*
banner

Report & Results: 2017 BBLNI Solo & Ensemble

There was an excellent turn out of talented performers at the recent Brass Band League of Northern Ireland Solo & Ensemble competition.

Solo winners
  There was a great turn out of playing talent on show for judges Glyn and Helen Williams.

Players from member bands of the Brass Band League of Northern Ireland recently came to the Malone Presbyterian Church Hall in Belfast for their annual Solo & Ensemble competition.

As ever, there was a large turnout with over 100 entries. Particularly encouraging this year was the increase in younger players competing in the senior sections, with several gaining podium finishes — all of which bodes well for the future of banding in Northern Ireland.

Delighted

The organisers were particularly delighted to have invited Glyn and Helen Williams to adjudicate the senior and junior sections.

In return the Cory duo thanked the BBL for the warm welcome and commented that they were suitably impressed by the standard of playing, particularly in the Junior and Youth Band Sections.

The organisers were particularly delighted to have invited Glyn and Helen Williams to adjudicate the senior and junior sections4BR

Results:

10 & Under Solo:


1. Joanna McCullagh (1st Old Boys)
2. Eve McAuley (Wellington Memorial Silver)
3. Pearse Duffy (Downshire)

12 & Under Solo:


1. Owen Brannigan (1st Old Boys)
2. Jonathan Stewart (Wellington Memorial Silver)
3. Jay Cully (Third Carrickfergus)

12 & Under Ensemble:


1. 1st Old Boys Youth
2. Downshire

Youth Band:


1. 1st Old Boys Youth

15 & Under Solo:


1. Louise Bell (1st Old Boys Youth)
2. Hasan Kaymark (Comber Silver)
3. Andrew Milligan (1st Old Boys Youth)

17 & Under Solo:


1. Peter Alcorn (Downshire)
2. Tom Alcorn (Downshire)
3. Lauren Stewart (Wellington Memorial Silver)

17 & Under Ensemble:


1. 1st Old Boys Youth

John Patton Trophy (Most promising player across the Under 10, 12 and 15 classes:
Eve McAuley

Slow Melody:


1. Ross Lyness (1st Old Boys)
2. Claire Heuston (Third Carrickfergus)
3. Jackie Moore (Third Carrickfergus)

C Solo:


1. Dean McCoy (Dungannon)

B Solo:


1. Daniel Sharpe (1st Old Boys Youth)
2. Tom Alcorn (Downshire)
3. Mercer MacWilliam Hughes (1st Old Boys Youth)

A Solo:


1. Nathan Thompson (Laganvale)
2. Claire Hueston (Third Carrickfergus)
3. Mark Bingham (1st Old Boys)

10 Piece A:


1. 1st Old Boys
2. Comber Silver

Senior Ensemble:


1. 1st Old Boys A
2. Wellington Memorial Silver
3. Comber Silver

B Quartet:


1. Wellington Memorial Silver A
2. Wellington Memorial Silver B
3. Comber Silver

A Quartet:


1. 1st Old Boys B
2. 1st Old Boys A

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


the cooperation band

World Cup preview for the cooperation band

July 4 • Scotland is still in the draw for the brass band version of the World Cup — and you can hear how they are putting the final preparations in place ahead of Kerkrade.


Tredegar Carys

Essence of Tredegar enjoyed by young euph player

July 4 • 19 year old Carys Rycroft recently enjoyed her prize of a solo spotlight at a rehearsal with Tredegar Band.


Van den berg

Soli connection to come to an end

July 4 • The musical partnership between Anne Van den Berg and Soli Brass will come to an end after this year's Dutch National Championships.


wOOLSTON bRASS

Woolston Band on the rise again

July 4 • New Zealand's most successful band is getting ever closer to putting the final touches to its future home.


Regent Hall Concerts - Central Band of the RAF

Thursday 2 July • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Air Force Squadronaires

Friday 3 July • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Brass - Living Lines

Sunday 5 July • St Saviour's, Pimlico, St.George's Square, Pimlico, London SW1V 3QW


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 5 July • St Alfege Church . Greenwich Church Street. London SE10 9BJ


Regent Brass - Brass on the Grass

Wednesday 22 July • The College Garden, Westminster Abbey, Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PA


Cross Keys Silver Band

July 2 • Solo Euphonium - With an array of concerts, contests and community engagements lined up for the remainder of 2026, we're looking to fill our Solo Euphonium seat. If you're the strong player that we're interested in, please get in touch.


Cross Keys Silver Band

July 2 • Solo Horn - We're looking to recruit a new Solo Horn player to help shape the section in our 2nd section band in South Wales. We have an array of concerts, contests and community engagements lined up for the remainder of 2026.


Crewe Brass

July 1 • Crewe Brass are looking for a FRONT ROW CORNET to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Ian Porthouse


Cornet soloist, clinician, conductor and adjudicator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd