The new era at Cory has claimed its first piece of major silverware as Philip Harper led the Welsh band to the Brass in Concert title at The Sage Gateshead.
Resounding victory
It proved to be a resounding victory too — with the band’s programme based on the theme of everlasting life gaining first place from both ‘Quality of Music’ adjudicators as well as for ‘Programme Content’.
It ended just 4 points off the possible 200 mark maximum that can now be achieved at the event – and as a result saw them end a massive 27 points ahead of their nearest rivals, and defending champion, Leyland, with fellow Welsh challengers Tredegar in third.
In addition there were individual awards to their superstar soprano player Steve Stewart who claimed both the ‘Best Soloist’ and ‘Best Soprano’ trophies and Owen Farr as ‘Best Horn’.
Delighted MD
The band also made the long trip back to South Wales with a prize fund of £5,700 with the MD picking up his first Peter Hartley Memorial Trophy as the winning conductor.
Talking to 4BR just before he prepared to board a flight to spend a relaxing fortnight in Japan, Philip Harper felt it was a victory based very much on Cory’s determination to remain as the number 1 ranked band in the world.
"The desire and discipline to remain at the very top has been a remarkable feature ever since I took over the baton," he said.
"To do that by winning here this weekend is an incredible testament to that desire from everyone involved in Cory Band."
No pressure
He added: "I haven’t really felt a great deal of pressure as the new conductor as the players have responded brilliantly to my ideas and approach – not just for Brass in Concert, but for the Open and Nationals, concerts and recordings too.
They are an incredibly well run organisation and an exceptional group of professionally minded people."
Theme
Philip revealed that the idea of a 23 minute programme set based on the theme of everlasting life had been decided in his mind some while ago, although the content had been tweaked on more than a few occasions along the way to The Sage.
"Once I knew of the changes to the way the contest was structured I had a good idea of what we were going to do, but I have to admit that there were some minor changes along the way – including the title!"
Gell
He continued: "Getting the programme to gell and be understood was important, whilst we spent a great deal of time making sure all performance aspects were covered too.
The playing was exceptional and I think fully deserving of gaining maximum marks from the two music judges and to gain top marks for programme content showed that the approach paid off."
Tribute
Philip also paid a special tribute to his ‘exceptional’ prize winning soloists too: "The entire band played their part in gaining this win, but the featured soloists such as Owen Farr and Steve Stewart were exceptional. Steve was on amazing form all weekend – his was a stunning personal performance."
As for the future? "I want to continue to build on the success, especially with such an important and busy year to come in 2013.
It’s a rare privilege to conduct such a band as Cory, but also such great fun too – although I am looking forward to the next two weeks in Japan with my wife."
Hootenanny
In a contest that certainly had a slightly different entertainment feel about it this year, defending champions Leyland had to be content with second place, despite taking the award for ‘Best Entertainment & Presentation’ and ‘Best March’ under the inimitable Richard Evans.
Their performance gained a standing ovation from sections of the packed hall, especially after a set that included the obligatory swagger march of ‘On the Quarter Deck’ and a surprise ‘encore’ extra of a mini version of ‘Hootenanny’ – something that had both fans and critics debating its merits in various bars well into the small hours of the Gateshead night.
In the hall
Sop star John Doyle, who was on sparkling form himself during Leyland’s set later told 4BR that the band knew its inclusion would cause a few eyebrows to be raised.
"It an entertainment contest and that is what we felt we do best. Some people may not have liked it, but that didn't seem to be the case in the hall."
He added: "We are disappointed we couldn't retain out title, but congratulations go to Cory. It’s been a great year for the band, so we can’t complain too much by ending second here."
Anthems
Meanwhile, Tredegar returned home by claiming their second successive third place finish at the event under the baton of Ian Porthouse, with an all round high class programme based on the theme of anthems and folk songs.
Their MD was happy that a timely return to form showed that the Welsh band was back on track after recent disappointing results at the majors.
"I can’t thank the players enough for the effort they put in for this,” he said. “The commitment and desire to show just how good we are as a top level outfit really shone through.
Cory was a worthy winner without a doubt, but once again we pushed for the title by providing high quality playing from start to finish."
High quality judgements
The adjudicators certainly had to encompass a new approach too, with set criteria and well defined boundary markers in place to what the Quality of Performance judges Paul Cosh and Luc Vertommen (sat separately), Andrew Duncan (Programme Content) and Steve Walker (Entertainment & Presentation) could and could not make judgement upon.
With clear instructions from the organisers (with a 7.00am early morning meet the media for questions session), the new system worked well, with the final scores and places of all bands shown on the hall’s main screen at the conclusion of the results ceremony.
"It was a new approach, but we knew exactly would we could and couldn't do," Paul Cosh later told 4BR. "There was no problem with anything potentially overlapping and it meant both Luc and I could concentrate on the quality of the music making and nothing else."
