A tremendous day of music and fellowship was undertaken at Chandlers Ford Methodist Church for the fourth national BB/GB Music Festival. There were over 60 entries culminating in a whole day of music finishing with a mini-showcase. Support from other competitors and the public was brilliant with a record 130 spectators at certain parts of the day.
There were entries in six class groups: brass, woodwind, keyboards, mixed instrumentals, percussion and voice. We continue to expand the class-types and this year we expanded the CD track classes and saw entries on guitars and solo percussion including a selection of Indian percussion.
It was also pleasing that a number of adults entered this event demonstrating that this is not just a youth event, but an “all-age” Brigades’ event. We had over 100 participants from 14 different companies. Local companies in the South were joined by companies from Kent, Doncaster, Birmingham, and London.
A number of entries this year were cross-company entries made by “Brigade friends” as well as ensembles formed for the occasion as well as few non-Brigade members in entries. We were treated to a selection of additional items as part of the performances. We had flippers, Barber Shop quartet, bouncing basketballs, and an initiative ‘rap’ with brass and vocals! We were also entertained by some slapstick drumming and chime bars.
Our entries still continue to increase (4% on the previous year) and it is hoped that the number of entries will continue to increase again for next year as more companies get involved (see below).
The adjudication was provided by Ian Luxford who has an extensive background in Music Education & Media. His expertise and professionalism was put across with positive enthusiasm which gave all performers future development goals, targets and aspirations.
The Festival, although non-competitive, encourages the individual as well as the team to perform to their highest standard, and performances which are clear, concise and communicate to the audience bridging the gap between technical ability and artistic nuances achieve very creditable results.
The broad marking range for participants was:
| Fair | 75-77 | A performance limited in its communications |
| Promising | 78-80 | A performance showing development of technique and/or communications |
| Merit | 81-83 | A capable performance showing some artistic appreciation and/or technical ability |
| Highly Commended | 84-86 | A convincing performance technically and artistically |
| Distinction | 87-89 | An excellent performance technically and artistically |
| Honours | 90+ | An exceptional performance technically and artistically |
The results were very encouraging and all faired very well:
| Fair | 3 |
| Promising | 5 |
| Merit | 21 |
| Highly Commended | 24 |
| Distinction | 5 |
| Honours | 0 |
For the ‘best of classes’ the adjudicator had the discretion to award cups and trophies to entrants who are awarded the following levels of attainment: Highly commended; Distinction or Honours.
The results for the 2010 Festival are:
| Brass | |
| Most promising Junior brass player (12 years and under) | Claudia Jenkins – 1st Eastleigh GB |
| Most promising brass player (13 to 18 years) | Ben Knight – 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Most outstanding group in the ensemble classes. (12 years and under) | Not awarded |
| Most outstanding group in the ensemble classes. (13 years to Adult) | Senior Band of 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Fred Mansfield Shield - Most outstanding group in the brass band classes | 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Woodwind | |
| Most promising woodwind player (12 years and under) | Lizette Bailey – 1st Hedge End GB |
| Most promising woodwind player (13 to 18 years) | Thomas Mussell – 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Most outstanding group in the ensemble classes | Diana Boyles and Diane Farrenden – 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Vocal | |
| Most promising Junior vocalist (12 years and under) | Eleanor Clifford and Amy Buckette – 1st Totton GB |
| Most promising vocalist | Hannah Morton – 1st Totton GB |
| Most promising Youth Choir | CFMC Youth Choir |
| Keyboards | |
| Most promising keyboard player (12 years and under) | Lizette Bailey – 1st Hedge End GB |
| Most promising keyboard player (13 to 18 years) | Not awarded |
| Mixed Instrumentals | |
| Most promising player | Timothy Coutts – Kent BB |
| Most promising ensemble | Daniel Richardson, Alex and Aimee Ogilvie – 7th Doncaster BB/GB |
| Percussion | |
| Most promising player | Aaditya Sahai – 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Most promising ensemble | Daniel Richardson and Alex Ogilvie – 7th Doncaster BB/GB |
| Adjudicators Medals | |
| Brass – solo | Jonathon Bailey – 1st Hedge End BB |
| Brass – ensembles | Stephen and Amy Coulter – 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Brass Bands | 7th Doncaster BB/GB |
| Woodwind – ensembles | Thomas Mussell – 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Keyboards | Jonathon Bailey – 1st Hedge End BB |
| Vocal – solo | Jack and Eddie Simmonds – 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Vocal – ensembles | 1st Totton GB |
| Mixed Instrumentals – solo | Thomas Mussell – 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
| Mixed Instrumentals – group | Diana, Polly and Jack Boyles – 1st Chandlers Ford BB |
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