Category: News

The Association AGM will be held on Saturday 8th February 2020 at The Barley Mow, Studley B80 7BA at 9:30 am Anyone interested in helping out or finding out what is going on within the association is welcome to come along

Solo Duet and Quartet Contest Sunday, 3rd May 2020 Studley High School, Crooks Lane, Studley, Warwickshire B80 7QX The Solo, Duet, and Quartet Contest is open to member and non-member bands, individual players or groups. Please note that Child Performances Licences are not required for this event All entries must be emailed to WMBBA – full details and instructions in the printable documents below. A Microsoft Word document for the Entry Form is also provided for those who do not have access to a scanner or wish to type their entry and email it For any questions, please Contact Us Solo and Quartet Contest Entry Form 2020 Solo and Quartet Contest Rules 2020

After last year’s highly successful ‘The Big Brass Band’, The West Midlands Brass Bands Association is organising another event on Saturday March 21st 2020 at Cradley Heath Salvation Army Hall Meredith Street Cradley Heath B64 5EP.  We will be welcoming back Dave Lea as our conductor.. When we were looking for something different to arrange we decided against a competition of any sort and elected to attempt to recreate the sound of Harry Mortimer’s “Men Of Brass” where he joined together the bands of Fairey, Morris Motors and Fodens and called them his brass orchestra. Last year we attracted 70+ players from 24 different bands and had a splendid day culminating in an evening concert where we were joined by vocalist Hilary Crowhurst We are hoping to attract at least as many players again. It’s always great fun to play massed bands and especially if we can gather together 100 players. We will plan an interesting programme with music for all abilities to make this a successful day. The uniform for the concert will be very simple namely black skirt/trousers white shirt and band tie. Please bring a music stand. There is no charge to take part just the cost of getting yourself to the venue at Cradley Heath Salvation Army, Meredith Street, Cradley Heath B64 5EP. This is a modern building with attached car parking and is well capable of taking a large band. We are looking to meet at 2.30 p.m. to sort out seating and to have a run through the programme followed by a chance to eat and socialise. Please bring your own packed food with you. Tea and coffee are available.The concert would start at 7 p.m.  Tickets will be available at £4.00 each on the door. Big Brass Band Player Registration Form 2020 BIG BRASS BAND 2020 Poster

The West Midlands Brass Bands Association held their annual Big Brass Band Concert at Cradley Heath Salvation Army on Saturday March 30th. The band was conducted by Dave Lea and comprised 65 players from 23 different bands with players travelling from as far as Stoke on Trent Hitchin and Humberside with the concert taking place in the evening after an afternoon’s rehearsal. The programme was varied and included the ever popular overture Tancredi, the rarely performed T J Powell march the Bombardier and Valero by Jim Swearingen. Cornets Karl Slater, Luke Barker, Alister Rowe, Bob James, Byron Tucker and Rachel Dickens from 6 of the contributing bands gave a blistering performance of Twelfth Street Rag before the band’s programme concluded with William Himes majestic arrangement of Wagner’s Procession To The Cathedral. The band’s contribution was interspersed with items by the excellent guest vocalist Hilary Crowhurst. Commenting, Dave Birch said… “The event was a big success which can be seen by the fact that emails have already started to arrive from players asking to be put down for next year’s event.”

Sunday March 24th The Annual Solo Duet and Quartet Contest was held at Studley High School and drew enthusiastic support over all categories. The adjudicators for the day were Paul White and Warren Bellshaw Commenting on the day, organiser Dave Birch said “The competition was a great success and was well supported. Both adjudicators Paul White and Warren Bellshaw were very impressed with the two competitors in the 15 to 18 section both with their lyrical playing the slow melody which Warren Bellshaw said simply took his breath away and the sheer excellence of technique which Paul White found impressive in the Air Varie. The Desford Chicks Quartet gave a sparkling performance in the Adult Quartet with Arrow Valley raising a few laughs with their title of Liquid Mud for their Tuba Quartet.” Results Slow Melody Aged 9 to 11 First Place     Jennifer Richardson                     Alcester Victoria Second          Alec Banner                                     Shipston Town Third              Tallula Matthews                           Shipston Town Slow Melody Aged 12 to 14 First Place     Christopher Oddy                          Enderby Second          Toula Thomas                                  Cubbington Third              Ben Hone                                          Arrow Valley Slow Melody Aged 15 to 18 First Place     Luke Barker                                     Jaguar Landrover Second          Grace Coates                                     Shipston Slow Melody Adult First Place     Trystan Jones                                  A W Parker Drybrook Second          Patricia Woodings                          Ratby Third              Annette Cairns                               Cubbington Air Varie Aged 14 and Under First Place     Christopher Oddy                          Enderby Second          Alec Banner                                     Shipston Town Air Varie Aged 15 to 18 First Place     Luke Barker                                    Jaguar Landrover Second          Grace Coates                                    Shipston Town Duets Aged 11 and Under First              Alec Banner and Tallula Matthews      Shipston Town Second          Peter Coates and Tallula Matthews     Shipston Town Duets Aged 15 to 18 First Place     Luke Barker Jaguar Landrover and Grace Coates       Shipston Town Adult Duets First Place     Trystan Jones and Rebecca Aston        A W Parker Drybrook Second          Grace Coates and David Birch               Shipston Town Quartet Under 19 First Place     Shipston Town Quartet Adults First Place    Desford Chicks Second          Shirley Tubas Third             Liquid Mud (Arrow Valley) Percussion First                Alec Banner

The WMBBA is to hold its Annual General Meeting on Saturday 25th April at 10.30 a.m.  The venue will be The Band Factory, Unit 13, Althorpe Street, Leamington Spa CV31 2AU. You or representatives of your band are invited to attend.  During the meeting there will be an opportunity to discuss and establish what events bands would like the Association to organise and what activities bands would support.  The Committee acknowledges the fact that there have been few events recently and is keen to revive an active Association. The committee is keen to re-introduce, if possible, the Annual Contest, providing an acceptable venue at reasonable hire charges can be found

The Annual General Meeting for the association will be on Saturday 22nd March Saturday 22nd March  – 10:00am Studely High School Crooks Lane Studley Warwickshire B80 7QX Refreshments are available for those attending Contact Us for information