Carlton Brass

We did it!  We are the second section region champions after winning the regional contest in Bedford on 15th March 2025.

The test piece was Friendly Takeover by Oliver Waespi and we came first out of 14 bands in the section. The adjudicators were impressed with the performance. James Holt wrote: ‘A super reading of the score by the MD, I really enjoyed it bravo! There was lots to commend in the performance. It was stylistic, it was rhythmic and there was so much attention to detail, you really brought the music to life.’

The second adjudicator, Derek Renshaw, wrote: ‘This was a good reading by the MD and the band delivered us a quality performance’

Several players were noted out for praise. In particular the percussion section; Ollie on kit, Sarah on Timps and Rowena and George, aged 9, (pictured below) on tuned percussion were noticed. The adjudicators said ‘the band plays as one very well led by the MD, the percussion add a touch of magic’ ‘ This has such a lovely sense of control and excitement in equal measure and percussion are so effective throughout’

The soloists Dave Rutt on flugel, Andrew Allison on solo cornet and Steve Wardle, on euphonium were also singled out for praise by the adjudicators who said: ‘Lovely jazz-like style to the playing here flugel…great solo cornet..lovely euphonium here- a singing style!’

Later he comments ‘solo cornet is fantastic and accompaniment is so well handled’. He also comments at the end ‘bravo sop!’ as Steve Parker hits his top C!

Chris Banks the MD gets lots of well-deserved praise throughout the adjudication: ‘such a good reading by the MD and the band delivered in a quality performance’ and ‘a super reading of the score by the MD, I really enjoyed it bravo!’ Here he is celebrating the result below!

As a result of this win we qualify for the national finals in Cheltenham in September – we look forward to it with optimism. In the meantime we have several summer concerts to look forward to over the coming months