End of Year Treat from Newstead Brass

Newstead Brass will mark the end of another successful year with their annual ‘Newstead Plays (more than) Big Band’ concert on Friday December 30th at 8.00pm at the Newstead Centre.
2011 has seen the band consolidate its position as the highest North Midlands band in the 4barsrest world rankings, support a number of local and national charities and release a new CD ‘Goldcrest’.

Musical director Duncan Beckley will lead Newstead Brass through a selection of music made famous by the likes of Ted Heath, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Glen Miller as well as more modern swingers such as Michael Buble and other foot-tapping tunes from the band’s varied repertoire.

A band spokesman added, “Most bands take a break after Christmas, but we enjoyed celebrating the end of the millennium so much in December 1999 we’ve made this end-of-year fun concert night an annual part of our programme. This year’s concert celebrates another good year for the band and everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy an evening that’s sure to play a great part in their new year celebrations.”

The Newstead Centre is on Tilford Road in Newstead, near the railway station. Admission is just £3 payable at the door. Advance tickets can be reserved by calling 0115 952 7435 or via the secure 'www.ticketsource.co.uk' website.

Packed Church enjoys ‘Sounds like Christmas’

A packed Hucknall Parish Church enjoyed Newstead Brass’ annual ‘Sounds Like Christmas’ concert, with guests Bestwood Male Voice Choir, on Monday December 19th, with chairs being borrowed from two other venues to allow all the audience to be seated!

Newstead Brass and Bestwood Male Voice choir, conducted by musical directors Duncan Beckley and Mirek Russ respectively, provided a varied and high class programme including popular and lesser-known seasonal favourites with Newstead Brass featuring several soloists. The first half closed to rapturous applause with Newstead Brass performing ‘Finest Hour’, a new composition by Dan Price which opens with speeches of Winston Churchill and ‘Eric Coates ‘Calling All Workers’ and ends with his famous ‘Dambusters’ march. There was also the opportunity for the audience to join in three carols with the band and choir. ‘Finest Hour’ is one of the tracks on Newstead Brass new CD ‘Goldcrest’ available via the band website for £11 including delivery.

A band spokesman said, “It’s great that so many people wanted to come and see the band and choir and we apologise if anyone was inconvenienced by only having a restricted view or having to stand whilst extra chairs were collected from the John Godber Centre and Central Methodist Church and we express our thanks to both venues.”

Newstead Brass will mark the end of another successful year with their annual ‘Newstead Plays (more than) Big Band’ concert on Friday December 30th at 8.00pm at the Newstead Centre. The concert will again feature music made famous by the likes of Ted Heath, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Glen Miller as well as music associated with the ‘Rat Pack’ and more modern swingers such as Michael Buble.

A band spokesman added, “Most bands take a break after Christmas, but we enjoyed celebrating the end of the millennium so much in December 1999 we’ve made this end-of-year fun concert night an annual part of our programme and everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy an evening that’s sure to play a great part in their new year celebrations.”

Admission is just £3 payable at the door. Advance tickets can be reserved by calling 0115 952 7435 or via the band website

Newstead Brass launch Coates-linked CD in time for Christmas

Newstead Brass’ new CD recording ‘Goldcrest’, which features a new piece based on the themes of Hucknall born composer Eric Coates, is now available and, alongside their seasonal concerts, provides another reason to celebrate the exciting sound of brass this Christmas.

‘Goldcrest’ was recorded at Hucknall Central Methodist Church in October by Hucknall based Ben Marshall from Direct Recording Services, and shows Newstead Brass’ versatility with a range of music typical of their concert programmes. As well as transcriptions from classical and established composers there are also world-premiere recordings of two contrasting pieces from Dan Price, including ‘Finest Hour’ which uses musical themes from local composer Eric Coates.

The CD can be purchased from the band website, (cost £10 + £1 p&p), from Hucknall Central Methodist Church this Saturday Morning (17th December) between 10.00 and 12 noon, or at the band’s Christmas and New Year concerts. These include ‘Christmas at The Proms’ supporting the NSPCC at Epperstone Village Hall on Friday 16th December at 7.30 pm, ‘Carols in Brass’ at St Wilfrid’s Church, Kirkby, on Sunday 18th December at 6.00 pm and ‘Sounds Like Christmas’ at St Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Hucknall on Monday 19th December at 7.30 pm, which will also feature guests Bestwood Male Voice Choir. Ticket details are on the band website or can be obtained by calling 0115 952 7435.

