Unprecedented win for adult band on regional scene
Shanklin Town Brass Band has returned to the Island with a collection of trophies, after winning a regional music competition on Sunday 23rd April 2006.
In 2005, Shanklin's Youth Band won their section at both annual regional contests. This year, the Senior Band led the way by scooping first prize in their adult section at the Spring Contest in Hove with a strong rendition of Alan Fernie's Anglian Dances, and taking an array of other trophies at the same time.
Shanklin's adult musicians have been improving on their results for a number of years, but this is the first time they won the Third Section at a Southern Counties Amateur Brass Association (SCABA) competition, against bands from across the region. An equally strong performance at the Autumn Contest in October could see promotion to the Second Section.
Trophies were also awarded to Shanklin's Principal Cornet, Tracey Bennett, for Best Instrumentalist, and Gareth Balch, for Best Conductor. The band complemented this by winning Best March Performance for The Standard of St George.
Gareth Balch, Head of Music at Solent Middle School, and the Band's Soprano Cornet, took up the baton after Shanklin's Musical Director Malcolm Lewis was unable to attend on this occasion due to ill health.
The Youth Band narrowly missed out on winning their section, but put in a focused performance of Ray Steadman-Allen's Stantonbury Festival, with Lake Middle School pupil Hollie James, 13, leading the way on Principal Cornet.
After hearing the results, Shanklin's Musical Director Malcolm Lewis said: "Gareth has done a fantastic job preparing the bands for this competition, and his work has paid off. I am so pleased for all the musicians, and particularly for the Senior Band in winning their section.
"This is the first time that an Island band has outright won a regional brass competition at an adult level - and hopefully the first of many. We will soon begin rehearsing to emulate this success at the Autumn Contest in October."
This coming bank holiday weekend, Shanklin Town Brass Band can be heard jointly in concert with Ashbourne Town Band (Derbyshire) at St. Saviour's Church in Shanklin, on Saturday 29th April at 8pm. Entry is free and all are welcome.