All the latest news from the GBBA and updates to the site will be posted here.
31 Aug 2010 - More Information on the Forest of Dean Solo, Duet, Quartet and Ensemble Championship and on the FOD Young Musician of the Year Competition
The 5th Forest of Dean Solo, Duet, Quartet and Ensemble Championship takes place on Sunday 3rd October at The Goodrich Suite, Bells Hotel, Coleford, Glos, GL16 8BE (tbc). The closing date for entries is 17th September 2010 and the adjudicator is the talented young composer and conductor of BTM band Mr. Tom Davoren.
New for this year is the option for soloists and duettists to perform with a CD/Mp3 accompaniment which hopefully will encourage even more young (and older) people who perhaps do not have the facility to rehearse with a pianist to enter the competition.
Also taking place over the weekend is the Forest of Dean Young Musician of the Year 2010 competition which will be held at the Methodist Church, Upper Road, Pillowell on the Saturday and will be adjudicated by Mr. Mario Conway MA, BMus, LTCL. Competitors for this highly-regarded competition do not need to live or attend school within the Forest of Dean as entry is open to all young musicians aged 11 - 21 irrespective of where they originate from and is divided into two categories - Senior Young Musician for players G8+ aged 16 -21 and Junior Young Musician for palyers G5+ aged 11 - 15. Competitiors are required to perform a contrasting programme of not more than 12 minutes duration (FOD Junior Young Musician) and 15 minutes (FOD Senior Young Musician) . The 2009 winners were both brass players - 18 year old Lori Warsop (Euphonium) who has recently passed her ATCL recital with Distinction and 12 year old Rhiannon Symonds, also Euphonium.
For schedules and entry forms, visit the Youth page or email at KixMusic.
15 Aug 2010 - Gloucester Park Bandstand
The new bandstand in Gloucester Park is now available for free use for public entertainment events. Bands, entertainers, schools, community groups and charities will all be able to use the ‘stage’ without charge as long as they are providing free public entertainment. But they will need to book the space – to avoid events clashing. A charge will be made for commercial use.
Council Leader, Paul James, commented: “ There is a lot of interest in the bandstand and I hope that we will see a regular flow of events that will entertain park users. A great deal of work has taken place in the park and it is increasingly popular and well used. The new bandstand will add to that vibrancy.”
Anyone wanting further information about the facilities available or who wants to book the bandstand should contact Gloucester Guildhall on 01452 396385 or by . You can also check out the city council website.
20 Jul 2010 - New Look Website
As you may have noticed, the GBBA's website has had a makeover. We thank Drena Designs once again for their continued work in support of the Association.
19 Jul 2010 - 2010 AGM Minutes
The minutes from this year's AGM are now available on the About Us page, along with minutes from March's Executive Committee meeting. Please feel free to read them and keep up-to-date on the workings of the GBBA.
07 Jul 2010 - Youth opportunities in October
The 5th Forest of Dean, Solo, Duet, Quartet and Ensemble Championship will be held at Lakers School, Coleford, Glos on Sunday 3rd October. The closing date for entries is 17 September 2010 and the adjudicators will be announced in due course.
The 2nd Forest of Dean Young Musician of the Year competition, which is for brass, woodwind and string players aged 11 - 21, will take place the day before on Saturday 2nd October.
For more details, visit the youth page.
26 Jun 2010 - 41st Bailey Lane End Music Festival
The 41st Bailey Lane End Music Festival took place at the AW Parker (Drybrook) Bandroom on Saturday 26th June 2010. For the first time the running of the event was taken over by the AW Parker (Drybrook) Band following the organising committee’s decision to end the event after 2009.
Results were as follows: -
Class 1 - Solo Under 11 Years
1st - Rory Gordon, Lydney Training Band
3rd - Alexander Waring, Pillowell Silver
Class 2 - Solo 11 - 12 Years
1st - Sophie Collier, Pillowell Silver
2nd - Lauren Brain, Lydney Training Band
3rd - David Crowe, Lydney Training Band
Class 3 - Solo 13 - 16 Years
1st - Ben Stratford, Lydbrook Band
2nd - George Stratford, Forest of Dean Brass
3rd - Henry Kirk, Cinderford Academy Band
Class 4 -Brass Duet 16 Year & Under
1st - Rory Gordon & Ciaran Barcue, Lydney Training Band
Class 5 – Brass Quartet 16 Years & Under
1st - David Crowe/Samantha Ford/Lauren Brain/Rory Gordon, Lydney Training Band
Class 6 - Solo 11 - 21 Years
1st - Ben Stratford, Lydbrook Band
2nd - Elodie Gwynne, Cinderford Band
3rd - Chris Dempster, Cinderford Academy Band
Class 7 – Duet Adult & Child Under 16
1st - David & Neil Crowe, Lydney Training Band
2nd - Clive Lewis & Ben Stratford, Cinderford Band/Lydbrook Band
3rd - Tim Ford & Kevin Ford, Lydney Training Band
3rd - Samantha & Kerry Ford, Lydney Training Band
Class 8 – Open Solo
1st - Ben Stratford, Lydbrook Band
25 Jun 2010 - Change of Adjudicator for GBBA Own Choice Contest
The Gloucestershire Brass Band Association have announced a change of adjudicator with Paul Holland replacing C. Brian Buckley for their forthcoming Annual March & Test Piece Contest on November 21st 2010.
