Amington Band

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The sun shone on Amington Band today as we played in Tudor-built Middleton Hall for the second year running. Surrounded by the Peel Society's display of classic MG Motor Cars we played a programme well appreciated by an audience that continued to grow as the concert went on. Today was also our Solo Horn player's debut performance of her new solo - Steph Morris played 'Over the Rainbow' as her first ever standing solo with the band, which was received well despite her trouble with a pesky loose music stand...

We look forward to playing at this same event next year!

Steve Hill leaves

It is with sadness that we now say goodbye to our former Principal Cornet, Steve Hill. Steve was obliged to resign from his Principal Cornet seat earlier this year due to work commitments, but other circumstances have now combined to make it impossible for him to maintain any further role in the band and he is leaving by mutual agreement.
Steve leaves the band much stronger than he found it, and this is due in no small part to his dedication and leadership, he leaves us with our thanks and best wishes.

Amington Band recently played at the prestigious Canwell Show, one of the largest one day agricultural shows in the Midlands. Rain during the first of the band's two sets failed to put off the audience, who were treated to a programme of music including Verdi's 'Grand March "Aida"' and Handel's 'Entrance of the Queen of Sheba.' Solos from Kate Brookes (euphonium) and Bekah Noons (flugelhorn) kept the audience entertained, and the crowds showed their appreciation as we rounded out the day.

Our thanks again to the deps from other bands who helped us out on the day.

Tutbury Music Festival 2010

The weather was kind and held out for us as we played at Tutbury Music Festival on the evening of Sunday 11th July, just as it did in 2008 when the event was last held. We played a short programme including a solo; ‘Summertime’ by Flugel player Bekah Noons and also ‘Ave Maria’ – a Euphonium and Baritone feature, played by Chris Banks, Kate Brookes, Roy Marrison and Bob Godfrey. The audience were very responsive and enjoyed our performance, as did we! No doubt ‘the next two years will fly by and we’ll find ourselves there again!’

Photos of this event including numerous photos of the Band and individuals can be seen and are available for purchase at the official photographers website: Autumn House Photography

SURPRISE! For Bob

On Saturday 10th July Bob Godfrey walked into the Amington Band Rooms wondering why the front door had been left open.

Little did he know that he had just walked into his own party! All of his Amington friends were there to help him celebrate his 80th birthday, complete with banners, balloons, cake and the Phoenix Big Band who provided excellent entertainment for the evening.

Later in the evening the Band’s M.D Wes Kendrick gave a “short” speech in which he recognised Bob’s ‘cuddly’, ‘forthright’ characteristics, but also Bob’s unquestionable efforts and devotion to the band; a speech with which we all certainly agree with!

Special thanks to Jenny Morris, Rebecca Stonehouse and Elaine Clay for organizing the party and for managing to keep Bob in the dark and keeping it a surprise!!

A very enjoyable evening for all and by the smile on Bob’s face all night, he enjoyed it too!

Whit Friday Marches - Another Win!

The weather was kind, if a little cool, and we managed to visit six contests, starting at Aldwinians Rugby Club (Tameside), where we played two bands after the mighty Fodens, who were starting a marathon attempt on eleven contests in an attempt to defend their title as Reigning Champions. This was a bit of a practise run for us as at least two of our players had not practised marching, or in the case of one of them, even played the contest march! Not a bad performance, but we left with some improvements in mind...

Crossing over to the Saddleworth district, we arrived next in Scouthead (photo upper left), where the contest was well under way. A much better performance this time and we felt more confident as we arrived at our next venue, Delph (well known for its appearance in the film, Brassed Off). Inspired by the surroundings and the encouragement of the crowd, the march was a great, if brief, experience (photo centre left). Following that we entered the contest arena, which was crammed with spectators and had a naturally good acoustic, and delivered what many of us felt was our best performance of the march "Victors Acclaimed" (photo lower left).

Visits to Diggle, where we played on the side of a windswept hill, and Dobcross, (where we observed some of the well known characters from the now famous Dinington Colliery Band arriving as we waited to play), followed next, with the band maintaining a high standard of performance throughout.

Finally, as night fell and the temperature dropped, we arrived at what was to be our last venue, Lydgate. We stayed on the coach as long as we could in order not to freeze to death, but as we waited, we watched one of the 'scratch' bands coming down the hill after their performance, their members wearing all sorts of strange attire, including one who was naked except for a pair of football shorts and trainers. He had the George Cross painted on his chest, maybe thats what was keeping him warm!
Eventually our turn came and with the members of the Birmingham Conservatoire band waiting behind us, we gave one more performance of "Victors Acclaimed". The adjudicator must have liked it, because the next day we learned that we had won the 3rd section at Lydgate, a great result from what was a very tiring but entirely enjoyable days banding.

Many thanks to our deps, we couldn't have done it without you!

