News - October 2010
Wychavon Win Marks New MD Team at Foresters
The band was delighted to walk away with top prize at this year's Wychavon Festival of Brass, held on Saturday 18th September in Pershore. The competition is an "entertainment contest" which means we get to choose our own selection of pieces, lasting 20 minutes.
The band was up against some top competition, with the £1,000 prize money attracting bands from round the country. The win was an unprecedented 3rd Wychavon victory for Foresters Brass 2000 in the last 6 years and was the perfect start to an exciting new partnership of conductors for the band:
Alwyn Green is continuing in his role as the band’s Resident Conductor, which means he takes us for most of our rehearsals and concerts, but Peter Collins has returned to Foresters as Professional Musical Director a year after he stepped down to concentrate on his studies. Peter will be taking the band for all competitions, and the win at Wychavon was his first time back in the middle.
Peter said: “Alwyn and I have worked very closely over the past few months and the Wychavon result is a real tribute to all that effort. I chose a programme of predominantly new music, which the adjudicator said he really appreciated. We included a brand new arrangement by Alwyn of Sorcerer’s Apprentice, specially commissioned for the contest, which went down tremendously well with the players, the audience and the adjudicator.”
Alwyn agreed: “It’s fantastic working with Foresters, they’re a great bunch and never fail to surprise me with their commitment and their enthusiasm. It’s wonderful having Pete back too – he works the players at an incredible rate and they respond so well to his work ethos”.
Band Chairman Gemma Kiddy added: “The players are all thrilled to have Pete back as Professional Musical Director – he’s been associated with the band for many years, and it feels so right to have him back at a time when we’re going from strength to strength. We think Pete’s return, coupled with Alwyn’s work - not just as resident conductor but also utilising his considerable skills as an arranger - are a winning combination. The result at Wychavon was certainly a good start to the new partnership and we’re all delighted with the outcome”.
Our winning programme was made up of: Leigh Baker’s Saints Fantasy; Angel’s Prayer, which is a new cornet solo, also by Leigh, commissioned for the band’s solo cornet player Mat Hampton; Barrie Gott’s Swingtime Religion; Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas, arranged specially for the contest by Alwyn Green; And a short burst of “Top Cat”, again arranged by Leigh Baker. Look out for these pieces in a Foresters Brass 2000 near you soon!!