There was a fine turn out of bands at the recent scaba contest at The Hawth in Crawley, where adjudicators Dennis Wilby and John Roberts enjoyed the own choice test pieces provided by competitors from both sides of the English Channel.
Broad Shoulders
Wantage Silver carried on their recent run of good form under the baton of Phil Bailey as they claimed the Championships Section honours with a rousing number 1 draw ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’ to repel the challenge of seven London and Belgian based rivals.
After producing encouraging results at the Area and the Senior Trophy earlier this year, their performance of Peter Graham’s former British Open test piece aided by their prize winning percussion team drew rich praise from adjudicator Dennis Wilby.
Ambitious
The contest featured a number of ambitious musical choices – from the 2012 European set work, ‘Vita Aeterna Variations’ played by East London Brass, to the Masters test piece ‘Comedy Overture’, performed by Sandhurst Silver.
It was Friary Guildford though who eventually claimed second place with a sturdy rendition of ‘Music of the Spheres’ under the direction of Chris King.
Dragon
Third place went to Regent Brass conducted by Alan Duguid with free flowing ‘Year of the Dragon’ which featured an outstanding ‘Best Soloist’ contribution from trombonist Tetsu Okamura and prize winning foundation work from the band’s bass section.
Rather surprisingly former European champions Brass Band Willebroek could only come 8th with their performance of ‘Energy’, under Frans Violet, whilst compatriots Brass Band Kortrijk was 6th, beaten by the improving top section duo of Sandhurst Silver and East London Brass, despite the prize winning efforts of ‘Best Euphonium’ winner Frederik Leroy in their performance of ‘The Promised Land’.
Northfleet victory
The vast experience of MD Melvin White was certainly put to good use for Northfleet Brass as they produced a wonderful ‘Renaissance’ performance to claim the First Section title – also off the number 1 draw.
After a lowly eighth place at the Area contest at Stevenage earlier in the year in the Second Section, the result proved to be a remarkable turnaround in form, as they beat First Section contenders Horsham and Fairlop to top the podium.
Northfleet’s Maurice Bowers certainly played his part in the victory with his excellent contribution to claim the ‘Best Euphonium’ prize, whilst the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award went to Horsham’s soprano player Chris Line.
Olney triumph
There was a fine victory to savour for Olney Town in the 10 band Second Section, after they delivered a sterling performance of ‘Variations on Laudate Dominum’ under MD, Ed Keely to take the honours in a closely fought contest from Battle Town and Medway Concert.
Olney’s soprano cornet Martin Mills took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award whilst Cheryl Goodsell of Battle and her compatriots took the horn awards on offer for their contribution to their performance of ‘Dimensions’.
Medway’s percussion team also added their prize winning contribution to their band’s rendition of ‘Music for a Festival’.
Sussex victory
Finally, in the Third Section there was a victory for Sussex Brass (Hastings) under Steve Hollamby, who managed to repel the challenge of runner up, Simon Langton Brass, with City of Oxford Silver in third.
Mandy Nash and the bass section of Sussex took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ and ‘Best Basses’ awards, whilst the back row cornets and percussion of Simon Langton Brass picked up well deserved individual awards too.
Band of the Year
Shanklin Youth Band took the Youth Section honours as well as being crowned scaba Band of the Year.
their performance of Peter Graham’s former British Open test piece aided by their prize winning percussion team drew rich praise from adjudicator Dennis Wilby4BR
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Dennis Wilby
1. Wantage Silver A (Phil Bailey)
2. Friary Guildford (Chris King)
3. Regent Brass (Alan Duguid)
4. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
5. Sandhurst Silver (Ian McElligott)
6. Kortrijk Brass (Ward de Ketelaere)
7. Ipswich & Norwich Co-op (Ian Johnson)
8. Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet)
Best Instrumentalist: Tetsu Okamura (Trombone) – Regent
Best Percussion: Wantage Silver A
Best Euphonium: Frederik Leroy (Kortrijk Brass)
Best Bass Section: Regent Brass
Conductors Prize: Phil Bailey (Wantage Silver A)
First Section:
Adjudicator: Dennis Wilby
1. Northfleet Brass (Melvin White)
2. Horsham Borough (Andrew Kershaw)
3. Fairlop Brass (Kevin Jordan)
4. BAE Systems Brass (Keith Woodger)
5. Battle Town (Jon Penton)
Best Instrumentalist: Chris Line (Soprano) – Horsham Borough
Best Euphonium: Maurice Bowers (Northfleet Brass)
Best Bass Section: Horsham Borough
Conductors Prize: Melvin White (Northfleet Brass)
Highest Placed Member Band: Horsham Borough
Second Section:
Adjudicator: John Roberts
1. Olney Town Brass (Ed Keeley)
2. Battle Town (Jon Penton)
3. Medway Concert Brass (John Campbell)
4. Epsom & Ewell Silver (Jack Smith)
5. Regent Community Brass (Alan Duguid)
6. LGB Brass (Ian Stewart)
7. Wantage Silver B (Danny Dullforce)
8. Cold Ash (Jemma Evans)
9. Shanklin Town (Malcolm Lewis)
10. Snowdown Colliery Brass (Keith Twyman)
Best Instrumentalist: Martin Mills (Soprano) – Olney Town Brass
Best Horn Section: Battle Town
Best Horn: Cheryl Goodsell (Battle Town)
Best Percussion Section: Medway Concert Brass
Conductors Prize: Ed Keeley (Olney Town Brass)
Third Section:
Adjudicator: Dennis Wilby
1. Sussex Brass (Hastings) (Steve Hollamby)
2. Simon Langton Brass (David Cutting)
3. City of Oxford Silver (Steve Sizeland)
4. The Cobham Band (Robin Langdon)
5. Charles Church Camberley (Robert Cherry)
Best Instrumentalist: Mandy Nash (Cornet) – Sussex Brass (Hastings)
Best Back Row Cornets: Simon Langton Brass
Best Bass Section: Sussex Brass (Hastings)
Best Percussion Section: Simon Langton Brass
Conductors Prize: Steve Hollamby (Sussex Brass)
Youth Section:
Adjudicator: John Roberts
1. Shanklin Town Youth (Malcolm Lewis)
Best Instrumentalist: Charlotte Lewis
Conductors Prize: Malcolm Lewis
scaba Band of the Year 2012:
Shanklin Town Youth