Newstead Brass have also confirmed their annual ‘Newstead Plays (more than) Big Band’ night will take place at the Newstead Centre on Friday December 30th at 8.00 pm. Tickets cost £3 and will be on sale at all Christmas concerts or by calling 0115 952 7435.

Hucknall Christmas Tree Festival 2011

A black and gold tree (reflecting the band's colours) will be one of around 50 exhibits at the 2011 Hucknall Christmas Tree Festival taking place at the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Market Place from Wednesday 7th to Saturday 10th December.

The festival opens at 6 pm on Wednesday and continues form 10-12, 2-4 and 6-8 on Thursday and Friday with the final chance to visit on Saturday morning. There is free admission and light refreshments are available.

The band's 2010 tree 'Band of Angels' (shown right) was one of the prize-winning entries. This year's tree takes the theme 'Music Everywhere' reflecting the wide variety of venues the band play at and the imminent release of the band’s new CD ‘Goldcrest’.

Newstead Brass will present their 'Sounds Like Christmas' at the church on Monday 19th December at 7.30 pm with special guests Bestwood Male Voice Choir.

Newstead Brass Announce Christmas Presence

Hucknall is set to host a musical Christmas feast as two of the area's top amateur music groups come together for Newstead Brass’ annual "Sounds Like Christmas" concert at St Mary Magdalene parish church on Monday December 19th at 7.30 pm.

Newstead Brass and musical director Duncan Beckley will be joined by the popular Bestwood Male Voice choir. There will also be carols for the audience. Tickets cost £5 (accompanied children under 12 free) and can be purchased via the band website (www.newsteadband.org.uk/events.html), from band and choir members, or reserved by calling 0115 952 7435.

A band spokesman added, “We’re delighted to once again complete our Christmas programme with a concert at Hucknall Parish Church. Even though the band relocated from Hucknall to Newstead over 20 years ago, the ‘Byron story’ ensures we retain strong links with the town with regular concerts as well as leading the annual remembrance parade.

Other highlights of Newstead’s Christmas programme include the Gedling Borough Council Civic Carol Service at St Paul’s Church, Daybrook, on December 10th (7.00 pm, collection for mayor's charities) and ‘Christmas Brass at The Proms’ at Epperstone Village Hall on Friday December 16th at 7.30 pm (Tickets £12.50 in aid of NSPCC from 07792 341557).

The band’s new CD ‘Goldcrest’ will also be available at all of these concerts. Recording took place at Hucknall Central Methodist Church in October and the finished CD is due to be available by early December, just in time for Christmas present lists!

Web Site Changes

Do not adjust your monitors!

The band website has undergone a bit of cleansing to hopefully give it a contemporary look and make it easier to find key information. The 'Events' area has been changed to make it easier to find ticket details and provide 'on-line' booking for some of our concerts. The 'buy' area has also been put in place ready for our new CD 'Goldcrest' due for release in the next couple of weeks or so.

Keep coming back to look for changes, or register on the 'home' screen for occasional e-mails about the band's activities.

Gedling Festival of Remembrance Cancelled

Newstead Brass regret that the Mayor of Gedling has cancelled this year's Gedling Festival of Remembrance due to take place on November 19th. The band were notified of this decision on November 1st and no other details have been provided. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Newstead Brass gave a very successful 'Poppy Appeal' concert at Loughborough on November 2nd and will be leading parades in Hucknall and Kilburn on Remembrance Sunday. The band will also be performing at the Gedling Civic Carol Service on December 10th.

Why not take the opportunity to see our friend's James Stretton and Iain Jackson present 'Brassed Up!' at Needwood, near Burton on Trent? See the other events page on the website for details.

Newstead Brass Complete CD Recording

Newstead Brass and musical director Duncan Beckley have been working hard over the weekend recording tracks for their new CD, due to be available by early December, just in time for your Christmas present lists!

