Friday Night – Youth Development Session

On Friday 10^th February Brass Bands NI were delighted to welcome Paul Fisher who hosted a session for Youth Band Leaders in the rehearsal rooms of Downshire Brass.  A mix of in-person and online attendees were introduced to fresh ideas for introducing young people to brass playing and keeping them interested and inspired, including various exercises, tips on leading lively rehearsals and learning without sheet music. There was a real buzz in the room as attendees got to try instruments they wouldn’t normally play in order to emulate the experience of a beginner.

Saturday – Competition Day

On Saturday morning, BBNI returned to the fantastic facilities at Malone Presbyterian Church, South Belfast to present our ever-popular Solos & Ensembles Competition. We welcomed Paul Fisher to adjudicate the Youth Section while Brendan Breslin was the man in the box for the Senior Section.

Youth

The Youth Section saw Paul putting each young musician at ease to help ensure they started and finished their performances with a smile on their face and to much applause from the supportive audience. Between classes he led sessions with competitors to offer advice on topics such as performing in public, playing techniques and breathing while also jamming with the younger players and audience, which was hugely enjoyed by all. All classes were very tightly fought which made tough work for our adjudicator, with performances in the 17 & under solos class in particular showing the incredible talent of our local young musicians.

Congratulations to Elijah Smith on Trumpet from Comber Brass Youth Band, Hadyn McClenahan on Bb Cornet from Downshire Brass and Hugh Davis from Stedfast Band who each achieved 1^st place respectively in the 10, 12, 15 and Under Classes. Hadyn was also awarded the John Patton Trophy – a trophy that is dedicated to former Brass Band League NI Executive Member John Patton that is awarded to the most promising player from the 10, 12 and 15 and Under Classes. Owen Brannigan of 1^st Old Boys was a clear winner in the 17 and Under Class.

This was the first year since the COVID pandemic that BBNI had ran Youth Ensemble Classes. Downshire Brass Beginners took home the 12 and Under Ensemble trophy while the Youth Band trophy went to the newly-formed Comber Youth Brass Band who were performing in their first ever competition.

Seniors

In the Senior Room Brendan Breslin was ensconced behind the red curtain and then the morning started with the 19 and Under Class. This class is one of the newest classes in the Competition and was created to allow young people of Grade 5 standard and above to play an Own Choice piece in the Senior Section without going up against much more experienced players. Next up was the Slow Melody class – the most popular of the day – which featured 20 competitors.

Zeki Kaya on Baritone from Third Carrickfergus Band took home first prize in the 19 and Under class while Andrew Milligan 1^st Old Boys won the tightly fought Slow Melody Class. Andrew also had the honour of collecting the second and third prizes as they were won by two of his 1^st Old Boys band mates – Nigel Hylands and Nathan Moore.

The B and A Solo Classes followed, where the standard of performances this year was possibly one of the highest ever seen in our competition leaving the adjudicator with the unenviable job of trying to score and place everyone.

After much deliberation Cathy Grier on Tenor Horn from Third Carrickfergus Band took home 1^st place in the B Solos. Keith Anderson on Eb Bass from Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band took home 1^st place in the A Solos class, narrowly beating Kelly Kaya in 2^nd place and Andrew Milligan in 3^rd Place.

After a very quick break we were straight into the newly amalgamated Senior Ensemble Class. This class used to be split into multiple classes to represent the different band sections.  BBNI recently decided to amalgamate all the classes into one but still give a prize for the best ensemble representing each band section. CWA Brass took home the prize for Best 2^nd Section Ensemble and 1^st Old Boys took home overall 1^st place for their Quintet along with the prize for Best Championship Section Ensemble.

Thanks

BBNI would like to sincerely thank the National Lottery through the Arts Council NI for their sponsorship of our Youth Development Weekend activities. We would also like to thank Downshire Brass and Malone Presbyterian Church for allowing us the use of their facilities. Thank you to both of our adjudicators, Paul Fisher and Brendan Breslin, for their hard work on the day. Many thanks also to our lovely volunteers Jeanette Morton and Rachel Brodison for keeping the executive and adjudicators so well fed throughout the day.

Senior Section Results

Adjudicator: Brendan Breslin

19 & Under Solo

1. Zeki Kaya (Third Carrickfergus Band)
2. Tori Lloyd (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)
3. Sophie Hueston (Third Carrickfergus Band)

C Solo
(no contest)

B Solo

1. Cathy Grier (Third Carrickfergus Band)

A Solo

1. Keith Anderson (Laganvale Metal Technology Band)
2. Kelly Kaya (Third Carrickfergus Silver Band)
3. Andrew Milligan (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)

Slow Melody

1. Andrew Milligan (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)
2. Nigel Hylands (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)
3. Nathan Moore (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)

Senior Ensemble

1. 1OB Quintet (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)
2. Laganvale Duet (Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band)
3. 1OB Low Brass Duet (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)

Best Championship Section Ensemble: 1OB Quintet (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)
Best Second Section Ensemble: CWA Septet (CWA Brass)
Best Third Section Ensemble: No Contest
Best Fourth Section Ensemble: No Contest
Best Fifth Section Ensemble: No Contest
Best Unaffiliated Section Ensemble: No Contest

Quartet

1. Laganvale Quartet (Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band)
2. 1OB ‘Burch’ Quartet(1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)
3. 1OB Trombones (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)

Best Championship Section Ensemble: Laganvale Quartet (Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band)
Best Second Section Ensemble: CWA Quartet (CWA Brass)
Best Third Section Ensemble: Newtownards Quartet (Newtownards Silver Band)
Best Fourth Section Ensemble: No Contest
Best Fifth Section Ensemble: No Contest
Best Unaffiliated Section Ensemble: No Contest

Youth Section

Adjudicator: Paul Fisher

10 & Under Solo

1. Elijah Smith (Comber Brass Youth Band)
2. Lana Kirk (Downshire Brass)
3. Samuel Liddle (Downshire Brass)

12 & Under Solo

1. Hadyn McClenahan (Downshire Brass)
2. Harry Lloyd (Unaffiliated)
3. Erin Davison (Third Carrickfergus Band)

15 & Under Solo

1. Hugh Davis (Stedfast Brass)
2. Christy Brennan (Third Carrickfergus Band)
3. Holly Wilson (Downshire Brass)

17 & Under Solo

1. Owen Brannigan (1^st Old Boys Assoc. Silver Band)
2. Zeki Kaya (Third Carrickfergus Band)
3. Aaron Kirk (Downshire Brass)

12 & Under Ensemble

1. Downshire Beginners (Downshire Silver Band)

17 & Under Ensemble
(no contest)

Youth Band

1. Comber Brass Youth Band