Verwood Triumph in Weston:

17th May 2015

Results from the 47th “Own Choice” Weston Super Mare Contest

A South West Brass Band Association Promotion
 
Verwood Concert Brass, conducted by Kevin Smith, are the 2015 Weston Super Mare Own Choice Champions with a fine performance of Paganini Variations, arr Philip Wilby.

Blushing Brass at its Finest

Saturday May 9th 2015

Verwood Ladies, all dressed in pink, performed alongside Boobs and Brass to a sell out Hub audience in Verwood. 

This was a fantastic evening of fundraising in aid of Breastcancer charities and both performers and audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Many people were involved in the success of the evening but Jan Tiller was the brains behind the operation and she has to be congratulated on her brilliant organisation and hard work over many months.

Verwood Concert Brass were very thrilled to host Boobs and Brass who travelled all the way from Northampton and to perform with Kirsty Abbotts who is the principal cornet player for Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band.

Thanks go to David Marshall, who conducted Verwood Ladies, Stephen Bell, the MD of Boobs and Brass and their compere, Carolyn Oldershaw.

VCB Spring Concert 2015 with Chris Avison

Saturday 18th April

The Spring Concert was an absolute corker.

The Training Band were 'Hot Stuff' as they got the show started with their set. They just keep getting better and bigger!

This was followed by the Concert Band and included some pieces played by our guest soloist, Chris Avison, principal trumpet of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. What stunning playing!

The second half opened with the Town Band Puttin' on the Ritz and very stylish it was too as were their other pieces which all met with great applause from the audience.

It was back to the Concert Band to close the show which kicked of with a great bass section feature followed by yet more fabulous playing from Chris Avison.

To close the band played part of the regional finals test piece 'A London Overture' which as MD Kevin Smith announced, their performance of it in Torquay in March has seen the band promoted to the Championship section. It was very heart warming to hear the genuine cheer that went up from our loyal and appreciative audience on hearing that news.

Verwood Concert Brass AGM 2015

The AGM for VCB was held on the 30th March 2015 and was attended by over 50 members.

The formalities were all very straight forward. All the bands are doing just brilliantly. Finances healthy. Committee appointed for another year. Everyone's happy!
So it was soon on to the player awards and a fantastic evening of fun music playing involving players from The Acorns, Training Band, Town Band and Concert Band.

 

It really is what Verwood Concert Brass is all about as the photos prove.

Verwood Concert Brass Joins the Top Flight

14th & 15th March

Verwood Concert Brass will become a Championship Section band after yet another fantastic performance at the West of England Brass Band Association Regional Finals.

Band Master, Mike Dunnings said “This is like a dream come true, earning promotion to the highest level, and is an historic way to start the band’s 151st year. But unlike a dream this has actually involved a lot of dedication and support from everyone involved with Verwood Concert Brass to make this happen. It is amazing to think that back in 2006 the band was in the 4th Section but has continually improved and developed to earn the right to be in the top flight. The journey has been a great experience and also a lot of fun too”.

Over the weekend of the 14th and 15th March around 80 brass bands, which means over 2,000 musicians, from Cornwell, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire descended on Torquay to battle it out in the West of England Regional Finals. Verwood Concert Brass was up against 14 other bands in the 1st Section and was picked out of the hat to be the 2nd band to play the very challenging set test piece of music, ‘A London Overture’ by Philip Sparke.

The band’s conductor, Kevin Smith was absolutely delighted with their performance saying ‘I could not have asked for anything more from any of the players. Every single one of them performed how I knew they could, with confidence and skill, but most importantly they played as one complete team. It was an absolute privilege and delight to be on stage with them”.

When the results were announced a great cheer went up from the band and its supporters when Verwood was awarded 3rd place.

Mike Dunnings explained why even coming 3rd meant so much. ”Promotion isn’t about being a one hit wonder. It’s about being consistently good over a period of three years. Our 3rd from this year was added to our 4th from last year’s contest and our 3rd from the year before that, giving us a total of only 10 points – the lower the better. That’s a very low score and was 3 points clear of our nearest rival and that’s what earned us our well-deserved promotion from the 1st Section to the Championship Section. We are really looking forward to the challenge that will present”.

The next opportunity to see the now even more highly acclaimed Verwood Concert Brass band will be on Saturday 18th April at The Hub, Verwood and will be featuring guest soloist, Chris Avison, principal trumpet of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Verwood Town Band, under the baton of Emma Button were also very pleased with their performance of  'An English Pastorale' by Dean Jones.  This was a very tricky piece with some very exposed solos but everybody rose to the occasion and the Band were extremely happy when they came off stage.

A placing of 13th out of 21 was, perhaps, disappointing but the A Band in the audience felt it was the best the Town Band had ever played and that was credit enough.

  

Another Great Result for VCB

March 1^st 2015

Verwood Concert Brass were thrilled with a victory in their first contest of 2015 at the Oxfordshire & District BBA Winter Contest.

They were up against some worthy competition from other areas: Milton Keynes Brass (Bucks), Epsom & Ewell Silver Band (Surrey), Oddfellows Brass (Markfield, Leicestershire) and Brunel Brass (Swindon, Wiltshire).

All of the bands chose to play the forthcoming regional finals test piece 'London Overture' so it was all down to performance rather than choice of piece having an influence.

The adjudicator was the well renowned Frank Renton and it was a great confidence builder for the band having him award them first place. (They thoroughly deserved it too!)

Well done VCB. Torquay here we come.

 

Verwood Youth Band put in a Great Performance at the Wessex Youth and Training Band Festival

Saturday 31st January

The Verwood Youth Band took part in the Wessex Brass Band Association Youth and Training Band Festival last Saturday and came away with the Youth Section 1st prize and Royal Marines Cup. Plus the band’s principal cornet player, Emma Graves, was awarded the Woodfalls Trophy for the best soloist of the day from any section.

The 27 strong band was not only made up of VCB members but also other enthusiastic local under 19 year olds who seemed to have a very enjoyable time.  They played a varied programme including 'Singing in the Rain',  Amazing Grace, the hymn – ‘Blaenwern’, the march – ‘Slaidburn’ and the soloist piece performed like a true professional by Emma, ‘My love is like a red, red rose’.

  

Kevin Smith, (musical director of Verwood Concert Brass) who conducted the band said “I really enjoy having the opportunity to rehearse and then present such an enthusiastic and talented group of young musicians. They can all be very proud of what they have achieved.”

Both Emma Graves and Naomi Hewin, who sat together on the front row of cornets are hoping to join the Royal Marines Band Service in 2016 and were delighted to meet the adjudicator, Captain Sam Hairsine from the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth who was very impressed with the overall standard of playing from all the Bands.

The Verwood Youth Band would welcome more under 19 brass and percussion players to come and join them. For details please contact Mike Dunnings via email to m.dunnings#ntlworld.com (change # to @) or phone on 07791 340870.