Working with Ben Marshall from Direct Recording Services, the band spent over 5 hours on the afternoons of each of Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd October recording a variety of pieces designed to appeal to our regular concert audiences and win new admirers.16 tracks were recorded in all, although due to technical constraints not all may make it onto the final release. The selection includes a salvation army march, a hymn tune, two pieces each from young composers Paul Lovatt-Cooper and Dan Price, music from chart, stage and screen and featuring the bands acclaimed soloists.

Our thanks to all at Hucknall Central Methodist Church for use of the church to record, Rob Bushnell for his invaluable input and support, and friends from the brass band world who joined us to make the weekend go so smoothly.

Final track listings and release details will appear on the website over the next few weeks so keep checking back!

Bolsover 2011 Photo Gallery Available

Photographs of Newstead Brass performing at the Bolsover Festival of Brass are now available on the Events Bolsover 2011 page of the website. Photos taken by Andy Devereux of DevMac.

‘Super Playing’ as Newstead Entertain Again

‘Super Playing’ described Newstead Brass’ performance as they retained the ‘Best Ex-Colliery Band' trophy and took runners-up position in the championship section of the Bolsover Festival of Brass held at St Mary’s College, Spinkhill in Derbyshire on Sunday 11th September.

Billed by the organisers as the ‘Great Britain’s largest brass band entertainment contest’, the festival featured 28 bands each performing a 20 minute ‘concert style’ programme to a large audience, including civic representatives from across the region.

Seven bands took part in the championship section, judged by Alan Morrison, former principal cornet with the Grimethorpe and Brighouse & Rastrick Bands. He complimented all the bands in the section on their playing and choice of music but emphasised that the three prize-winning bands had shown a consistently high standard of playing throughout their programme. His summary of Newstead’s performance, conducted by musical director Duncan Beckley was ‘A super programme that was so well organised and directed. High entertainment value in a range of styles that was thoroughly enjoyed.’

Newstead were awarded the Wilson Bowden Developments Runners-Up Trophy and the award for the highest placed ex-colliery band. Top prize went to the Jaguar Land Rover Band from Warwickshire and third place to the Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) Band from Shropshire.

A band spokesman commented, “We’re delighted to have finished in the top two at this festival for the third year running, an endorsement of the band’s quality and entertainment value which concert audiences can depend on.”

Local fans can hear ‘Newstead brass’ this Saturday (September 17th) in ‘Brass and Voices at the Palace’ featuring Newstead Brass, Eastwood Collieries Male Voice Choir, Derbyshire saxophone quartet ‘Imperfect Fifth’ and ‘Four Tubby Tubas’, a top prize winning ensemble from the University of Salford, one of the leading colleges for brass musicians.

Tickets are now on sale, priced at £8, (£7 concessions) from the Mansfield Palace Theatre box office on 01623 633133.

Newstead Brass on National Television

A short clip of Newstead Brass performing at the 2010 'Headstock Festival' was included in episode 5 of the BBC1 series 'Village SOS' broadcast on Sunday September 4th 2011.

"Sarah Beeny follows a passionate group of locals as they spend a year trying to rescue their community. When the residents of Newstead in Nottinghamshire applied for a grant from the Big Lottery Fund to transform a disused mining pit tip into a country park they had no idea what was in store."

You can watch the episode on the BBC i-player until 25th September. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014b7f5#synopsis for more details. [Newstead Brass appear at around 29 mins 10 seconds into the programme...]

Newstead Brass Are Blooming Wonderful!

‘The best entertainment we’ve ever had’ was a frequent comment from delegates to the annual assembly of NAFAS, the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies, when Newstead Brass performed for them at Nottingham University on Tuesday August 23rd.

The band, with guest conductor James Stretton, gained a host of new admirers with a typical Newstead Brass programme demonstrating once again the band’s ability to provide entertainment matched by few other ensembles. High quality playing from the band and soloists enhanced by effective presentation and choreography received a deserved standing ovation, even if the ‘Floral Dance’ was the obvious encore for an evening which will long be remembered by the band and audience.

Newstead Brass Set for Palace Appointment

Award winning Newstead Brass lead the bill for an evening of musical variety at the Mansfield Palace Theatre on Saturday September 17th.

