The 4th Forest of Dean Solo, Duet, Quartet & Ensemble Championship took place on Sunday 5th July in Coleford, attracting over 165 entries from as far afield as Aberystwyth, Cumbria, Crewe, Shropshire and Tongwynlais.

Local bands

Local bands Lydbrook, Lydney Training and Forest of Dean Area Youth were also well represented. The adjudicators were Philip Harper and Sean O’Neill, who both did a sterling job throughout the busy day. The official accompanist was Jacquelyn Bevan.

The adjudicators commented on an extremely high standard of playing across the sections4BR

High standard

The adjudicators commented on an extremely high standard of playing across the sections when announcing the results and shared many useful and insightful comments with the competitors to assist them on their musical journey.

Special thanks must go to the very dedicated team of helpers who gave their time so willingly to make the contest such a resounding success and to the Friends of Forest of Dean Area Wind Band who provided the catering.

Results:

Primary Slow Melody:
1. Maizie Morgan (Lydbrook Training) — 95
2. Owen Gillard (Upper Rhondda) — 94
3. Stephen East (Forest of Dean Area Youth) — 93

Junior Slow Melody:
1. Dafydd Sion Rees (Penweddig School) — 96
2. Hollie Jones (Upper Rhondda) — 95
3. Emily Harding (Drybrook) — 94

Intermediate Slow Melody:
1. Emma Hocknell (Wem Jubilee) — 95
2. Otis Williams (Forest of Dean Area Youth) — 91
3. Josh Jones (Upper Rhondda) — 90

Open Slow Melody:
1. Glen Philip (Upper Rhondda) — 96
2. Nick Birch (United Co-op Crewe) — 95
3. Steve Schramm (Lydbrook) — 94

Primary Solo:
1. Lizzie Morgan (Lydbrook Training) — 90
2. Samuel Calway (Forest of Dean Area Youth) — 87
3. Arran Clarke (Aberystwyth Youth) — 86

Junior Solo:
1. Meleri Pryse (Penweddig School) — 96
2. Grady Hassan (Aberystwyth Youth) — 95
3. Emily Harding (Drybrook) — 92

Intermediate Solo:
1. Ben Stratford (Forest of Dean) — 96
2. Otis Williams (Lydbrook Training) — 94
3. Rory Rolfe (United Co-op Crewe) — 90

Open Solo:
1. Gareth Hann (Tongwynlais) — 98
2. Stuart Pollard (Lydbrook) — 97
3. Glen Philp (Upper Rhondda) -96

Youth Duet:
1. Gwern Penri & Dafydd Sion Rees (Penweddig School) — 91
2= Rhun Penri & Meleri Pryse (Aberystwyth Youth) — 90
2= Joshua Edwards & Peter Jones (Penweddig School) — 90

Mixed Duet:
1. Rory Rolfe & Andy Rolfe (United Co-op Crewe) — 93
2. Samantha Ford & Kerry Ford (Lydney Training) — 91
3. Rhiannon Symonds & Lori Warsop (Forest of Dean Youth) — 90

Open Duet:
1. Alanah Moulsdale & Glen Philp (Upper Rhondda) — 94
2. Steve Schramm & Robert Morgan (Lydbrook) — 93
3. Nick Birch & Alan Birch (United Co-op Crewe) — 91

Open Quartet:
1. Large Bore (United Co-op Crewe) — 95
2. Relative Harmony (United Co-op Crewe) — 93
3. The Soundtracks (United Co-op Crewe) — 88

Youth Quartet:
1. Whitecross G & T (Whitecross School) — 91
2. The Cream Puffs (Forest of Dean Area Youth) — 89
3. Aberystwyth Joshua (Aberystwyth Youth) — 88

Open Ensemble:
1. United Co-op Crewe (United Co-op Crewe) — 93
2. Quintessential Brass (KixMusic) — 91
3. Aberystwyth Youth (Aberystwyth Youth) — 88

Special Awards:
Best Girl in Class 1: Maizie Morgan
Best Boy in Class 1: Owen Gillard
Best Girl in Class 2: Hollie Jones
Best Boy in Class 2: Daffyd Sion Rees
Oldest Solo Competitor: Robert Morgan
Most Promising Junior Performance: Emma Hocknall
Most Outstanding Performance: Gareth Hann