Success at North West Area Championships!

March 2008

Manx Concert Brass braved the storms this weekend to compete against other bands in the 2008 North West Regional Championships held at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. The trip as well as many weeks of hard work proved to be worth it as the adjudicator, John Maines, placed them third for their rendition of Kenneth Downie's Three Part Invention.

The band's Musical Director, Ian Clague MBE, said that the band had really enjoyed playing this piece and he was delighted with the result.

Band Chairman, James Mayles, thanked the players and supporters for their dedication and was happy that all their hard work had resulted in yet another successful weekend.

Since its formation in 1995 the band has competed in the annual North West Regional Championships, enjoying many excellent results including becoming 4th Section National champions of Great Britain in 1996. They have qualified for the National Finals on four different occasions narrowly missing out on this occasion by one point. Their successes have elevated them from the fourth section to the second section where their recent prize winning results has them placed in the upper echelons of the second section.

Picking up more silverware has a downside though joked celebrating players as the band is currently without a permanent bandroom and also lacks a trophy cabinet to display all their prizes in.

Far from taking it easy after their success the band is now concentrating on competing in the Manx Music Festival on the 26th and 27th April, 2008 and on their Gala Concert featuring guest soloists at the Villa Marina on 26th July 2008.

Click here to view results and players