Review 2009

Review 2009

Youth Band -Junior Band -Beginner Band -The Year in Pictures

Youth Band Review

2009 has once again been a very successful year for Lions Youth Brass, with some great concerts, contest results and a great tour of Spain.

The year started off with a runners-up position at The Gwent Festival, and although we were extremely unlucky not retain the trophy we won in 2008, second was still an excellent result. There were excellent solo performances from Neil Raisbeck and Tim Bartley and an all round good solid performance from the whole band.

In April the band had an excellent third place at The National Championships in Manchester. For this we commissioned Andy Scott, who is composer in residence with The Fodens Band and our own composer in residence, Ian Raisbeck, to write new compositions for the band, which were premiered in the competition. There were two excellent solo performances by Neil Raisbeck and Alex Holsgrove, and it was the excellent performance of the test-piece, The Pioneers, plus the originality of the program that gained a well deserved top three finish. This is now the fourth time in eight years that the band have finished in the top three at the premier youth competition, which is a record for all of us to be proud of.

On the concert platform the band remains in very high demand and I must commend all my players for the level of consistency shown over so many concerts. The performance with Fodens at Congleton was outstanding. We also extended our visual presentation and this is something that is now an integral part of our performance.

In July we had another great trip to Spain, superbly organised by Jane Stubbs. We were very well received by the Spanish public and our varied program of music was appreciated by all who attended the concerts.

Following tour we said goodbye to some of our long serving players, Sarah Allcock, Danielle Unwin, Leanne Withnell and Matthew Darlington. I would like to thank all of them for their dedication to Lions Youth Brass over a long period of time. In particular to Danielle for her excellent work as band representative and to Matthew Darlington in his role as Principal Cornet, one of which he performed with great distinction. I was absolutely delighted that Matthew decided to take on a tutorial role within the beginners section and he is already proving to be real asset in that area of our organisation.

2009 was also a year when we enhanced our links with the very best musicians in the brass band movement. David Thornton, Principal Euphonium of The Black Dyke Band, continues to be the Youth Bands Musical Associate, and his advice to the players and myself is invaluable. We also enhanced our association with The Fodens Band with the appointment of Les Neish as Tuba Consultant. This has already resulted in three players now moving on to Tuba.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my fellow musical directors and tutors who have worked extremely hard within their own bands and who continue to develop the younger players within our organisation and I wish them all the best of luck when they compete in the Training Section at The National Championships next year. This will be a landmark occasion when we will have our entire organisation playing in the Nationals on the same day.

I would like to thank all the parents, grandparents and friends who continue to support all the players of all bands, which without their support it would not be possible to function in the manner in which we are able to.

I would like to thank all my players for their commitment to the Youth Band this year. I know I demand a lot from my players in terms of dedication and performance, but when you get the end result right it is worth the effort that is made by all of us.

I would like to say a big, big thank you to our fantastic committee, superbly led by Jane Stubbs, who put in a tremendous amount of work all year round to ensure that all the bands have the best opportunities possible. We all see them on a Tuesday performing their various tasks, but it is the work on the other six days of the week that we do not see that is vital to the running of our organisation.

Finally, I look forward to 2010 with great optimism, with once again a challenging, but exiting schedule ahead of us with many great opportunities for the players. We have the workshop with Black Dyke in January to help prepare us for the Butlins contest. Also, David Thornton and Mike Fowles, associate conductor with The Fodens Band, will be helping us with our preparation for this event. In March we will have a workshop with Fodens to help prepare us for the Nationals. In June we have a concert with Black Dyke to look forward to and in July we will return to Spain for our third consecutive tour of Spain. Then to end a hectic term, there will be the recording of our latest compact disc.

Thanks to all for a great 2009 and I wish everyone associated with our fantastic organisation a happy new year, one which I am sure will be very eventful and successful.

Nigel Birch
Musical Director
Lions Beginner Brass

Youth Band Band Awards

Most Improved Players: Ellie Baker, Michael Davies
Showing Promise: Morgan Smedley, Emma Ashcroft, Harry Mace

Junior Band Review

2009 has been a hectic year for the Junior Band; Sarah began the year as Musical Director before handing over to me during the summer term in order to take up a teaching post in the North East. I am happy to report that Sarah has settled in to her new home and job very well and is always asking how the Junior Band are doing. Before leaving; the year started as usual with the preparations for Newcastle-under-Lyme Music Festival where once again the band was successful under Sarah’s leadership.

