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."