Solo and Quartet Contest 2020
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
The Big Brass Band Saturday 21st March 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.
The Big Brass Band Saturday March 30th
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.”
Solo Duet and Quartet Contest 2019 – Results
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
WMBBA 