Following a good 2010 for Regent Brass, which saw them celebrate their 25th Anniversary with an eighth National Final appearance, they now start 2011 back in the Championship Section for the first time since 2004.

Steady progress

Under the direction of MD Alan Duguid the band make steady progress over the last 4 years, whilst Alan has been informed that he has reached the final stages of the 5th Annual European Conductors Competition, to be held in Montreux as part of the European Brass Band Championships this year.

Fond farewell

Sadly the band recently bade a fond farewell to Manuel Vogtli, who made a great job of moving on to soprano last year, as he is due to return shortly to Switzerland at the completion of his PhD.

The other notable loss is that of Tim Large who has been the band's Principal Cornet since 2002. Tim is heading back to New Zealand to bring up his young family.

Great player

A spokesperson told 4BR: "As well as being a great player, Tim was a committed bandsman and he will be a hard act to follow. The band wish him and his wife Liz the very best in their new life down under bringing up their young daughter."

Filling the gaps

To fill these gaps, Andrew Hornsby, lately of Aveley comes in on soprano, and David Quinlan who is joining the band to play principal cornet at the Areas in March after great service with the Welwyn Band.

To complete the areas line up, the band welcomes Olof Jonsdottir on 2nd cornet.

Last year the band played in an experimental street theatre production as part of the Kensington Arts Festival as part of a performance called 'Monkey and the Bear'4BR

Awards

Regent recently made its 2010 Band Awards, with the MD's ‘Player of the Year’ and the ‘Bandsman of the Year’ going to solo horn Martin Pearce.

To underline his standing in the band he was also recently elected as Band Secretary, taking over from stalwart, Darryl D’Costa who has been a member of the band for the whole of its 25 year existence.
Finally, Regent Brass has once again appeared on the web.

Experiment

Last year the band played in an experimental street theatre production as part of the Kensington Arts Festival as part of a performance called 'Monkey and the Bear' at: http://vimeo.com/19290558.