The halls of Groby Community College in Leicestershire were once again filled with the sounds of brass and percussion for this year’s Leicestershire Brass Band Association’s annual member Solo, Duet & Quartet competition.

First timers

Adjudicators Brian Clarke, Chris Groom and Gary Wyatt enjoyed sixteen sections of high quality playing and awarded the trophies and medals to winning performers from association member bands — including three young brass players who received a medal for attending their first ever contest in the 10 years and under category.

In his remarks adjudicator Brian Clarke spoke of how impressed he was by all of the performances in the youngest section of the day.

Silverware spread

This year, the haul of silverware was shared across a number of member bands.

For the first time the Harry Bray Memorial Trophy for the overall ‘Junior Champion’ was awarded jointly to two performers — both young tenor horn players who each won their respective Slow Melody, Sight Reading and Air Varie sections.

Siobhan Bates from Gresley Colliery and Luke Newborough from Shirland Miners Welfare Training shared the honour (above).

In the open sections, Ratby Co-operative collected first prize for both Open Duet and Open Quartet, whilst leading the way for slow melodies was bartione player Bethan Brown from Leicestershire Co-op — winning both her age group and Open Slow Melody sections.

three young brass players received a medal for attending their first ever contest in the 10 years and under category4BR

Results:

Overall Junior Champions:
Siobhan Bates (Gresley) and Luke Newborough (Shirland)

Section A: Junior Slow Melody: 10 Years & Under
1. Edward Culpin (Leicestershire Co-op)
2. Abigail Barham (Leicestershire Co-op)
3. Fleur Moakes (Shirland Welfare Training)

Section B: Junior Slow Melody: 11 & 12 Years
1. Luke Newborough (Shirland Welfare Training)
2. Gabrielle Moakes (Shirland Welfare Training)
3. Sophie Evans (Ratby Youth)

Section C: Junior Slow Melody: 13, 14 & 15 Years
1. Bethan Brown (Leicestershire Co-op)
2. Heather Moakes (Shirland Welfare Training)
3. Jack Newborough (Shirland Welfare Training)

Section D: Junior Slow Melody: 16, 17 & 18 Years
1. Siobhan Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)
2. Richard Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)
3. Will Thirkell (Shirland Welfare Training)

Section E: Junior Sight Reading: 15 Years & Under
1. Luke Newborough (Shirland Welfare Training)
2. Stephen Guerin (Hathern Youth)
3. Bethan Brown (Leicestersthire Co-op)

Section F: Junior Sight Reading: 16, 17 & 18 Years
1. Siobhan Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)
2. Richard Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)
3. Will Thirkell (Shirland Welfare Training)

Section G: Junior Air Varie: 14 Years & Under
1. Luke Newborough (Shirland Welfare Training)
2. Gabrielle Moakes (Shirland Welfare Training)

Section H: Junior Air Varie 15, 16, 17 & 18 Years
1. Siobhan Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)
2. Bethan Brown (Leicestershire Co-op)
3. Richard Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)

Section I: Junior Duets 18 Years & Under
1. Richard Bates / Siobhan Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)
2. Luke Newborough / Gabrielle Moakes (Shirland Welfare Training)
3. Bethan Brown / Ben Smith (Leicestershire Co-op)

Section J: Junior Quartet Hymn Tune 14 Years & Under
1. Shirland Welfare Training A
2. Shirland Welfare Training B
3. Leicestershire Co-op Training B

Section K: Junior Quartet 18 Years & Under
1. Shirland Welfare Training A
2. Shirland Welfare |Training B
3= Shirland Welfare Training C & Leicestershire Co-op Training

Section L: Open Slow Melody
1. Bethan Brown (Leicestershire Co-op)
2. Siobhan Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)
3. Richard Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)

Section M: Open Air Varie
1. Siobhan Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)
2. Patricia Woodings (Newhall)
3. Steve Barham (Leicestershire Co-op)

Section N: Open Duet
1. Becky Moss / Kirk Turner (Ratby Co-operative)
2. Richard Bates / Siobhan Bates (Gresley Colliery Youth)
3. Patricia Woodings / Sheila Dixon (Newhall & Melton)

Section O: Open Quartet
1. Ratby Senior A
2. Ratby Senior B
3. Melton

Section P Open: Percussion
1. Edward Hefferman (Hathern Youth)