An overview of the Year 2006

The musical directors view

2006 has once again been filled all the usual highs and occasional lows that any brass band goes through in a year. In contests the band had a disappointing National Championship, only receiving a bronze award, but then at the end of the year had a stunning second place at The Tameside Entertainment Contest. On the concert stage the band has developed some strong links with The Bactiguard Wire Brass and The United Co-op Band, and we are hoping that the New Year will bring more of the same. We also continued to play for our supporting Lions Clubs all over the district and continued to enhance the bands popularity within the local community.

A major development of 2006 was our continued enhancement of our strong links with The Sandbach Boys School. Last year the school received music and arts status and as part of their award they put aside some funds to assist the organization by organizing some workshops with The Fodens Richardson Band. We had the first before The Tameside Contest and are looking forward to the next on Sunday 28th January.

Once again our composer in residence Ian Raisbeck provided the band with some new and interesting compositions, and these played a large part in the bands programme and success at Tameside.

Our annual tour was a great success; We visited Minehead in Somerset and performed a mammoth 13 concerts in 7 days.

Last year the band said farewell to a number of their senior members. Steven Bebbington, James Darlington, Edward Miles and Sarah Raisbeck. Also, Phillip Dobson was the last of the Dobson household to depart which was like the end of an era for us and them. Sadly since that time Phillips mother, Sally, has passed away and the band and all connected with Lions Youth Brass will remember the great contribution that Ian, Sally, Andrew, Louise, Phillip and Katie made to the history of Lions Youth Brass.

This year saw the first inter-band solo competition and Alex Holsgrove, Neil Raisbeck and Abbie Edwards were winners from the youth band.

All in all another hectic year for the organization and I would expect more of the same for next year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those connected to Lions Youth Brass and anyone who has made a contribution to its continued success.

Nigel Birch
Musical Director
Lions Youth Brass

Awards 2006

Bandsman of the year: Edward Miles

Achievement Awards: Amy Ball, Abbie Edwards, Jenny Hindle, Will Blackstone, Dan Balding, Lianne Withnell, Zach Rogerson, Ashley Taylor and Alistair Miles.

Junior Band Review

2006 has been a fantastic year for the Junior Band. I have thoroughly enjoyed my 18 months as Musical Director and the support and feedback I have received has been very encouraging.

In March the band played brilliantly at Newcastle Festival, being placed 1st in every category we entered. The Band worked really hard towards the contest and certainly reaped the rewards for their efforts.

I have been very pleased with every concert we done throughout the year, special thanks go out for the 'Concert for Christies' I organised in July, it was hard work (and very hot!) but was made so much easier because of the help I received from everybody.

At the end of the summer term I lost 6 players to the youth band and gained 7 from the beginners. This just goes to show what a fantastic system we have for progressing through the three Lions Bands. The new players have fitted in with no problems whatsoever, well done to them! We lost some very strong players to the Youth Band and I was slightly apprehensive about what we may sound like upon our September return. I needn't have worried! Every player has done a brilliant job, but special mention has to go to the solo cornets who have excelled themselves in every way. I have been thrilled with all of the performances with the 'new' Junior Band, and I couldn't have asked for anything more from our performance at the Lions and Wire joint concert in December.

Katie Stubbs deserves a special mention for remembering everything that I can't and sorting out all of the admin that I am not organised enough to cope with!

If you have any queries or comments don't hesitate to contact me, your continued support is greatly appreciated, thank you!
Best Wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Katie Smallwood
Musical Director
Lions Junior Brass

Junior Band Awards

Bandsman of the year: Michael Davies

Other Awards: Sarah Edwards, Matthew Thomas, Carl Jones

Most Improved Player: Ellis Peake
His effort since taking up the principal cornet seat in September has been outstanding, he has improved significantly and is very reliable

Beginner Band Review

Following on from a hugely enjoyable first year with the band, Andrew, Hayley and I were determined for the Beginner Band to kick on from 2005. We started off by providing new music for the band, and throughout the course of the year we actually performed several world premieres in our concert programme. Items such as 'The Music Man' (which gave the band a chance to exercise their vocal chords),' Pop Rock' and the band's witty encore, 'Show Me the Way to Go Home,' proved to be very popular concert items throughout the year.

In September the band lost a lot of players up to the Junior Band (we really do need to start charging Katie a transfer fee!) but we were lucky to gain 14 new players in the new academic year and after 5 months playing together the band is looking strong again. To aid this development the band took part in their second workshop, where we were delighted to have the help of former and current Lions Youth Brass Principal Cornet players Sarah Raisbeck and Tom Hancock who both came along to offer their expertise to the players in the band. A superb day was had and big thanks go to Sarah and Tom for donating their time.

Beginner Band Awards

Most Improved Player: Emma Ashcroft (Baritone)

Emma has flown over the course of the past 12 months, from a player who had the potential to play well to a player who is now playing exceptionally well consistently. Over the past few months in particular Emma has demonstrated just what a talent she is, and Hayley, Andrew and I are sure she has a big future ahead of her.

Special Award: Oliver Smedley (Cornet)

Oli is another player who is coming on in leaps and bounds. Under the tutelage of Hayley, Oli is fast becoming a real star and in December he stood up and played his first solo, London Bridge. Well done Oli!

Special Award: William Dakin (Cornet)

William has only been with the band for 5 months, but has made such an impression it was impossible to overlook him for an award. In a few months William has stamped his mark and truly is a player to look out for.

Special Award: Sam Ashcroft (Cornet)

Sam is the ultimate bandsman. He does anything we ask of him, and this has meant he has had to sing 'Cuckoo,' wake up Brittany, dressing up as Frank Sinatra and singing the Music Man as a solo to a packed hall in the Crewe Co-op Concert! And to top that off, Sam is always becoming a fine cornet player.

In closing, the band has had another good year and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us this year. Sadly I can't list you all as you'd still be reading it tomorrow morning and we would hate to miss someone out. I am sure you all know who you are and your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your continued support.

Seasonal greetings and best wishes for 2007

Chris Thompson
Lions Beginner Brass Band

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