The West Midlands Brass Bands Association recently held a successful Solo, Duet & Quartet contest at Studley High School.

The various competitions drew entrants of all ages and abilities who presented adjudicators Oliver Wilson and Nigel Hall with an impressive standard of performances, particularly in the Junior Air Varie Competitions.

French Horn

This year also saw two 'firsts': Fran Thompson from Shirley Band became the first French Horn player and featured in the prizes in solo, duet and quartet sections.

Meanwhile 10 year old xylophonist Alec Banner from Shipston Band had the audience in the palm of his hand with a scintillating performance as the first percussion entrant.

Results:

Section A:

8 and under Slow Melody
1. Ben Angell (cornet) — Bilton Evolution
2. Georgina Mair (cornet) — Bilton Evolution

Section B:

9, 10 and 11 Slow Melody
1. Felicity Angell (trombone) — Bilton Evolution
2. Vicky Culshaw (cornet) — Arrow Valley
3. Peter Coates (cornet) — Shipston

Section C:

12 to 14 years Slow Melody
1. Christopher Oddy (cornet) — Enderby
2. Lucy Heeley (cornet) — Chapeltown
3. Ben Hone (horn) — Arrow Valley

Section D:

15 to 18 years Slow Melody
1. Grace Coates (cornet) — Shipston
2. Luke Barker (cornet) — Shipston
3. Tom Cowan (euphonium) — Bilton Evolution

Section E:

Adult Slow Melody
1. Mike Pawson (soprano) — Avonbank
2. Rob Thompson (cornet) — Shirley
3. Kevin Short (euphonium) — Shirley

Section F:

14 years and Under Air Varie
1. Christopher Oddy (cornet) — Enderby
2. Lucy Heeley (cornet) — Chapeltown
3. Alec Banner (cornet) — Shipston

Section G:

15 to 18 years Air Varie
1. Luke Barker (cornet) — Shipston
2. Grace Coates (cornet) — Shipston

Section H:

Adult Air Varie
1. Fran Thompson (French horn) — Shirley
2. Kevin Short (euphonium) — Shirley
3. David Hirst (cornet) — Shirley

Section I:

10 Years and Under Duets
1. Tallula Matthews & Alec Banner (cornets) — Shipston
2. Peter Coates & Rufus Gallagher (cornet & trombone) — Shipston
3. Ben Angell & Felicity Angell (cornet & trombone) — Bilton Evolution

Section J:

Duets Under 15
1. Vicki Culshaw & Isobel Reeves (cornets) — Arrow Valley
2. Imogen Angell & Felicity Angell (trombones) — Bilton Evolution

Section K:

Duets Under 19
1. Luke Barker & Grace Coates (cornets) — Shipston

Section L:

Adult Duets
1. Rob Thompson & Fran Thompson (cornet & French horn) — Shirley
2. Rob Thompson & Carwyn Evans (cornet & trombone) — Shirley

Section M:

Hymn Tune Quartet Under 14
1. WFB Comets
2. WFB Fame All Stars
3. Shipston

Section N:

Quartet Under 19
1. Shipston

Section O:

Adult Quartets
1. Shirley
2. Desford Chicks
3. All That Brass

Section P:

Percussion Under 19
1. Alec Banner (xylophone) — Shipston