Standing Ovation at St. James'

Newstead Brass gained a standing ovation at the end of 'Music at St James'' as part of a weekend away in Cheshire and North Wales (23rd and 24th October).

A large audience enjoyed the Saturday concert at St James' Church in Christleton on the outskirts of Chester which included a variety of items from the band showing their versatility as they swapped from orchestral transcriptions to swing, rock, hymn settings and original works for brass band. The band also enjoyed their meal at the Ring O' Bells in the village and the drinks and cakes after the concert! Thank you to everyone who came along and especially those involved in organising the event.

On the Sunday the band travelled on to Prestatyn on the North wales coast to take part in the Pontin's Brass band Championships. Unfortunately the band's performance of Bram Gay's challenging transcription of 'Les Preludes' by Liszt failed to find the approval of the judges who placed the band 11th of the 15 performances. The Marsden Band from west Yorkshire took the title with former Newstead player Dale Garner taking the award for best soloist in the contest.

Headstock Festival Nominated for National Award

The HEADSTOCK music festival, which took place at the Newstead and Annesley Country Park on September 11th and was opened by Newstead Brass has been shortlisted for the 'best new festival' title in the annual UK Festival award to be presented at The O2 Arena on November 18.

The winning festival will be the one with the most public votes. To support Newstead's bid to win, please vote at uk.festivalawards.com before October 27.

Chester Song at Twilight?

Newstead Brass, winners of ‘the world’s biggest and best Festival of Brass competition’, are visiting Chester this Saturday evening as part of a busy weekend that may also see them singing ‘We do Like to be Beside the Seaside’ as they compete in Sunday’s Pontins’ National Brass Championships on the North Wales Coast.

The band visits Christleton’s St James’s Church at in Chester this Saturday, October 23rd, to present ‘Music at St James’, commencing at 7.30 pm. Musical director Duncan Beckley will lead the band and audience through a collection of light classical music, mixed with popular film scores, swing selections and rock classics! Tickets for ‘Music at St James’ cost £8 and can be obtained by calling Brenda Bailey on 01244 335034.

A band spokesman added, “It should be a special evening as a prize-winning band visits this prize-winning best kept village in Cheshire.”

The following day (Sunday 24th) Newstead Brass will continue along the A55 to compete against 13 other bands in the ‘Harry and Margaret Mortimer Championship’ section of the Pontins’ Brass Championships at Prestatyn.The band will be returning to the east midlands for a series of remembrance concerts in November.

Newstead Brass are Triple Entertainment Champions

Newstead Brass confirmed their position as the North Midland’s leading brass band winning three trophies at the Bolsover Festival of Brass held at the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton and Pinxton Village Hall, on Sunday 3rd October.


Billed by the organisers as the leading brass band event of its kind in the world, the festival featured 36 bands performing for over 9 hours across two venues, with each band performing a 20 minute ‘concert style’ programme to a large audience, including civic representatives from across the region.

David Read, adjudicator for the ‘Championship Section’, was gushing in his praise for Newstead’s performance of the varied musical programme put together by musical director Duncan Beckley which ‘clearly stood out from the remainder of the field.’

As well as the Wilson Bowden Developments Winners Trophy, Newstead also took the award for the highest placed ex-colliery band and the trophy for best soloist, presented to principal euphonium Lynden Cooper. The band will also receive a commemorative photography album celebrating the fifth anniversary of the festival.

Lynden Cooper capped a memorable day by also conducting Whitwell band to third place in section 4 of the contest.

A band spokesman commented, “After finishing as runners up in 2009, we’re delighted to have swept the board this year, a further endorsement of the band’s entertainment value which concert audiences can depend on.  Our special thanks to Dan Price who provided the band with a copy of his yet to be published arrangement of 'Lisa Lan' which was a key part of our festival programme.”

The contest was organised by Bolsover District Council, and full results can be found at http://www.bolsover.gov.uk/council-news-2010/1006-festival-of-brass-2010.html.