It was then with much excitement that I accepted the post of Musical Director of the Junior Band; I have kept close connections with Lions in the years I have been away since leaving as a player in 2002.

Since June the Junior Band have undoubtedly been busier than at than any time in their history; we have been engaged by local town councils several times to perform in our own right (without the Youth Band being there). These have included performances for the opening of the new cobbles in Sandbach Town Centre and switching the Christmas Lights on in both Sandbach and Congleton. It is hoped that by taking on engagements of this nature the Junior Band players will develop their performance skills so that the step up to the Youth Band becomes easier.

Performances at local primary schools, the Summer and Christmas concerts and Tatton Park have given all three bands the chance to share the stage like never before. Being able to perform alongside the Beginner and Youth band’s has added much to the atmosphere of our joint concerts and I hope this will continue in 2010.

It was very pleasing to see so many Junior Band players entering the Slow Melody Competition; this is an excellent way of conquering performance nerves and showed everybody just how much talent is emerging from within the band.

In the year ahead we begin with a very exciting joint project with the beginner band to perform at the National Youth Brass Band Championships. The emphasis will be on giving every member in the organisation the opportunity to perform at a national festival and once again aiding their progression into the Youth Band.

Thanks must go to Jane and the committee for another year of fantastic organisation, Chris, Hayley, Andrew and Matthew for training the next generation of Junior Band players, Tom, Derek and Katie for their regular help with the Junior Band, and to Nigel for his guidance and encouragement. Thanks also to players, parents and supporters for a fantastic 2009. I hope 2010 will be just as good!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Ian Raisbeck
Musical Director
Lions Junior Brass

Junior Band Awards

Most Improved Players: Rebecca Preston
Showing Promise: Rhys Kerry, James Walker, Charlotte Birch
Band Person of the Year: Gavin Finch

Beginner Band Review

On receiving the dreaded email from Ian (‘I’d appreciate your yearly review please’) I sat down wondering what on earth I could possible write as it only seems 5 minutes since the last email with similar content hit my inbox. On reflection though it’s been another busy year in the life of a beginner band member as you’re about to find out…

The reintroduction of ‘schools’ concerts has been a major plus for the band this year as it gives us regular chances to give the children concert experience. All the children come to band where they work and play hard, but nothing beats actually getting on stage and putting everything that Andrew, Hayley and myself have taught them.

These new-found skills were shown to good effect in concerts at the Weaver school in Nantwich, Elworth Hall Primary School and the Slow Melody concert to name just a few, but perhaps the biggest concerts of the year were the ‘Trainer Band Spectacular’ event and the Christmas Concert. The Trainer Band event was held at Macclesfield bandstand and we were delighted to be invited by Macclesfield Youth. Here the band put in a performance that belied its lack of age and experience and we hope to be invited back in 2010. The Christmas concert saw us carry on the tradition of doing something a little bit different, and with our very own cornet players/travel guides Emma and Alex we hope that we managed that again this year.

2009 was also memorable for the acquisition of Matthew Darlington. Matt is now too ‘old’ for the Youth band, starting with us in September as a tutor and has settled in well. Eager to do whatever you ask of him, and loved by all the children in the band it is like he’s always been a part of the band, and the improvement of our back row cornet players is in no small way due to his talent in extracting the maximum out of the children he works with.

So 2009 was pretty busy. I’m almost done now, but as usual I’d like to - on behalf of Andrew, Hayley, Matt and myself - thank the usual suspects; Jane and her excellent and supportive committee (who must dread the sight of me walking towards them during band, usually saying ‘I’ve got a question…’); Nigel and the Youth band; Ian, Tom, Derek and the Juniors; and finally, all of the parents of our players. Without you bringing your children to rehearsals and concerts there would be no band. Your continued support is appreciated.

As for 2010… well the year is dominated by the National Finals. We are looking forward to joining forces with Ian, Tom, Derek and the Juniors, ready for our trip to Manchester in April. And after that… I’m sure that on receipt of the dreaded email from Ian I will have plenty more to report back to you with.

All the best to you for a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year,

Chris Thompson
Musical Director
Lions Beginner Brass