‘Brass and Voices at the Palace’ features leading local and national musical groups as Newstead Brass are joined by Eastwood Collieries Male Voice Choir, Derbyshire saxophone quartet ‘Imperfect Fifth’ and ‘Four Tubby Tubas’, a top prize winning ensemble from the University of Salford, one of the leading colleges for brass musicians.

This event follows on from the critically acclaimed and audience pleasing production of ’Brassed Off’ by the Mansfield Community Theatre Group with Newstead Brass at the Mansfield Palace Theatre earlier this year.

Tickets are now on sale, priced at £8, (£7 concessions) from the Mansfield Palace Theatre box office on 01623 633133.

Newstead Brass Fired up for Festival Fireworks

There’s Swing, Skiffle and the finest in brass lined up for the fantastic FREE ‘Picnic in Crossley Park’, part of the Ripley Music Festival, on Saturday July 16th commencing at 7.15 pm and ending with a Firework Finale accompanied by live music from the award winning Newstead Brass band.

The concert will begin with young musicians from South East Derbyshire Music Centre Swing Band followed by skiffle stars ‘Please Y Self’ who have been entertaining audiences around the world for over 30 years. Newstead Brass will entertain with a range of Classic Rock and lively recent brass compositions before leading the audience in a couple of ‘last night of proms’ favourites.

The concert closes with Newstead Brass’ musical accompaniment to the ‘Firework Finale’ as dusk falls across the park which this year has an ‘Italian Journey’ theme featuring Prokofiev’s ‘Montagues and Capulets’ (now best known as the theme music to ‘The Apprentice’) and Respighi’s ‘Pines of Rome’.

Admission is free but the audience should bring their own chairs / blankets to sit on and picnics are encouraged. Food will also be on sale from a ‘burger’ stall run by the Ripley Lions’ club with proceeds going to charity.

Picnics and Proms with Newstead Brass

Picnics are welcome as award winning Newstead Brass focus on ‘Picnics and Proms’ as their Summer concert season continues across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

This Saturday (July 2nd), Newstead Brass play a ‘Summer Proms’ night at the Radcliffe-on-Trent Golf Club, starting at 7.00pm. The event is organised by the Hilltoppers Golf Society, and proceeds will support their joint appeal with Hucknall Rotary Club to purchase a state of the art Prismaflex machine for the Children’s Intensive Care Unit at Nottingham’s Queen's Medical Centre. Tickets cost £7.50 and the audience are invited to ‘bring your picnic, chairs, flags and bunting and have a great sing song.’

On Sunday July 10th, Newstead Brass will return to the ‘Picnic in the Park’ organised by the ‘Friends of Nottingham University’ in the Millennium Garden at the university from noon until 3.00 pm. As well as music by the band, the free event also includes Rocket Making, Pond Dipping and Birds of Prey demonstration.

Newstead Brass complete their Picnics and Proms, which began on June 25th with the annual ‘Picnic in the Park’ at Hayes Farm in Newstead to support the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children, with the ‘Picnic in Crossley Park’ at Ripley on Saturday July 16th. Newstead Brass will be joined by the skiffle group ‘Please Y Self’ for the annual free event which forms part of the Ripley Music Festival and will conclude with a firework display accompanied by live music from Newstead Brass.

Newstead Getting Brassed Off!

Newstead Brass are getting ‘Brassed Off’ as they join with the Mansfield Palace Community Theatre group this week for four performances of the heart-warming tale of ‘Gloria and the Grimley Colliery Band’. The play has been adapted by Paul Allen from the famous film screenplay by Mark Herman.

The story is one the Newstead band can well relate to after they were forced to relocate from Hucknall to Newstead in 1988 following closure of local collieries and associated miners welfares. Many of the band’s players also took part in the professional national tour of ‘Brassed Off’ in 1999.

A band spokesman commented, “Newstead Brass are always keen to work with local community groups and this looks like being a great production which will hopefully introduce the band to new audiences.”

Performances take place at the Mansfield Palace Theatre (Leeming Street, NG18 1NG) from Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th June at 7.30 pm each evening with a 2.30 pm matinee on Saturday. Tickets cost £6.50 each and can be obtained by calling 01623 633133 or www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre.

