Newstead Brass through to national finals
JUBILANT Newstead Brass have qualified for the prestigious finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
The competition is one of the most competitive and significant brass events in the world.
And Newstead are delighted that they will be competing in the Championship Section at the Royal Albert Hall in London for a second time after also qualifying in 2006.
The locals secured their spot this time round by finishing runners-up in the Championship Section of the Midlands Area Championships at Bedworth Civic Hall in Warwickshire.
Seventy-nine bands took part, with 12 going up against Newstead in the top section.
The test piece every band had to master was the immensely challenging 'Salute To Youth', written in 1961 by Gilbert Vinter and chosen partly in celebration of 2009 being the centenary of Vinter's birth.
Adjudicators Brian Buckley amd Derek Broadbent felt only the top bands came to terms with the music's rhythmic and stylistic challenges.
First place went to defending champions, Desford Colliery, with Newstead's Nottinghamshire rivals, Thoresby Colliery, placed third.
Newstead were conducted by Duncan Beckley, who this year celebrates his 20th anniversary in the post.
He was full of praise for the band, who have put in extra rehearsals in recent months to overcome the challenges of work, study and illness.
Now they can look forward to competing against the best brass bands in the country at the final on Saturday October 17.
A band spokesman said: "The experience of playing in the 2006 national championships at the Royal Albert Hall was something special for those of us able to take part and we've been striving to gain a repeat ever since.
"This year, our hard work has paid off, although it means we will be involved in a significant fundraising-drive to cover the extra costs of taking part in the event, which will be additional to our usual annual budget.
"We are the only band from Nottinghamshire to have qualified across all five sections so, as the ambassadors for the county, we're once again asking local companies, even in these difficult times, for their help."
Anyone interested in offering support to the band should ring Press officer Mike Allcock on 0115 9680563 or band manager Melanie Cooper on 07970 490773.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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