News

HELLESDON & SPROWSTON BRASS

of Norwich in the County of Norfolk

9th May 2010 - EABBA Contest

The 72nd East Anglian Brass Band Association Contest took place at St Andrews Hall, Norwich. Hellesdon and Sprowston entered the 'B' section gaining 3rd place trophies for both the Hymn Tune and the Entertainments section.

Each competing band played a 25 minute entertainment programme. The music was of the bands own chosing, but consisting of a Hymn tune. H&S brass played:

        "Death or Glory" (R. B. Hall)
        "Crimond" (Arr Goff Richards)
        "The Way We Were" (Hamlisch Arr Barry) - Euphonium Soloist Jim Windley
        "One Moment in Time (Hammond & Bettis, arr Bernaerts)
        "Hine e Hine" (Arr P Graham)
        "The Conquest of Paradise" (Vangelis, arr Alan Fernie)

Click here to see the full results for all sections.
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11th & 15th December 2009 - Christmas Concerts.

Hellesdon and Sprowston Brass presented their 2 annual Christmas concerts, one in each of the Norwich suberbs that bear the bands name.

The first was at St Cuthberts Church, Sprowston, where the band was joined by the Framingham Earl Singers, and the second was at the Hellesdon Community Centre.

The opening item was the March "Jubilee", now establishing itself as the bands signature tune, other items included the Cornet Solo "Share My Yoke" (Soloist Geoff Walker), "Hine e Hine" (Flugel Soloist Alison Howe) and "The Conquest of Paradise". The second half featured Christmas music such as "Christmas Joy", "O Holy Night", "Rudolph Around the World", and "Merry Christmas Everybody". The audience joined in the singing of Christmas carols.

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20th Sept 2009 - Band Training Day

Hellesdon and Sprowston Brass had a band training day with conductor Michael Fowles. Members found the day both enjoyable and beneficial. Members went away with plenty of ideas on how to improve, the fruits of which will be on display at forthcoming concerts.

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7th July 2009

Andrew Skuse leaves Hellesdon and Sprowston Brass after 3 years as the principal cornet player. The band thanks Andrew for his efforts, and wishes him well as he joins Norfolk Brass. Andrews trademark was always opting to play his solos without music, this included his recent playing at the EABBA contest. Geoff Walker will take over as principal cornet player.

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14th June 2009 - Bandstand Concert at Waterloo Park, Norwich.

A blazing summers afternoon saw the band open with their standard march “Jubilee” from Paul Drury. A crowd of over a hundred made the most of both the sun and the band, a traditional bandstand event at the Waterloo Park brought the sound of brass and the buzz of a summer in the park together for both the listener and player to enjoy.

The band continued with the likes of “Mamma Mia”, a selection of songs from the soundtrack of the film and stage show alike, “All through the Night” featuring the Euphonium section and “Journey through America”. We had “Orange Juice” (as described in the film “Brassed Off” being the arrangement of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez) with the sound of the Flugel Horn of Alison Howe heard around the park.

As the sun moved round the intensity of the heat grew within the bandstand as the band continued with the traditional brass band march “Castle Coch” followed by an arrangement of the music from the film “Dances with Wolves” “Here’s to the Heroes” a Cornet solo performed by the principal cornet Andrew Skuse.

A Baritone rendition of “My love is like a red red rose” (Phillip Muskett) and music from the stage show “Les Miserables” the afternoon was brought to a close with the foot-tapping “ Amarillo ” an arrangement of the popular song originally from Neil Sedaka & Tony Christie again popularised through the comic relief edition from Peter Kay and company.

As the crowd disbursed and the band packed away the afternoon sun was still high in the sky and spirits were equally from an enjoyable Sunday afternoon in the park with the sound of a brass band on a Sunday Afternoon still evidently a well-liked event.

(Report by Andrew Skuse)

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29th May 2009 - Hethersett Concert

flower25.gif - 2.9 K The band gave a concert at Saint Remigious Church, Hethersett in support of the church's forthcoming Flower Festival. It was a warm evening as a large audience gathered to listening to the music, and to enjoy Strawberries, Cream and a glass of Wine. In keeping with theme the band played:

               "My Love is like a Red, Red Rose" (baritone soloist Philip Musket), flower27.gif - 2.1 K
               "Spring" (cornet soloist Geoff Walker),
               "The Floral Dance".

In the absence of the bands usual principal cornet player, Geoff Walker stepped up to take the top seat. The band was supported by 3 guest players, and a big thank you to them. H&S played many well known tunes throughout the evening, the highlights being :

        "Adagio from Concerto De Aranjuez", as featured in the film "Brassed Off" (Flugel Horn soloist Alison Howe),
        "I Wanna be like you", from Walt Disney's, "The Jungle Book" (Bass Trombone soloist Julia Buck)
        "Blaydon Races" (Euphonium soloist Jim Windley)
        "I Will Follow Him", from the film, "Sister Act" (Featuring the bands Trombone section)
        "Mamma Mia"
        "Bohemian Rhapsody"
        "The Lord of the Dance"
flower30.gif - 3.3 K
An enjoyable evening was had by all, and an encore of "The Floral Dance" sent the audience on their way with their feet tapping!

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10th May 2009 - EABBA Contest

The 71st annual East Anglian Brass Band Association Contest took place at St Andrews Hall, Norwich. Hellesdon and Sprowston entered the 'B' section gaining 3rd place trophies for both the Hymn Tune and the Entertainments section. In addition the band picked up a special prize for the best Euphonium in class 'B', well done to Jim Windley. (See pictures below).

Each competing band played a 25 minute entertainment programme. The music was of the bands own chosing, but consisting of a Hymn tune. H&S brass played:

        Jubilee! (Paul Drury)
        As the Deer (Martin Nystom, arr James Wright)
        Here's to the Heroes (John Barry, arr Paul Drury) - Cornet Soloist Andrew Skuse
        One Moment in Time (Hammond & Bettis, arr Frank Bernaerts)
        Lord of the Dance (Ronan Hardiman, arr Frank Bernaerts)

Miss Simone Rebello was the adjudicator on the day.

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21st April 2009 - Charity Concert.

The band gave a concert at the Hellesdon Community Centre, Norwich. This was in support of Claire Smiths fund raising effort for St John Ambulance. Claire, who is the bands Soprano cornet player, will be running the London Marathon on 26th April(*). Claire spoke about her efforts during the concert.

The evening was compared by the bands Musical Director Ian Clarke. The program was: Castell Coch, Mamma Mia, Spring, Nicaea, I Will Follow Him (Trombone feature), Cornet Carillon (Cornet trio), Journey through America, Jubilee, All through the Night, Here's to the Heroes (Cornet Soloist Andrew Skuse), Pop Goes the Canon, Goodnight Saigon, One Moment in time, Lord of the Dance.

(*) Congratulations and well done to Claire who successfully completed the course in 5h 47m 31s, finishing in 32,046th place overall, and in doing has easily beaten her target of raising £1350 for St John's