Brass Premiere for Byron Festival

Newstead Brass are set to give the premiere of ‘A Nottinghamshire Suite’ as part of a concert for the International Byron Festival in Hucknall tonight (June 4th).

The piece has been composed by band member Andrew Stevenson and depicts ‘Sherwood Forest’, ‘War of the Roses’ and ‘Newstead Abbey’.

A band spokesman commented, “The Byron Festival seems a very apt opportunity to premiere Andrew’s first extended work for the band, particularly as Newstead Abbey was Byron’s family home."

The concert is being held in the Lovelace Theatre within the John Godber Centre on Ogle Street in Hucknall, commencing at 7.30 pm and tickets cost £5 each.

The concert comes at a busy time for Newstead Brass, which was recently placed fifth in the ‘All England Masters International Brass Band Championships’. Next week (June 9th to 11th) the band will appear with Mansfield Community Theatre in ‘Brassed Off’ at the Mansfield Palace Theatre. Performances take place at 7.30 pm each evening with a matinee on Saturday afternoon. Contact the box office on 01623 633133 for ticket details.

Newstead Brass show class in English Masters

Newstead Brass recorded another impressive contest result with a top five finish in the prestigious ‘All England Masters International Brass Band Championships’ held at Kettering’s Lighthouse Theatre on Sunday May 29th.

20 bands from across England, Wales. North America, Belgium and Denmark accepted invitations to take part in the contest. Adjudicators David Read, Dennis Wilby and Ronald Holz found much to praise in the band’s performance of the specially commissioned test piece ‘Gemini’ by Darrol Barry and awarded the band, conducted by Musical Director Duncan Beckley, fifth place. First prize went to British Open champions Tredegar with Midlands champions Virtuosi GUS taking the runners up spot.

Newstead Brass’ next performances is on Saturday June 4th at 7.30 pm at Hucknall’s John Godber Centre for the International Byron Festival (Tickets £5, call 0115 9639633). The band are also appearing with Mansfield Community Theatre in ‘Brassed Off’ at the Mansfield Palace Theatre from 9th to 11th June (Tickets £6, call 01623 633133) and for ‘Picnic in the Park’ at Hayes Farm on Saturday 25th of June in support of the ‘Friends of Chernobyl’s Children’(Call 0115 9639434 for details).

Newstead Brass are also collecting vouchers for the Nottingham Post ‘Cash for your Community’ scheme. Vouchers can be donated at band appearances.

Help Newstead Share in £35,000 Cash Giveaway

Newstead Brass are one of 300 local organisations set to benefit from a share of the Nottingham Post's £35,000 ‘Cash for your Community’ campaign.

The £35,000 will be shared based on how many coupons each group collect from the newspaper between Wednesday, May 25 and Friday, June 17.

The more coupons we collect, the more money we will receive.

Please collect as many coupons. Pass them to a band member, bring them to our concert on June 4th or 'Brassed Off' from June 9th to 11th, drop them in the collecting box at the Newstead Centre or ring 0115 9527435.

Grand visit to Blackpool

Newstead Brass consolidated their position amongst the country's leading brass bands with a mid-table finish in the Grand Shield qualifying contest for the 'British Open Brass Band Championships held in Blackpool on May 14th 2012.

Drawn to play second of 20 competitors facing the immense musical challenges of Hermann Pallhuber's 'Titan's Progress' , adjudicators David Read and Frank Renton complemented the band and musical director Duncan Beckley' for 'many good things' in the performance, but in a highly competitive event Newstead were placed 15th overall. The top 2 bands (Reg Vardy and Flowers) gained promotion to the British Open Championships at Birmingham's Symphony Hall in September.

A spokesperson added, "The band played well on a tremendously difficult piece. Although we're disappointed in the final placing, this was a solid performance from the band and confirms our status in the Grand Shield, a fantastic record for a community based band dependent on income from subscriptions and engagements to finance its contest activities."

Newstead’s Brass Converts to Pounds for Charities

An ‘Evening Music and Song’ helped raise over £1,750 for the Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People and Nottingham Emmanuel House Day Centre for the homeless.