Whit Friday Marches

After enacting the scene in Brassed Off where Grimley Colliery Band take to the Saddleworth Moors to compete in the Whit Friday Marches, Amington Band is to do it for real on Friday May 28th. We hope to visit around 8 villages on the contest circuit in the course of the evening, and if possible pick up a couple of prizes en route. We hope, however, that there won't be a repeat of last year's weather (when the event was renamed Wet Friday!)

'Brassed Off' - Garrick Theatre, Lichfield April13th - 17th 2010

On Tuesday 13th of April, Amington Band made their debut performance as Grimley Colliery Band in Lichfield Players' reproduction of the hit 90's movie "Brassed Off". Months before the job in hand the band rehearsed solidly with the actors at the Glass House in Curborough and also at the Lichfield Garrick. Prior to this, we spent the afternoon of March 27th in Lichfield city centre to promote the production with a very successful outcome. On the opening night the band achieved a standing ovation and the audience loved our performance. Throughout the week all the performances were outstanding and the band got lots of good reviews in the Lichfield, Tamworth and Birmingham papers, with a 5-star verdict from the Birmingham Mail.

We had a great experience working with such lovely people; it was tiring, and a huge commitment of time and effort, but very rewarding at the end of the week. This picture shows the band rehearsing at the Glasshouse, with Steve Brunton, who played 'Danny'.

Leicestershire B.B.A. Solo, Duet and Quartet contest Sunday April 11 2010

Members of Amington band successfully competed for the third time at the Leicestershire Brass Band Association Slow Melody, Air Varie, Duet and Quartet contest on Sunday April 11 2010. The band was represented in the Open Slow Melody, Junior Air Varie, Open Duet, Open Quartet, Junior Slow Melody for 11, 12, 13 & 15 years of age and Open Air Varie contests.
Emma Morris (Flugel Horn) picked up the first medal of the day winning the Junior Slow Melody with a very musical performance of "Concierto D'Aranjuez". This was a fantastic achievement as , at 12 years of age, Emma was one of the younger entrants and this was her first solo contest.
A silver medal was achieved in the Open Duet section with Peter Groves and Rebecca Stonehouse (Cornets) taking this placing for the second time with their performance of "A Better World".
Finally a bronze medal was collected by Stephanie Morris, Rebecca Stonehouse, Emma Lock and Kate Brookes in the Open Quartet section, who performed Donizetti's "Lucrezia Borgia".
Other competitors included Charlotte Groves, Wes Kendrick and Ria Whyman who all played superbly and were good ambassadors for the band.
Thanks to the L.B.B.A. for a well run and enjoyable day, we are looking forward to competing again in October!

Butlins Mineworkers Contest 28th Jan 2010

A cold rainy weekend in Skegness, but rewarded by yet another 'Podium' place!

"The high standard of playing from the main prizewinners was also shown with the warm sounds from Amington who claimed third place. With admirable ensemble detail and control their musical picture was well paced and complimented with clean solo lines from solo cornet through to Eb bass." (4barsrest.com)

A trip to Skegness may not be uppermost in most peoples minds in January, but that is exactly what Amington Band did on the weekend of January 22nd to 24th, to compete in the Butlins Mineworkers Contest 2010. Travelling by coach on the Friday evening, we arrived at the venue late in the evening to find that we had a long walk in the rain from where the coach was allowed to drop us to our chalets on the other side of the complex. Not a good start, but we maintained our good spirits and soon we were settled in and enjoying a late (but not too late) drink in one of the bars.

The next morning saw us up bright and early to rehearse at a local college before returning to Butlins to await our turn to perform. The piece had taken a great deal of careful rehearsal in the leadup to the contest and we were confident we could put up a good reading. After our performance, the composer, Tom Moss, was on hand to congratulate us (as he did with every band) and we retired to await the results. 3rd place in a contest with a selection of bands from all over the country was a result we were very pleased with.

The rest of the weekend was a great social experience for us,and we returned home on Sunday after listening to a fantastic Championship Section entertainment contest in the morning. Altogether a great weekend and one which we may very well repeat.

Leicester BBA Solo and Quartet Competition

Our second visit to this well run competition and our youngsters (and one or two not so young) do well once more.

The prizewinners show off their prizes!

On the 4th of October 2009 several of our youngsters (and one or two not so young) made their second appearence in the prizes at Leicestershire Brass Band Association’s solo, duet and quartet competition! Once again the Quartet (Emma Lock, Rebecca Stonehouse, Kate Brookes and Steph Morris) took 1st prize in their section. Amington also had victories in the open duet section. Emma Morris (aged just 11!) and Helen Turburfield’s flugel duet won 1st place, followed by Rebecca Stonehouse and Peter Groves' cornet duet achieving 2nd place! Success all round for Amington!

Midland Regional Contest, 2008.

After 2 years of top 3 finishes without getting the main prize, today at Bedworth it finally happened - "In first position with 179pts, the band that played 21st, Amington", CHAMPIONS!