The remarkable Richard Evans literally turned back the clock at the Brass in Concert Championship on Sunday as he led Leyland to victory in the world’s premier brass band entertainment contest.

Four decades

In doing so he not only won the Peter Hartley Memorial Trophy, given to the winning conductor for an unprecedented ninth time, but also created history by leading a band to victory at the contest in four consecutive decades.

Fittingly it was with Leyland – the band he helped reinvigorate in the late 1970’s, and with whom he first tasted success here in 1989.

Musical memories

A programme that owed its inspiration to a selection of some of his own musical memories — including the obligatory award winning swagger march, ‘Imperial Echoes’ (which he also won on back in 1987), saw Leyland beat off the inspired challenge of closest rivals, Brass Band of Central Florida and Masters champion Tredegar.

The result also created Brass in Concert history, with Leyland becoming the first band to be crowned champion without winning either discipline of the contest – Tredegar taking the ‘Quality of Performance’ Award (started in 1993), whilst Florida took the ‘Best Performance in Entertainment and Presentation’ trophy.

Margin overturned

However, when the overall points were collated, it was Leyland who overturned Tredegar’s two point margin from music judges Philip Sparke and Rob Wiffin, whilst they only fell a single point behind the Americans in the opinion of entertainment judges Luc Vertommen and David Horsfield.

That proved crucial as it ensured that despite ending level on points with Florida, the extra point gained from the music judges gave them the £4,000 first prize and the World of Brass Championship Trophy.

My band

A thrilled Richard Evans later spoke of immense personal satisfaction of leading what he called ‘my band’ to yet another entertainment title – his fourth with them at this contest, but their first since 1997.

"This means so much," he told 4BR. "The band is so close to my heart that I always call them, ‘my band’. This victory was down to them today though. They are such a great bunch, and so willing to work for the Leyland cause. I can’t thank them enough. This has turned the musical clock back for me in more ways than one."

This victory was down to them today though. They are such a great bunch, and so willing to work for the Leyland cause. I can’t thank them enough. This has turned the musical clock back for me in more ways than oneRichard Evans

Inspiration

Leyland’s John Doyle echoed those sentiments. "It’s been amazing to work with the great man once more," he said.

"You just want to enjoy playing your best for him when he conducts – he’s such an inspiration. This win gives us a huge boost of confidence to take into the new season. We are a young band (14 year old Richard Kaye took the ‘Youngest Player’ Award) but a very ambitious one and this shows what we can achieve."

Florida celebration

Despite coming second, Brass Band of Central Florida celebrated on the stage of The Sage almost as enthusiastically as the Leyland players, buoyed by a quite remarkable result, less than 24 hours after producing a rather uneven performance at the Brass in Concert Gala Concert.

"We were honoured to be invited to compete against the very best bands," Dee McAfee, the band’s soprano player told 4BR. "We knew we had to perform better than ever to make an impression, so to come second is a dream for us. We came to entertain, and I think we did just that."

Florida will now have to find room in their baggage for an extra £2,000 in prize money as well as the trophies for ‘Best Flugel’, ‘Best Horn’, ‘Best Percussion’, and ‘Best Entertainment’. No wonder MD Chad Shoopman could only say one word to 4BR before leading the on stage celebrations – “Wow!”

Tredegar comfort

Meanwhile, Tredegar will take some comfort from the fact that they left for the long trip back to South Wales with the individual prizes for the ‘Best Soprano’, ‘Best Principal Cornet’ and ‘Best New Composition’.

However, it still meant that for the first time since the ‘Quality of Performance’ Award was introduced in 1993, that the band which won it had not gone on to either win or come second overall.

Outstanding

Matt Hall, who won the composition award for the second year running told 4BR. "We felt we couldn’t have done any more today. We left the stage knowing we produced an outstanding performance – something confirmed by the music judges. So to miss out after we felt we also delivered a polished entertainment set was disappointing."

Missing out

Missing out on a podium finish was the heavyweight trio of Foden’s, Grimethorpe and Fairey (Geneva), with Foden’s pipping their rivals to claim the £750 fourth prize and the defending champion heading back to Grimethorpe with only the ‘Best Basses’ Award for their endeavours under the baton of Sandy Smith, who stepped in to conduct the band on one rehearsal following MD Brian Grant illness.

On a day when the packed auditorium was presented with only occasional musical innovation, but plenty of musical ‘nostalgia’ in choices of repertoire, the minor placings were headed by Reg Vardy, ahead of Whitburn, Carlton Main, Redbridge and Rothwell Temperance.

Awards

Other individual awards were claimed by Kirsty Abbotts as ‘Best Soloist’ for a stunning performance of ‘Shenandoah’ with Carlton Main Frickley, whilst Danny Brooks of Leyland took the ‘Don Lusher’ Trophy and Toni Howden of Carlton Main the ‘Best Euphonium’ prize.

Top Cat

However, the prize as the undisputed ‘King of Entertainment’ went to Richard Evans (who also turned the clock back by wearing one of his famous cravats) once more – or ‘Top Cat’ as the Leyland players referred to him in unison playing and singing at the start and the end of yet another Tricky Dickey inspired winning performance.

Results:

Music* + Entertainment** = Total

1. Leyland (Richard Evans) 196/10 = 206*
2. Brass Band of Central Florida (Chad Shoopman) 195/11 = 206
3. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse) 198/6 = 204
4. Foden's (Michael Fowles) 193/9 = 202
5. Grimethorpe Colliery (Sandy Smith) 194/7 = 201*
6. Fairey (Geneva) (Steve Sykes) 192/9 = 201
7. Reg Vardy (Ray Farr) 190/6 = 196
8. Exchange Communications Whitburn (Simon Dobson) 189/3 = 192
9. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Phillip McCann) 188/2 = 190
10. Redbridge Brass (Jeremy Wise) 185/4 = 189
11. Rothwell (David Roberts) 185/1 = 186

*Music is marked out of 200 points
** Placement marks are awarded for entertainment 11 — 1 (most entertaining gaining the highest mark)

Individual awards

Don Lusher Trombone Award: Danny Brooks (Leyland)
Harry Mortimer Best Principal Cornet Award: Dewi Griffiths (Tredegar)
The Fesa Trophy for Best Flugel Award: John Cappella (Brass Band of Central Florida)
The Shaw Trophy for Best Soprano Award: Steve Stewart (Tredegar)
Best Euphonium: Toni Howden (Carlton Main)
Best Baritone/Horn: Will Kus (Brass Band of Central Florida)
John Fletcher Best Basses Award: Grimethorpe Colliery
Best Percussion: Brass Band of Central Florida
Best Entertainment Performance: Brass Band of Central Florida
Own Choice March: Imperial Echoes (Leyland)
Best Soloist: Kirsty Abbots, Cornet (Carlton Main)
New Composition/Arrangement Award: Nightingale Dances — Matt Hall (Tredegar)
Quality of Performance: Tredegar
Winning MD: Richard Evans (Leyland)
Youngest Player: Richard Kaye — Leyland (aged 14)