The Leicestershire Brass Band Association Solo, Duet and Quartet Contest was held on Sunday October 5th.

Overall champion

It was another successful year for 15 year old Daniel Walton from the Shirland Band who retained the title of overall Junior champion.

Cornet soloist Dan took home first prizes in sections for Slow Melody, Air Varie and Sight reading and it was another successful year all round for young members of the Shirland Band who took home a number of prizes.

Adjudicators Garry Sleath, Lee Blankley and Mark Smith reported that they were impressed by performances across the 15 sections, honouring the youngest section in particular4BR

New Zealand champ

Picking up another title was bass trombonist Stephen Lomas from Newstead Brass who added another Open Air Varie prize following on from success earlier in the year at the LBBA Spring Festival and the New Zealand Championships.

Impressed

Adjudicators Garry Sleath, Lee Blankley and Mark Smith reported that they were impressed by performances across the 15 sections, honouring the youngest section in particular. One young group ecstatic at their result were the 18 and under “Teens” Quartet from Rushden Town pictured right.

Senior success

Success in the senior quartets went to a group from Leicester co-op, however the Newhall ladies weren’t going to let the gents take the limelight for long taking top honours in the Open Duet and further prizes in the Quartets also.

Thrive

With over 90 youngsters taking part in the association members’ contest, not to mention the increasing numbers of adults taking to the stage, the association were delighted to see brass bands continue to thrive in and around Leicestershire.

Full results:

Section A: Junior Slow Melody: (Ages 11 and under)
1. Marina Slee – Leicestershire Co-op
2. Henry Bamber – Harborough
3. Harriet Coulton – Ratby Juniors

Section B: Junior Slow Melody: (Ages 12 & 13)
1. Josh Haynes – Harborough
2. Hollie Minney — Shirland
3. Catherine Ashley — Shirland

Section C: Junior Slow Melody: (Ages 14 & 15)
1. Dan Walton — Shirland
2. Millie Jacklin – Leicestershire Co-op
3. Ryan Sharpe – Hathern Youth

Section D: Junior Slow Melody: (Ages 16, 17, & 18)
1. Emma Walton – Shirland
2. Jo Stephenson — Foresters
3. Adam Whittle — Shirland

Sections E/F: Junior Sight Reading:
1= Dan Walton – Shirland (E)
1= Emma Walton – Shirland (F)

Section G: Junior Air Varie:
1. Dan Walton — Shirland
2. Lewis Squries — Shirland
3. Charlotte Lievesley — Shirland

Section H: Junior Hymn Tune Quartet:
1. Shirland
2. Hathern Youth Girls
3. Hathern Youth

Section I: Junior Quartet:
1. Rushden Town ‘Teens’
2. Shirland Euphs and Troms
3. Shirland Juniors

Section J: Open Slow Melody:
1. Jo Stephenson — Foresters
2. Steve Barham – Leicestershire Co-op
3. Emma Walton — Shirland

Section K: Open Air Varie:
1. Stephen Lomas – Newstead Brass
2. Jo Stephenson — Foresters
3. Emma Walton — Shirland

Section L: Open Quartet:
1. Leicestershire Co-op
2. Shirland
3. Newhall

Section M: Junior Duets:
1. C Ashley & H Minney – Shirland
2. A Whittle & L Squires – Shirland
3. D Harris & R Holy – Ratby Juniors

Section N: Open Duets:
1. P Woodings & R Stonehouse — Newhall
2. R Capstack & N Lear – Leicestershire Co-op
3. C Smith & J Fern — Newhall

Section O: Open Percussion:

1. Jake Baum – Hathern
2. Ellie Wingett – Ratby Cooperative