Blackburn and Darwen Brass Band take top prize at musical extravaganza at Rochdale Town Hall

Rochdale Festival of Brass
NWABBA President Malcolm Brownbill presenting the champions trophy to Vicky Lee Ahmed of winning band Blackburn and Darwen

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The Rochdale Festival of Brass Championship Trophy was won Blackburn and Darwen Band.

Blackburn and Darwen, under conductor Huw Thomas, 'wowed' the audience and the adjudicator, Andrew Berryman, with a brand new test piece, Gallery by Howard Snell.

'Gallery' is scheduled to be used as the test piece for the Scottish Open in November.

Pemberton Old Wigan (DW) (Year of the Dragon), under Kevin Gibbs, and Vernon Building Society (Poynton) (Of Distant Memories), with Neil Samuel at the helm, were adjudged as runners up and third respectively.

In the 'first section', Hade Edge (Of Distant Memories) came first with Haslingden and Helmshore (Talis Variations) second and Wakefield Metropolitan (Trittico) third.

Top of the the 10 contenders in the 'second section' was Besses Boys (Prisms), Royal Buckley Town (Saga of Haaken the Good) came second and City of Chester (Purcell Variations) third.

The 'third section' proved to be interesting with Besses o`th` Barn (Labour and Love) in first place, a newcomer to Rochdale, Golborne (Music for a Festival) second and Blackpool Brass (Dimensions) in third place.

In the 'fourth section', after listening to five different test pieces, adjudicator Sheona White awarded first prize to Stalybridge Old (Labour and Love). Skelmersdale Prize Band (Visions) and Sale Brass (Sea Farers) came second and third respectively.

Seven bands took to the stage to contest the Youth Section and a near capacity audience saw Elland Silver Youth, under conductor Samantha Harrison, awarded first prize with Rochdale Borough Youth and Pemberton Old Wigan DW Youth taking second and third places respectively.

The adjudicator was Mike Kilroy.

Lucy Hanson, of Whitworth Vale and Healey Youth, received an award for the youngest player of the afternoon.

The best instrumentalist award went to Charlotte Horsfield (trombone), of Elland Silver Youth, for her rendition of the 'Bayrische Polka'.

The band adjudged to have the most potential was fifth placed Macclesfield Youth.

The Ron Chalker special award for best soprano on the day went to Matthew Hall of Whitworth Vale and Healey Youth.

All seven performing bands, including fourth placed Stockport Schools and sixth placed Oldham Music Centre Youth, received a certificate in recognition of their efforts.

An evening concert by the 2014 Rochdale champions, Milnrow Band, was well received by an enthusiastic audience as muscial director Mark Bentham put the band through its paces with a well chosen musical programme that enhanced the atmospheric magnificence and splendour of Rochdale Town Hall.

Ken Watts, Milnrow Band President, said: "Thanks must go to the organisers NWABBA, the contest controller and volunteers/helpers on the day for making this great two day event so enjoyable.

"Grateful thanks also to sponsors of the Rochdale Brass Band Festival, BMI (The Highfield Hospital), Ron Chalker Ltd, Peter Madden, WT Building Services, PJS (Phil Shaw), The Flying Horse, Whitworth Vale and Healey Band Club and Bryan Warrington."

It is hoped the Rochdale Brass Band Festival will continue as an annual event.