Carlton Brass

We have neglected to post anything here recently so this post is to summarise events of the year since the summer and changes to the band and its members and to look ahead towards events of the new year 2026 which we are hoping will be a big year for Carlton Brass!

It has been a great year overall. Back in March we won the Midlands Regional 2nd section championship with a great performance in Bedford to win through to the national finals. We then had a productive summer of engagements with performances in Lambley’s party in the Park and at the Nottingham Arboretum being highlights.

The band completed its summer engagements in August and then started preparations for the National Finals in Cheltenham in September. The test piece was Adam Zero, a ballet, originally composed by Arthur Bliss in 1945, and later distilled into a concert suite by the composer himself. It is from this orchestral suite that a shortened version has been created and arranged for brass band by Robert Childs.

It was an interesting challenge not least because of the many different time signatures and dynamic challenges in playing an orchestral piece in a brass band.

The band equipped itself well and achieved a creditable 11th out of 19. We were disappointed not to be in the top 6 but we had a great weekend in Cheltenham and managed to fit in a social event to celebrate our qualification whilst there.

We have also had a new conductor and a few changes in personnel around the stands during the year.

Matt Ludford-King came in as the new conductor before the summer to take us through the summer programme and then onto the nationals. In addition we have had some new players arrive and a couple of long standing members step away from the band. Matteo on percussion has added to our French contingent (now two, including Clement on cornet) and Martin has joined on back row cornet. Peter Hayter (previously in his own words, 2nd second horn) has stepped up to the Solo Horn position.

Unfortunately Geoff Hawley has stepped back from the band for health reasons leaving the Solo Horn seat vacant. Also stepping back for health reasons have been longstanding member Ken Dunkin on 2nd baritone and very sadly Dave Rutt on flugel has had to take a break with a major health problem although amazingly he has been able to attend a few rehearsals despite his major medical treatments. John Bailey on 1st baritone also stepped down so John Newberry (previously on euph then Eb bass) kindly agreed to switch instruments again and move to the 1st Baritone seat.

As we go into the new year we do have a vacant seat on 2nd Baritone but otherwise have a full band but we are always willing to see new faces and welcome any motivated players who would like to join.

We will compete again in the 2nd section this year but with strong hope we can return to the 1st section with a good result at the regionals in March. We’ve had a few changes to the committee to with a renewed enthusiasm to make things happen in 2026!