, the Presenter of "Listen to the Band" on Radio 2. He has had long associations with several of the country's leading bands, including Black Dyke, Williams Fairey, Besses o' th' Barn and Sunlife. He was Musical Director of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain from 1984 to 2000 and regularly directed the 20 yearly courses, as well as inviting leading conductors from the orchestral world to work with the band. He was also instrumental in commissioning new music which the band premiered, and in doing so has introduced a number of new composers to the banding world. He has conducted wining bands at both the British Open Championship and the National Finals.
He has adjudicated at virtually every major contest in the world and has over 100 published compositions to his name. He was for many years, Head of Band Studies on the BA and Graduate Diploma courses in Band Musicianship at the former University College, Salford and in 1989 was the recipient of the college's Honorary Graduate Diploma, having in 1976 been awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. In 1993 Roy Newsome succeeded the late Harry Mortimer CBE as President of the National Association of Brass Band Conductors.
Following retirement he was appointed Conductor Laureate, and regularly visits what has now become the Faculty of Music of the University of Salford as lecturer and researcher. In July 1999 he graduated as Doctor of Philosophy, becoming the first recipient of this award for research into brass band history at the University of Salford.
Senior Cup:
Geoffrey Whitham
Geoffrey Whitham was born in Queensbury, in the heartland of brass banding, and started playing with the Black Dyke Junior Band at the age of 11 on the euphonium. After a year with the band he moved to the Canal Ironworks Band and returned to Black Dyke Mills Band on baritone at the age of 15. He later took over the solo euphonium position at the age of 18 and held this position for 13 years.
As a player he was regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, whilst his performance as solo euphonium during Black Dyke's win on "Le Roi d'Ys" at the Royal Albert Hall in 1959 has become the stuff of legend. Besides his work in the brass band world he also gained considerable experience playing tenor and bass tuba with some of the country's leading orchestras including the Liverpool Philharmonic, the City of Birmingham and the Halle, where he played under the famous Sir John Barbirolli. Following this period he took over as bandmaster at Black Dyke and in 1966 he was appointed as Musical Director of the Hammonds Sauce Works Band (the now Yorkshire Building Society) and this was the start of another period of high profile success in the banding world. He was the Musical Director there for 18 years during which the band won prizes at the British Open and many other leading contests in the UK.
After leaving the band he conducted the James Shepherd Versatile Brass for a short period before returning to Hammonds Sauce to direct them for another 5-year period in 1988. During this time the band won the Grand Shield contest, came second at the British Open and became the first band to complete a tour to Lithuania.
Although now semi retired he is still busy passing on his expertise and advice to numerous bands and players. He was for some time the co – conductor of the "Kings of Brass". In 1979 he was awarded the Iles Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his outstanding contribution to the brass band movement, and in 1999 he received the All England Masters Dedicated Service Award.
Peter Roberts
Peter Roberts needs no introduction to brass band audiences all over the World. He has long been regarded as the finest exponent of the soprano cornet in the history of the brass band movement and his talents have seen him perform on all the major contesting and concert stages in the UK, Europe and abroad.
He was born in Grimethorpe in 1950 and his early musical career was linked that famous band, where he played soprano cornet for many years. A miner by trade, he lost his job following the end of the pit closures, but immediately retrained himself in music to gain professional qualifications and an honours degree from Barnsley College under Major Peter Parkes.
His roll of honour of contesting wins reads like no other – 7 British Open victories, 1 National Championship, 6 European titles, 2 All England Masters titles, 2 British Open Solo Championships, 6 Granada Band of the Year titles, 4 British Open Eb/Bb solo titles, 1 Granada Band of the Year Soloist Award, 1 Swiss Open Soloist award, 2 Brass in Concert Soloist awards, 3 Mineworkers Senior Solo Champion titles and 1 New Zealand Champion of Champion s title.
Recently he released his eagerly awaited solo CD, entitled appropriately "Legend" which has become a phenomenal best seller by brass band standards. The book of the same name has also been bought by his legion of many fans. Since 1997 he has been part of the amazingly successful Yorkshire Building Society Band and was a member of the famous Virtuosi Brass Band of Great Britain and the Kings of Brass, whilst in the USA he has been a member of the famous Brass Band of Battle Creek.
Senior Trophy:
Derek Broadbent
Derek commenced playing the cornet at the age of 9 with the Thornton Cleveleys Silver Band. After a services career spanning almost nine years, during which time he studied at Kneller Hall, the Royal Military School of Music, he returned to civilian life as a professional arranger.He returned to the world of brass bands as a conductor in 1966 and in 1973 became Resident conductor of the internationally famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band.In his ten years with Brighouse, Derek enjoyed enormous success and in 1980 conduction them to a premier place in the National Championships. He was also responsible for their chart topping success of "The Floral Dance".
In 1984 he moved to the equally famous Black Dyke Mills Band and played an integral part in their 1985 "Grand Slam", a year which saw them take every major title in brass band contesting. Since 1990 Derek has worked as a freelance conductor, composer, arranger and adjudicator not only in the United Kingdom but all over the world. He was also Associate Professional Conductor with the Williams Fairey Band who also won every major title in the years 1993/1994.
His association with the Manx Youth Band commenced in 1984 and has been relatively unbroken ever since. He conducted the band on their successful tour of New Zealand's North Island in 1990 as Ian Clague was unavailable owing to the illness of his father. Apart from composing the Youth Band's signature March, Derek has also produced two major works commissioned by the Douglas Corporation "Music for a Centenary" for the 1996 Centenary of the Corporation and "Millennium Fanfare and Variations" premiered in 1999, both these works being for Band and Choir.
Derek now spends much of his time training bands all over the globe. Much of his time is devoted to the youth of the brass band movement.He is also the Music Editor for Wright and Round Ltd. and in 1988 was awarded the prestigious Isle's Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his services to brass music and youth education.
Ian Brownbill
Ian Brownbill is a fourth generation bandsman and commenced playing the cornet and piano at the age of ten. His formative years as a player were under the nurturing influence of his father. At the early age of 15, Ian Joined the CWS Manchester Band and at the same time played Principal Trumpet with The Liverpool Mozart Orchestra. During the 1980's Ian enjoyed a successful period as principal cornetist with several bands in the North west of England.
During this time he benefited from regular tuition with David King. Ian also gained his BA in music and drama in 1987. In 1990 Ian Joined Leyland DAF Band as assistant principal cornet to the legendary, Phillip McCann.In May 1993, Ian was appointed flugel horn soloist with Black Dyke Mills Band, and during the next three years enjoyed a number of successes including in 1995 the memorable ‘grand slam' as European, British Open and National Champions. In the same year Ian was distinguished by his peers who voted him Black Dyke ‘Bandsman of the Year'Ian has spent many years working as a specialist brass teacher including a rewarding five year period at St Vincent's School for the Blind in Liverpool.In more recent years Ian has taken some time out of playing with bands to try his hand with the baton.
He has already taken three second section bands to the National Finals on four occasions, conducting the winning performance in the 1997, the runners -up prize in '96 & 99 and third prize in '92. As an adjudicator, Ian has been engaged at various contests including, The Pilkington Northern Open, The Thameside Festival and The British Open Solo Championships of Great Britain amongst others.Ian was a featured soloist on the CD ‘Nexus' with the famous folk rock band ‘Barclay James Harvest' in ‘99, and, along with other ‘Dyke' soloists, performed a few years earlier with Tori Amos on her ‘Boys from Pele' CD.
