Success at the Yorkshire Regional Championships

The first weekend of March marks one of the most important dates in the Emley Band calendar, (after the beer festival obviously…), the band joined others from across the rolling hills and smoky chimneystacks of West and South Yorkshire, a real hotbed of British Brass Banding at the Regional contest (known as the ‘Areas’) held in grand setting of Huddersfield Town Hall, one of the finest venues to play at in the West Riding. After previously consolidating our position in the Second Section over the past couple of years, the band were playing well but faced strong opposition this year, competing against former Championship Section bands and other well renowned local names in the banding world.

The piece of music chosen to test the bands at this year’s areas was ‘Triptych for Brass Band’ by the lauded brass band composer Philip Sparke. His composition offered the bands competing a differing set of musical challenges when compared last year’s test piece (Rodney Newton – The Pilgrims Progress). Sparke’s work was composed in 1990 for the Swiss National Championships comprising of three contrasting movements, Pageant, Fantasy on One Note and Festival, really testing the banding basics of playing together, a lyrical style and being in tune.

After an early start, rehearsing at Huddersfield University, finding out the draw (8th) and then knocking up the landlords in the local Huddersfield hostelries for a spot of breakfast and early morning libations, strictly alcohol-free of course, the band took to the stage and gave one of their most polished performances of recent times. Playing with technical precision, a sense of style and poise, hauntingly quiet, a glorious full band sound, and Jennifer Turner lighting up the beautiful cornet melodies in the hymn like second movement.

“Lots of presence to start across the band. Lots of great energy on display, but perhaps pushing the louder dynamics a little. Contrasts well with the controlled quieter sections.Band is well controlled under soloists in the Fantasy. Nice harmonies in the quintet section. Lovely full band sounds. Band pushing the pp wells.Festival builds well and has a steady tempo but good drive led by percussion. Good controlled dynamics. Baritone and sop sing out over a controlled band. Louder dynamics are well judged.A performance that generally moved well. A little heavy on the louder dynamics in the first movement, but a lot of great dynamic playing later in the piece. A controlled account with lots on offer from Emley.”

– British Bandsman (Facebook)

The adjudicators, Mark Wilkinson and Stephanie Binns summing up the contest spoke of the challenges and pitfalls the test piece presented, the tuning of the concert F had been challenging and that there had been ten good performances all which brought something out of the music, however there had also been three performances which really stood out in the competition. After hearing the adjudicators deliberations the results were announced, the best Soloist was the Soprano cornet player from South Yorkshire Police, the best Principal Cornet was from Lindley Band and then the next up was the best Basses award. The engine room of the band, the foundation that every good performance sits on top of… EMLEY BAND, the band members who were in the hall for the results erupted! Conor Black, Tom Hoyle on Eb Bass and Adam Clewes and Emrys Osborn on Bb Bass were more than deserving of the plaudits and had played magnificently.

The placings were then announced in reverse order, 6. Slaithwaite, 5. Kippax, 4. Hatfield, 3. Lindley, the tension was mounting, could we…? “In second place and qualifying for the National Finals… EMLEY!!!!” The band nearly took the roof off the Victorian hall and shook the magnificent pipes of the organ with collective cheers and celebration. The band had achieved the best result in our 154-year history and will now take part in the National Finals in Cheltenham. Congratulations also to the winners South Yorkshire Police band, (including former Emley Band Solo Horn Marie Bedford).

The band would also like to congratulate all the bands who won prizes over the weekend, with a couple of special mentions, firstly to former MD Garry Hallas who led Yorkshire Imps to victory in the First section and Barnsley Metropolitan Band for winning the Gary Brown Memorial Trophy for having the best percussion team in the third section.

A massive thank you to all the players, who performed at the top of their game this weekend, and to our MD, Tim Sidwell, for his tireless commitment and dedication to encourage and inspire us to a fabulous performance and well-deserved result.

FULL SECOND SECTION RESULTS