Outstanding
He added: 2Cory was outstanding – magnificent playing from start to finish, whilst Leyland and Tredegar gave performance of such high quality too.
We did have different opinions as was shown with the markings – but not that too far apart. The best bands provided the very best playing today for me – the other elements were up to the other judges."
Inventive Fairey
Those results eventually showed that Fairey claimed fourth place thanks to an inventive approach led by Norwegian conductor Reid Gilje.
Their programme included music as diverse as swing time Benny Goodman to open to a finale from the recent Tom Davoren First Section National Finals set work, ‘VIVAT!’ to close.
Flugel player Mike Eccles took the ‘Best Flugel’ award for his suave rendition of ‘The Girl from Ipanema’.
Grimethorpe fifth
Perennial BiC favourites Grimethorpe under Garry Cutt could only come fifth overall, despite taking both the ‘Best Trombone’ and ‘Best Basses’ prize and winning many admirers for their programme which was compered by Sandy Smith.
Chris Gomersall’s liquid performance of ‘Dark Eyes’ secured him the ‘Best Trombone ‘ award against stiff opposition on the day, whilst the stalwart bass quartet claimed their hard earned individual award too.
Clown award
There was delight for Carlton Main Frickley as they claimed a top six finish and an automatic invitation back for the 21013 event under the baton of Paul Andrews.
Their eclectic programme featured the prize winning ‘Best New Composition’ from Adam Taylor with his inventive arrangement of ‘Send in the Clowns’ featuring principal cornet Kirsty Abbotts.
Disappointment for Brighouse
There was disappointment for Brighouse & Rastrick fans as the Yorkshire band ended seventh despite taking prizes for ‘Best Euphonium’, 'Best Principal Cornet’ and ‘Best Percussion’.
Their set opened the day's contest on the stroke of 9.00am with an approach that certainly surprised many with its emphasis on subtle contrasts of style and genre under Allan Ramsay.
Virtuosi GUS ended the day in eighth on their long awaited return to the event, with a performance that relied heavily on the musical input of the talented composer Andrew Wainwright.
High energy
Co-operative Funeralcare’s high energy presentation under Paul Lovatt-Cooper was full of fun and games but could only manage ninth, despite certainly waking up the early morning crowd in the hall, whilst the highly original programme of Whitburn under Simon Dobson did not find favour with the judges to end tenth.
Local favourites Reg Vardy propped up the results table in eleventh despite raising a few ghoulish laughs with their opening item ‘Montrous Munch’ that featured players in skull masks and black hoods and even a dancing Frankenstein monster.
Retrospectives and Postcard to follow later this evening.
Once I knew of the changes to the way the contest was structured I had a good idea of what we were going to do, but I have to admit that there were some minor changes along the way – including the title!Philip Harper
Results
2012 Brass in Concert Championship:
Adjudicators:
Luc Vertommen & Paul Cosh (Music-Quality of Performance)
Andrew Duncan (Programme Content)
Steve Walker (Entertainment)
Les Neish (Soloist)
Music/Music/Content/Entertainment = Total
Vertommen/Cosh/Duncan/Walker = Total
1. Cory (Philip Harper): 60/60/40/36 = 196
2. Leyland (Richard Evans): 54/51/24/40 = 169
3. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse), 51/57/26/32 = 166
4. Fairey (Reid Gilje): 45/54/36/30 = 165
5. Grimethorpe Colliery (Garry Cutt): 48/48/38/26 = 160
6. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Paul Andrews): 39/39/34/34 = 146
7. Brighouse & Rastrick (Allan Ramsay): 57/42/20/22 = 141
8. Virtuosi GUS (John Berryman): 36/45/30/24 = 135
9. Co-operative Funeralcare (Paul Lovatt-Cooper): 42/33/22/38 = 135
10. Whitburn (Simon Dobson): 33/30/32/28 = 123
11. Reg Vardy (Stephen Roberts): 30/36/28/20 = 114
Individual awards
Don Lusher Trombone Award: Chris Gormersall (Grimethorpe Colliery)
Harry Mortimer Best Principal Cornet Award: Stuart Lingard (Brighouse & Rastrick)
The Fesa Trophy for Best Flugel Award: Mike Eccles (Fairey)
The Gateshead MBC Trophy for Best Soprano Award: Steve Stewart (Cory)
The Louis & Colin Johnson Trophy for Best Percussion Section: Brighouse & Rastrick
Best Euphonium: David Thornton (Brighouse & Rastrick)
Best Baritone/Horn: Owen Farr (Cory)
John Fletcher Best Basses Award: Grimethorpe Colliery
Best Entertainment & Presentation Performance: Leyland
Best Programme Content: Cory
Own Choice March: On the Quarter Deck (Leyland)
Best Soloist: Steve Stewart (Cory) — Live & Let Die
New Composition/Arrangement Award: Send in the Clowns (Adam D Taylor)
Winning MD: Philip Harper
Youngest Player: Richard Kaye — Leyland (aged 15)
