Middleton Brass Band crowned national champions

Middleton Brass Band crowned 2018 2nd Section National Champions

Middleton Brass Band was crowned 2018 Second Section National Champions at the recent National Finals Brass Band Contest held on 15 September at the Centaur, Cheltenham.

The band qualified for the national competition in February 2018 when they won second section in the North West Area Brass Band Contest, held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool - the first time in the band’s history it had won at the area competition.

Louise Crane, Middleton Youth Band manager and musical director, said: “The band, under musical director Kevin Gibbs, has been working very hard since the area contest success on the set test piece for the national finals, Firestorm by Stephen Bulla.

“The inspiration for this composition was the recent war in the Persian Gulf and its continuous presentation to the world through the medium of television. Bulla wanted to capture the emotion and colour of the events of the war as they were played out on the television screen and included riveting sounds of airborne bombing raids, a Baghdad market scene and a poignant soliloquy depicting the calm, unspoiled beauty of the Iraqi countryside before its siege.

“Unlucky for some (but not Middleton) the band played 13th out of 18 bands from all over the United Kingdom and gave their best performance of the piece."

Middleton are absolutely delighted to have won the second section national title, another first in the history of the band. No strangers to attending the national finals, they were crowned third section champions in 1983, gained a third place in the third section in 2002, crowned third section champions in 2007 and gained a fourth place at the second section finals in 2013.

Ms Crane added: “The band would like to thank the generous support they have received from the community which enabled them to take up their place at the finals. Travelling to the finals, which was held at The Centaur, Cheltenham, was not without significant financial cost. In addition to a program of dedicated fundraising events such as concerts, a race night, a quiz night, raffles, tombolas, football cards and a crowdfunding page, the band also received generous donations from a range of well-wishers, from individuals, companies, the local township and other local bands. The band would like to thank everybody who supported us on our journey to becoming national champions."

The band is now promoted to the first section as of January 2019 - the first time the band has competed in the first section under national grading rules.

Ms Crane said: “Part of our national finals team, and nominated band member to sit on stage to receive the results, was a new recruit, Isabelle, who has recently made the transition into the senior band from our youth band and has also recently won first prize in the youth band’s own inaugural solo contest.

"Issy has made a fantastic addition to the cornet section and after her contest debut at the finals, has a 100% win record.”

The band is now busy preparing for Rochdale contest in October and a busy upcoming concert season.