Newstead Help Make ‘Masters’ History

Newstead Brass made their debut appearance at the All-England Masters International Brass Band contest on Sunday May 30th 2010. It was a historic year for the contest as, for the first time, it was being held in the recently completed state of the art 'Lighthouse Theatre', part of the Kettering Conference Centre, having been held at the Cambridge Corn Exchange since its inception in 1989.

The change in venue gave the organisers the opportunity to refresh the contest and 22 bands from across Europe accepted the invitation to take part in this ground-breaking contest with Derby born Percy Fletcher's 'Epic Symphony', originally written for the 1926 National Championships, chosen as the set test-piece. Although Newstead and musical director Duncan Beckley gave a competent account of the piece, it only secured 17th place with top place going to the Cooperative Funeralcare band from Scotland and runners up Tredegar Town from Wales. With the Dutch Brass Band Schoonhoven taking the third podium place it was left to Northamptonshire's Virtuoisi GUS band to lead the English challenge with fourth place. Newstead did have the consolation of finishing ahead of both the Northern and London and Southern Counties champion bands.

Newstead Brass would like to thank Hucknall Central Methodist Church and their friends and supporters who attended an open rehearsal at the church on Saturday May 29th and the Rushden Windmill Band who provided rehearsal facilities (and drinks and biscuits) on Sunday Morning.

'Epic Symphony' has been described as 'Edward Elgar meets Eric Coates' and is likely to be included in the band's programme for their International Byron Festival concert at Hucknall Parish Church (where Byron is buried) on Saturday June 26th. See the tickets page for more details.