Newstead Brass, the North Midland’s leading brass band were joined by Lucy Hall (Soprano) and Andy Ward (Tenor) for the concert at Beeston’s Chilwell Road Methodist Church on Saturday April 16th. The concert was introduced by broadcaster Colin Slater MBE and promoted by the Stapleford and Sandiacre Rotary Club with financial support from Paul Clements Shelton & Co, Baldwin Cox, Ideas Kitchens and Westerman builders.

A large and appreciative audience, including visitors from Germany, enjoyed a varied high quality programme from the band and the two vocal soloists, accompanied by Karen Sneade. Music performed ranged from orchestral and operatic classics to twenty-first century compositions and ended with the audience joining all the performers for ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Jerusalem’.

After celebrating St George’s Day at a private event for members of the Kirkby U3A, Newstead brass’ focus now moves to the ‘British Open Spring Festival’ and ’English Masters’ brass band competitions taking place in May as well as preparing for a busy series of summer concerts including the International Byron Festival at Hucknall’s John Godber Centre on June 4th and joining with Mansfield Community Theatre to perform ‘Brassed Off’ at the Mansfield Palace theatre from June 9th to 11th.

James at home as he takes the baton

With musical director Duncan Beckley taking advantage of the school holidays for a well deserved short break, Newstead Brass were pleased to welcome Kirkby-in-Ashfield based James Stretton to conduct the band for the first, but hopefully not last, time at a private St George's Day dinner for the Kirkby-in-Ashfield Univeristy of the Third Age (U3A) group.

James will be familiar to those who attended the band's New Years concert through his multi-instrumental touring performances of 'Brassed Up'. Some of his 'Brassed Up' videos can be found on this Newstead brass news page.

Newstead Brass hoping for Rainbows' Pot of Gold

Newstead Brass are aiming for a pot of gold when they perform later this month to support both the Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People and Emmanuel House Day Centre for the homeless. An ‘Evening Music and Song’, at Chilwell Road Methodist Church in Beeston on Saturday April 16th at 7.30 pm will feature Newstead Brass, Lucy Hall (Soprano) and Andy Ward (Tenor). Broadcaster Colin Slater MBE will compere the event which is promoted by the Stapleford and Sandiacre Rotary Club. Tickets cost £7.50 from the venue (0115 9431164) or at the door. A band spokesman added, “We’re pleased to be supporting the Stapleford and Sandiacre Rotary Club in this annual event alongside two very fine vocalists. The concert will feature a wide variety of music with something to appeal to everyone with two very worthwhile causes set to benefit.”

Consistent Newstead Brass miss out on National Finals

Newstead Brass’ consistent high standards saw the band retain their position as one of the Midlands top brass bands with fourth place at the Midland’s Championships for a second consecutive year, narrowly missing out on qualification for the National Brass Band Championship finals.

76 bands took part in this year’s Midland championships, with 12, including Newstead, in the highest ‘championship’ section. Adjudicators Philip Harper and Peter Bassano spoke in detail about the test piece, ‘Paganini Variations’ by Philip Wilby, and what they and the composer were looking for in the music, with the best performances not only meeting the technical demands of the music but also reflect ‘the wild and romantic spirit of Paganini’s life’. Two national finals qualification places were available and these went to the Virtuosi GUS band (Northamptonshire) and runners-up Thoresby Colliery. Third place went to Desford Colliery leaving Newstead in fourth place.

Each band also received written remarks from the judges, with Newstead’s performance drawing particular praise for musical director Duncan Beckley. Comments included ‘[a] thoughtful, well considered reading, wonderfully played’ and ‘a performance with a super musicality to it.’

A band spokesperson commented ‘Our good wishes to all the bands that will represent the Midlands in the National finals this autumn. Particular thanks and congratulations to those bands that supported our Test Piece Festival at the Newstead Centre in February. The Hathern Band, finished as runners up in section 1 and qualify for the finals and Shirebrook band finished fourth in section 2, narrowly missing out on a finals place.’

Newstead Brass will still be making a visit to the National Championships this year, as they will be joining with Mansfield Community Theatre in June of this year for performances of ‘Brassed Off’, the play in which the Grimley Colliery brass are determined to win the British Championship at the Albert Hall.

Duncan Beckley wins Yorkshire Championships

Congratulations to Newstead's musical director Duncan Beckley on leading Horbury Victoria band to first place in section 3 of the Yorkshire regional brass band championships at Bradford's St George's Hall on Sunday March 6th.

