Competition Information

Adjudicators Remarks

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2008

Truro Open Entertainment Contest 5^th April  2008 
West of England Regional Championship Torquay 9^th March  2008 
Butlins Mineworkers Open Brass Band National Festival 19^th January  2008 

2007

61st Annual Championships of the South West Brass Band Association at Torquay 3^rd November  2007
Exmouth Brass Band Festival 1^st September  2007
83rd Annual Contest @ Bugle (Test Piece) 16^th June  2007
83rd Annual Contest @ Bugle (March) 16^th June  2007
Butlins Mineworkers Open Brass Band Festival (Skegness) 20^th January  2007

Truro Open Entertainment Contest

Date	5th April 2008		Draw No	3
Event	Truro Open Entertainment Contest		Bands In Section	4
Adjudicator(s)	Philip Harper		Marks	188pts
Section	Entertainment		Result	2nd
Director	Derek Johnston		Special Awards	Best Overall Solo Cornet of the Day 'Sharon Hollywood'
Piece(s) Played		Toccata in D Minor arr. by 'Jan Van Kraeydonck' Cornet Solo - Don't Doubt Him Now arr. by 'Craig Woodland' The Mill in the Dale by 'S Cope' The Lord is Gracious arr. by 'Olaf Ritman' An American Trilogy arr. 'Goff Richards' Can Can arr. by 'Goff Richards'
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Adjudicators Remarks

Toccata in D Minor

Dramatic and effective opening and then this piece has real ‘grabbing’ power! Some great dynamics throughout (high and low!) and really good kit playing! Good start.

Don’t Doubt Him

Lovely cornet sound with a very musical sense of phrasing – my gripe would be that the band needs to play quieter generally so that the sound projects through. However, well done Sharon – a class act!

Mill in the Dale

Good item – gently fun! (And good trick with the bread). I did however notice a few glitches in the accompaniment as we went through. All ended happily!

The Lord is Gracious

Some lovely sonorities to begin and just kept under control at [C] too. Some lovely cornet playing here too – well done!

An American Trilogy

Your balance and intonation continues to be impressive though this – just loses it right at the end at ‘ff’ and quality goes off a bit.

Overall – very good program, for the most part very well played!

P.S. Good idea with the Mexican wave and throwing stuff at drummer – I’ll have to remember that!

West of England Regional Championship Torquay

Date	9th March 2008		Draw No	9
Event	West of England Regional Championship Torquay		Bands In Section	14
Adjudicator(s)	Peter Roberts & Rob Wiffin		Marks	179pts
Section	3rd		Result	4th
Director	Derek Johnston		Special Awards	-
Piece(s) Played		The Dark Side of the Moon by 'Paul Lovatt-Cooper'
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Adjudicators Remarks

Peter Roberts

Atmospheric opening and an attempt made at structured dynamics leading to rhythmically strong presto section.
[E] Introduction good solo entries, wild tuning 4 before.
[I] Quite good, not all entries heard at [K] [L] well done.
[M] Well done solo cornet and accomps.
[O] Generally well handled, just the odd hole in ensemble.
[P] All soloists do well. [R] Good band sound at higher dynamic.
[S] Still f, unconvincing dim into [T] not as good as opening section.
[W] needs more layered dynamics.
[AA] not all parts heard.
[BB] good sub p.
[CC] Well done with effects and a strong finish.

Overall, a fine performance which would have been enhanced by a more dynamically structures approach.

Thank you .


Rob Wiffin

Why not a pedal Bb Bass Trom?
Not bad a little lumpy
[A] dynamic balance OK – why sop so far back?
[B] sop not quite all G’s, Troms OK but SD is louder, 57 + 58 to much band … not bad
[E] loses way just before [F] percussion to loud + band for solo horn to set through 4 before [I] tuning on back bench shifts.
[I] ü
[M] ü Good solo cornet – well done – and nice accomp.
[O] Good detail. Suspended symbol a bar out _ then makes it mp
[P] ok ü Trom ü solo cornet ü (just makes the A)
[Q] to much band [R] ü
[S] nice tone – light for f but good shape – euph not quite to top C. Chords before [T] not loud at all
[T] OK
[U] ü
[V] good trom chord
[W] ü [X] Sop a little sharp [Y] ü
[Z]
[AA] too much band [BB] bravo molto rall to end – Timp starts roll to early (3 before end)
Overall a good performance not without errors but much to commend, well judged tempo’s presto keeping drve but allowing for detail.

Butlins Mineworkers Open Brass Band National Festival

Date	19th January 2008		Draw No	11
Event	Butlins Mineworkers Open Brass Band National Festival		Bands In Section	11
Adjudicator(s)	David Horsfield and Roger Webster		Marks	183pts
Section	3rd		Result	2nd
Director	Derek Johnston		Special Awards	-
Piece(s) Played		Symphony for Brass by 'Victor Ewald' Arr by 'Michael Hopkinson'
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Adjudicators Remarks

Roger Webster

1: Solid opening
Try to keep the music flowing
Such a solid, full sound into F
Cornet – so good into G
Introduction @ G mutes – retune
Dynamics good to close

2: Good Start
Perhaps a little to healthy for p
Allegro vivace, some (most) solo lines are very well played. One or two tend to push dynamics (the wrong way!)
Flugel etc very good to end.