C. Brian Buckley has reluctantly asked to step down as adjudicator due to a potential conflict of interest concerning a band that he has been recently working with. This band is hoping to enter GBBA Contest and therefore Brian has asked to be released from adjudicating to avoid any potential problems that it might present to the organisers.
The Gloucestershire Brass Band Association thank Brian for his professionalism and integrity and hope to work with him at future events.
14 Jun 2010 - Young Musician's Performance Platform Series 2010
The all-new KixMusic "Young Musicians Performance Platform" which is designed to give all young musicians a platform on which to perform under recital-like conditions but without the pressure of a competition or examination launches in June. The KixMusic YMPP will be open to the public, family and friends and admission will cost £2.00 per person just to cover overheads such as hire of the venue.
Click here for details of the upcoming dates, the first of which is on Wednesday 16th June 2010.
Details of the FOD Young Musician Competition can be found on the website www.kixmusic.co.uk.
11 Apr 2010 - The GBBA's Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday 25th April 2010
The Annual General Meeting of the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association will take place on Sunday 25th April 2010 at 10.00 AM at Drybrook bandroom (postcode GL17 9EE situated on side of public car park behind chemists and next to Hearts of Oak pub). We look forward to seeing a representative from each of our member bands at the meeting.
15 Mar 2010 - Congratulations and commiserations to our Bands!
Their were mixed fortunes for the GBBA members competing at this year's Regional Finals in Torquay.
Lydbrook managed a solid 6th place in the Championship section, while Portishead took the First Section title! Chalford finished in mid-table as seventh. In the Second section Swindon Pegasus Brass were the highest of our bands, taking 3rd place. Forest of Dean Brass finished just behind them in 4th with City of Bristol and Cinderford close behind in 6th and 7th respectively. Bristol East & Kingswood were 9th and Wotton-under-Edge came 12th.
A mixed day in the third section saw Bream Silver finish 2nd, with Pillowell Silver in 4th and Tewkesbury Town in 12th. A. W. Parker (Drybrook) came 4th in the Fourth Section, only narrowly missing out on a finals ticket. Swindon Brass were 8th and Chalford Academy and Cheltenham Silver came 19th and 20th respectively. Good luck to those heading to the National Finals later this year!
7 Mar 2010 - Good luck in Torquay!
The GBBA would like to wish all of our members competing at this year's West of England Regional Championships good luck!
Championship Section: Lydbrook.
First Section: Chalford, Portishead Town.
Second Section: Bristol East and Kingswood, Cinderford, City of Bristol, Forest of Dean Brass, Swindon Pegasus Brass, Wotton-under Edge.
Third Section: Bream Silver, Pillowell Silver, Tewkesbury Town.
Fourth Section: A. W. Parker (Drybrook), Chalford Academy, Cheltenham Silver, Swindon Brass.
21 Feb 2010 - Thinking of going to the English National Brass Band Championships?
The English National Brass Band Championships will be held on the 26th June at the Guild Hall, Preston. Click here for more details and to order tickets, download the Ticket Order Form. For every 5 tickets purchased, you get 1 FREE.
8 Jan 2010 - GYBB practise cancelled
The GYBB practise scheduled for 10th January has been cancelled due to poor weather.
7 Jan 2010 - Congratulations and commiserations to our Bands!
BLAST OFF! Chosen Hill School, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th January
Dear Parent / Guardian,
I regret to announce that we have had to postpone this weekends BLAST OFF at Chosen Hill school. We are unable to guarantee at this time that the school will be open and that the weather will be kind to us throughout the day. A huge amount of work is dedicated to the success of each event and my thanks to all those who have arranged what would have been a great experience for young brass players. We will try to re-schedule the event but if this is not possible then the next BLAST OFF is planned for May. Please keep checking emails for details.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Legge Assistant Head of Service - Gloucestershire Music
3 Jan 2010 - News from the Gloucester Youth Brass Band
The GYBB have issued a letter, reviewing their work over 2009 and looking forward to the year ahead. Click here to read it.