Horbury played first of the 12 entrants and stayed in the lead to take first place and qualify for the National finals at Cheltenham in September.

The set piece was 'A Little Night Music' by Philip Wilby. Newstead Brass and Duncan Beckley will be hoping for a repeat next Sunday, March 13th, when they take part in the championship section of the Midlands regional championships on another Philip Wilby piece, 'Paganini Variations.'

Fine Feedback for Festival Five

Over 250 players, supporters and brass enthusiasts joined together at the Newstead Centre on Sunday, February 27th, for the ‘Midland Area Test Piece Festival’ when five of the North Midland area’s prize winning brass bands performed the five pieces of music set for the regional qualifying rounds of the 2011 National Brass Band Championships.

Hosts Newstead Brass under musical director Duncan Beckley played the championship set piece, ‘Paganini Variations’ and were joined by Hathern (David Newman, section 1, ‘Carnival Romain’), Shirebrook (Mark Wilcockson, section 2, ‘Resurgam’), Long Eaton (Sharon Stansfield, section 3, ‘A Little Night Music’) and Whitwell (Lynden Cooper, section 4, ‘Prelude, Song and Dance’). Each band also played a hymn tune setting of its own choice.

Experienced adjudicator John Roberts listened to all the performances and gave feedback to the bands and audience on what he had heard. He complemented all the bands, conductors and soloists on the standard of playing achieved, indicating that they should all do well at the forthcoming Midlands Championships in Bedworth on March 12th and 13th. He also gave advice on further improvements each band could make in the remaining two weeks of rehearsals and announced his ‘best soloist’ of the night as Jayne Jones, principal euphonium of the Shirebrook Band.

A Newstead band spokesperson said, “Our thanks to the trustees and staff of the Newstead Centre for helping to make this possible, the bands and conductors for their preparation and participation and all those who came along to listen, including many who may never have heard brass band contest music before. Good luck to all the participating bands at the ‘area’.”

Five to Feature in Festival Brass

Five of the North Midland area’s prize winning brass bands will feature in a ‘Midland Area Test Piece Festival’ next Sunday, February 27th featuring the music set for the regional qualifying round of the National Brass Band Championships.

Hosts Newstead Brass will be joined by bands from Hathern, Long Eaton, Shirebrook and Whitwell at the Newstead Centre, on Tilford Road (NG15 0BU near the railway station) with the first performance at 7.00 pm.

Admission costs just £1 at the door and everyone is welcome to come along. There will be a bar and refreshments available.

A Newstead band spokesman said, “This event is a great chance for both brass followers and those with a more general musical interest to come along and experience some classic pieces from the brass band repertoire.”

For more details please see www.newsteadband.co.uk/tpfestival11.html

Website technical issues

Apologies for the disruption to the www.newsteadband.co.uk website on Monday and Tuesday 21st and 22nd February. This was due to changes to our web-hosting package which have now been completed and normal service has (hopefully) been resumed.

Newstead Make Contest Progress with Titans

Newstead Brass opened their 2011 contest season with a solid performance at the prestigious ‘Brass at the Guild’ competition which attracted 40 bands to the Preston Guild Hall on Sunday February 6th.

Newstead played 4th of the 12 bands in the ‘Championship Section’ and chose to give an early run-out to Titan’s Progress by Hermann Pallhuber, the set piece for this year’s Grand Shield competition at Blackpool in May. This immensely challenging piece, based on a theme by Mahler, was originally used at the British Open Brass Band Championship finals in 2009.

Musical director Duncan Beckley led a good performance by the band which drew positive comments from many in the audience and was awarded 6th place by adjudicator David Horsfield. Top prize went to Pemberton Old Wigan DW with runners up Felling from the north-east and the third prize to the Hammonds Saltaire band.

Our special thanks to former principal euphonium Simon Rotchell who returned at less than a week’s notice to stand in for Lynden Cooper, recovering from a recent road accident, as well as Rob, John and Minesh who helped us for this event.

