US Open Championships 2003

Best of U.S. Open Brass Band Championships
John Hersey High School
Arlington Heights, Ill, USA
Produced by Prairie Brass Band

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

The inaugural United States Open Brass Band Championships certainly proved a real hit last November.  Six bands competing in an entertainment contest, each performing around thirty minutes of music, and amongst the competitors was the Foden's Richardson Band from Sandbach England, who demonstrated why they are one of the best entertainment bands in the business, by literally taking all but one of the prizes on offer on the day. 

The competition had the usual prizes associated with an entertainment contest: Most Entertaining Programme, Best March, Solo Prize, New Arrangement, and something extremely interesting of which more later - 'The Busker's Award'.  This recording will certainly be a memento for everybody involved in the competition.

Foden's are represented through five items.  They open the disc with an impressive 'Festmusik der Stadt Wein', whilst their next contribution entitled "Air Varie" commences with Glyn Williams on euphonium playing 'Rule Britannia'.  From here, Glyn plays every instrument he can get his hands on (and from the audience reaction, they loved it) and it's exceptionally impressive playing, described by judge, Alan Morrison as 'International Class'. World Class would perhaps be more appropriate.

The winning march, Army of the Nile is memorable for the playing of soprano player, Alan Wycherley who is surreal, whilst the band along with conductor Thomas Wyss cut loose in the Finale from Tchaikovsky's Symphony Number 4  - it doesn't exactly hang about on the tempo front to put it mildly.

Within the event itself was a 'Buskers' competition.  This was a directive for the bands to be creative.  Foden's 'II' took the award with music entitled 'Simple Harmonic Motion' - plenty of virtuoso playing going on, not forgetting stage presence; the audience certainly lapped it up.

Apart from Foden's, all the other contenders are featured.  Three marches are included; Slaidburn features Prairie Brass Band, who came fourth.  Belford's Carnival March appears courtesy of Milwaukee Festival Brass and the Brass Band of Central Florida delight the audience with Simoraine and Malaguena that helped them to the runners-up spot.

In addition, Illinois Brass Band perform Hello Dolly and the band's flugel, Shane Deuel is impressive in Rodrigo's Concerto D'Aranjeuz.  Eastern Iowa's solo contribution comes in the form of the jazzy number Oh No, whilst Prairie are featured in St Thomas.

The winning 'New Arrangement' went to the Brass Band of Central Florida who performed Rocky Point Holiday'- a lively number with plenty for percussion to keep them busy by Chris Sharp.

The inclusion of Foden's for this competition was a master stroke by the organisers, and inviting UK and or European based bands to this competition, based on this recording is one that should be continued if at all possible.

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

^back to top