3: Once again, some very fine playing.
S – neat, very good euph basses
This performance has many strengths – well balanced + some good detail

David Horsfield

1: Try to keep the melody lines flowing even at 100 (crotchet’s per minute). Dynamics are quite well graded and the general ensemble has a compact and secure feel. Mutes (tuning) G! In H a good atmosphere is created. Percussion enhances well. In the ‘agitato’ an excitement brings to an affective close.

2: lyrical style ok with attention to contrasts. Again good work from percussion. 207 way out muted cornets. Soloists generally show style and composure and bring the movement to a well controlled close (only a little un-tuneful)

3: more definition needed N (horns!!!). Well balanced Q, B nice and the details impresses. Good bass line at S. 101 mishap in horns. Untidy sop U + 5. S.Drum a little loud at times.

A performance of merit, just early tuning detract.

Thank you

61st Annual Championships of the South West Brass Band Association at Torquay

Adjudicators Remarks

ARNEM, Full rich Start,
good dynamics [B] well balanced,
nice glisses, [E] bell effect very fine,
[G] sweet,I like the rubato Allargando-spendid basses etc,
and so well tuned at the end.
UTRECHT, [A] great start,but you slow down- [B] stylish
[C] Troms so well balanced-and blend with Euph(as 4th trom)
3 before [E] great basses,Faultless ending.
ZUTPHEN, A great start,this is all so musical [B] Tiny split,
but so very musical - awkward all those off beat's,
and you played them magnificently,
I enjoyed your music making,
William Relton.

Exmouth Brass Band Festival

Adjudicators Remarks

“Restormel”

Well styled march feel and the detailed playing impresses. An original (and good) march gets the programme off to a great opening.

“My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose”

A very musical performance from the cornet Soloist and also the band. The movement of the music impresses. The soloist displays a great style (only the occasional blemish; but so much to admire). Thank you.

“The Mill in the Dale”

A very well presented number (this brought back memories!). Congratulations to the miller (and also percussionists).

“The Lord is Gracious”

A Spacious feel is achieved here and some rich sounds are enhanced with effective dynamics.

“An American Trilogy”

Atmospheric setting to this melody and you create a dramatic style. A little untuneful before [D]. The character of the music shines through and a great build is well controlled to the close.

“Can Can”

A lively close to a great programme; well balanced, well controlled throughout by M.D

Many thanks and good luck.

83rd Annual Contest @ Bugle (Test Piece)

Adjudicators Remarks

Controlled opening – spacious sounds.
[A] lovely dynamic + balance for bass lead.
[C] cornet/trom fanfare stylish – good sound.
I can hear all the sounds.
[D] again the playing has space + time.
Just the right atmosphere.
[G] measured cornet semis.
[H] careful in ensemble – [J] effective quaver rhythm.
[K] nice [M] cornets lets the 6/8 rhythm flow [N] careful sop.
Lovely level of sound.
[O] fine balance for cornet/cornets.
Nice work from soprano.
[Q] horn lead nearly “Lost”.
[R] a nice change of mood – fine bass line.
[T] all goes well the rhythm is just right.
[Y] semis don’t get in the way of the melodic line.
[Z] measured cornet semis.
[Aa] clarity in ensemble.
[Bb] a really fine sound.
[Cc] lovely dynamic – precise horn playing [Dd] you capture the mood – nice bass semis to follow.
[Ff] this ending was so nicely shaped.
Excellent ending.

From the very first bar you captured the mood of this descriptive music. Excellent rhythm – secure ensemble – confident soloists.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
BRAVO!!

Thank you!!

83rd Annual Contest @ Bugle (March)

Adjudicators Remarks

A neat opening – Good Sound
Nice dynamics – rhythm secure.
[A] neat – [B] all tightly in its place.
This is confident playing.
Careful before [D]. Euph comes over in style as do troms.
This is lovely playing – ensemble work tight.
A fine performance.
This was a fine piece of march playing.

Thank you!!

Butlins Mineworkers Open Brass Band Festival (Skegness)

Adjudicators Remarks

Adjudicator: Colin Hardy
1. Secure start with most in place [A] this has a nice rhythm flow to it apart from the odd loose bar is OK. [D] Good balance [E] reasonably secure [G] flows to close.

2. Secure again + lots of detail [H] + also [J] + 4 odd slip but picks up [K] the balance is generally OK. Just odd bars of intonation [M] + solo cornet /Euph this was very tasteful – thanks so musical all way to close.

3. Just a shade steady for me & some of the music is lost but still lots of detail and good dynamic contrasts. [T] Lots of detail here 222 very musical this well done. 227 very detailed. [V] To close well in control

This was a very musical performance


Adjudicator: Nigel Boddice

1. Some confidence shown from cornets but unsettled ensemble noted.
Good control shown positively at [A] denoting preparation dynamic appreciated yet still with energy. A little lacklustre in slower section at [E] as energy level drops but closes very well indeed.

2. Musical detail accomplished with much musical taste and direction, Bravo, Odd technical dip noted. [K] Maestoso played with taste once again consisting of musicianship shown throughout and appreciated develop cornets further odd lose the odd split note.

3. Just a touch slow but never the less the control is at timer [V] impressive with direction largely faithful to the scene. Tasteful pace to notes atmosphere felt and realised.

Overall a fine performance generally appreciated.
Very fine direction and understanding of the scene.

Bravo & Thanks