Youth Brass 2000 conducted by Pete Collins won the twelfth Tameside Youth Brass Festival at Dukinfield Town Hall earlier today.

Winning contribution

Playing eighth out of the nine competitors, Youth Brass 2000's programme commenced with Duke Ellington's, 'Caravan', before flugel player Alice Norman, played 'Doyle's Lament' from 'Call of the Cossacks'. Following on from 'Volero', the band's Principal Euphonium, Sarah Lenton performed 'A Little Prayer', before the band wrapped up its winning contribution with 'Shine as the Light'.

Victory here not only gave the band £1000 in prize money but comes twelve months after the band finished runners-up to the eventual winner, Sellers International, who was unplaced this time around.

Victory here not only gave the band £1000 in prize money but comes twelve months after the band finished runners-up to the eventual winner, Sellers International, who was unplaced this time around4BR

Poynton second

Meanwhile, Poynton Youth under Andy Hirst had to be content with the runners up spot and £700. Their programme included, Bach's 'Toccata in D Minor', 'Share my Yoke' and Peter Graham's 'Dimensions'.

Debutants third

Bare Tree Community Band from Oldham made their debut at a Youth Contest and Paul Lovatt-Cooper's 'The Dark Side of the Moon' played a significant part in them being placed third to claim £700 that included recognition for them having the best euphonium and percussion sections.

Great standard

The standard of the playing throughout the day was extremely high, a point that didn't go unrecognised by adjudicator, Stephen Brodie.

Continued Council support

The contest was once again supported by the Arts and Leisure Department within Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, who also support the annual Tameside Open in March, Whit Friday and the British Open Solo and Quartet Championships held three weekends ago.

With the closure of Tameside Hippodrome, this year's event was held at Dukinfield Town Hall for the first time. Next year's event has already been confirmed for Sunday 22nd November.

Results:

1. Youth Brass 2000 (Pete Collins) — 192 points
2. Poynton Youth (Andy Hirst) — 190 points
3. Bare Trees Community (John Collins) — 189 points
4. Smithills School (Chris Wormald) — 188 points

Best Cornet: Poynton
Best Basses: Youth Brass 2000
Best Percussion: Bare Trees Community
Best Horn: Flugel – Sellers International
Best Trombone: Elland Youth
Best Euphonium: Bare Trees Community
Youngest Player: Emily Collins, 8, Bare Trees Community

Other competing bands:

Elland Youth (Samantha Harrison)
Lions Youth (Nigel Birch)
Macclesfield Youth (Louise Renshaw)
Sellers International Youth (Mark Bousie)
Stockport Schools (Phil Pavey)

The adjudicator was Stephen Brodie.