The band now focus on the Midlands area championships in March and the test piece preview evening at the Newstead Centre from 7.00 pm on Sunday February 27th when Newstead will be joined by bands from Hathern, Long Eaton, Shirebrook and Whitwell with each band playing the music set for its grade of the championship as well a hymn tune.

Festival to Feature Championship Brass

There’s a chance for local music fans to hear some of the best in brass band music when the Midland Area Test Piece Festival takes place at the Newstead Centre on Sunday, February 27th with five different bands performing the music set for the Midland region of the National Brass Band Championships.

The event will feature hosts Newstead Brass together with bands from Hathern, Long Eaton, Shirebrook and Whitwell. Each band will play the music set for its grade of the championship as well a hymn tune and receive feedback on their performance from experienced brass band adjudicator Mr John Roberts.

The first band will play at 7.00 pm with each band following on at approximately half hourly intervals. Admission costs just £1 at the door and everyone is welcome to come along. There will be a bar and refreshments available.

A Newstead band spokesman said, “The music for this year’s championships is challenging to the players but accessible to a non-brass band audience with music by 20th century composers Philip Wilby (including his ‘Paganini Variations’ based on the famous melody from his 24th Caprice ) and John Golland, Salvationist Eric Ball and the brass band transcription of Berlioz’s ‘Carnival Romain’. It’s a great chance for both brass followers and those with a more general musical interest to come along and experience some classic pieces from the brass band repertoire.”

The Newstead Centre is on Tilford Road, Newstead, Nottinghamshire, NG15 0BU near the railway station.

Around 80 bands will compete in the Midland region brass band championships in Bedworth over the weekend of 12th and 13th March with the winners progressing to the national finals in London and Harrogate in the autumn.

For more information on the music to be played, see the test piece festival page of the website.

New look for Newstead brass website

2011 has started with a minor face lift for the band website which will hopefully make it easier to use and faster to find the information you need about how to book the band or find out where we're performing.

Most pages now give details of coming events and the home page now has a link to the band's facebook page plus a special area for messages for band players. The News page has been enhanced with for latest UK band news headlines from 4barsrest and videos of both Newstead Brass and our friends Jim and Ian from 'Brassed Up'. Future plans include more photographs of the band, band history and a guestbook for audience feedback.

If you have any comments on the changes, please mail news@newsteadband.co.uk

Full House Enjoy Newstead New Year Treat

Newstead Brass and their musical director Duncan Beckley entertained a ‘full house’ when ‘Newstead Played Big Band’ at the Newstead Centre on Sunday, January 2nd 2011 with the capacity audience also enjoying the music of ‘Brassed Up’ and the ‘Imperfect Fifth’ saxophone quartet and celebrating the winners of the band’s 2010 awards.

Newstead brass’ selections focussed on big band favourites and featured many of the band’s soloists – Dave Bird (Soprano), Kirk Turner, Blake Tague, Andrew Stevenson (cornets), Michael Cordon (Flugel), Sandra Kowalenko (Horn), Claire Taylor (trombone) and Lynden Cooper (Euphonium). The second half of the programme saw both band and musical director appear dressed as ‘Heroes and Villains’ with the programme including suitable music from Phantom of the Opera, Batman and James Bond adding to the occasion.

James Stretton (brass multi-instrumentalist) and Iain Jackson (piano) performed some of their ‘Brassed Up’ programme and ‘wowed’ the audience with Jazz and updated classical transcriptions including ‘The Barber of Seville’ played by Jim on 13 different brass instruments and the piano.  Videos of 'Brassed Up' are now available on the right hand side of the 'news' page of the Newstead website.

‘Imperfect Fifth’ performed as a saxophone quartet and these talented young musicians, who met at the South East Derbyshire Music Centre, enhanced their growing reputation with rag, jazz and swing selections.

The evening also included the presentation of the band’s annual awards including thanks for Lynden Cooper (bandmaster and concert compere) and Melanie Cooper (band manger) for their work throughout 2010. Duncan Beckley’s award was shared between Mike Allcock and Carol Hanson for their ‘behind the scenes’ work throughout the year and the ‘players player of the year’ went to Kirk Turner (principal cornet).

A band spokesman added, “We’ve made this end-of-year fun concert night an annual part of our programme each year since December 1999, but this year’s concert was one of the best so far.”