DECEMBER

At the final concert of 2009 which took place at the Emmanuel Church Barnsley, Jamie Cooper was awarded the inaugural Grimethorpe Colliery Band Bandsman of the Year Award for 2009.

Jamie was awarded an engraved silver salver from the Musical Director for the event Mr. Phillip Harper.

 

NOVEMBER

Brass Band Championships - Gateshead

The Grimethorpe Colliery Band were placed second at the Brass in Concert Championships held at the Sage Gateshead. The Contest took place on Sunday the 15th of November and the band was drawn to play number twelve.

 

The band musical programme was:
London Derry Air
Dance to thi Daddy
Super Trouper
The Blue Bells of Scotland
The Finale from Saint Saens Organ Symphony

There were also individual honours at the Contest for several of the Bands players as Michael Dodd was awarded the Best Soloist prize, Kevin Crockford won the Best Soprano Cornet and Robert Westacott was awarded the Best Principal Cornetist.

Sheffield City Hall Concert

Grimethorpe Colliery Band was in concert at the City Hall, Sheffield on 21st November with their Musical Director, James Gourlay.

 

The band were pleased to have as special guests ‘Band for Britain’, Dinnington Colliery Band, playing under the direction of Sue Perkins, TV star and comedienne.

 

Dinnington Colliery Band played at the beginning of the second half. Their programme was the march, Slaidburn, then trombone trio, I Will Follow Him, concluding with Conquest of Paradise. They were then joined by Grimethorpe Colliery Band for massed band performance of William Tell.

 

The audience of well over 1,000 gave a huge round of applause at the end of this section. This was particularly appreciated by one member of Dinnington band who came off stage, close to tears, commenting “I never ever thought I would ever get the chance to play with such a great band – this has been a night to remember – that was absolutely brilliant”.

 

Sue Perkins won BBC2’s Maestro competition and is passionate about music. Together with Dinnington she is on a mission to revive the band and blow new life into their community. They want to restore the fortunes of Dinnington Colliery Band and all this has been filmed by Shine TV who are making a series called A Band for Britain which will be on air early in 2010 on BBC2 TV. We understand the feature with Grimethorpe will be the finale of the third programme.

 

Message received later from Sue Perkins on 'Twitter'   Re : the concert Saturday   " I Utterly, UTTERLY loved it. Send my v best to the band, they are awesome."

 

Photo shows Sue Perkins with Grimethorpe percussion section after she had played a xylophone solo for them following mass band practice.

 

Popular Workshop A Huge Success

Over 90 brass players, ranging in age from 7 to 70, attended Minsthorpe Community College, South Elmsall for the annual Brass and Percussion Workshop held on 6th November and run by the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association.

 

This ever popular workshop, which is sponsored by Grimethorpe Colliery Band and Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, benefits from the excellent tutorship of many of the Grimethorpe Principals.

 

The course was lead by Alan Morrison who chose a varied programme of music. The students also had the opportunity to accompany Michael Dodd in the euphonium solo ‘Grandfather's Clock'.

 

The day is hugely popular and includes full band rehearsal followed by sectionals during which the tutors: Kevin Crockford and Alan Morrison (cornets), Arfon Owen (horns), Mike Dodd (euphoniums and baritones), Gary MacPhee (trombones) Ray Sykes (basses) and John Watterson (percussion) passed on their enthusiasm and musical expertise to the delegates. The day culminated with a short concert of the music studied during the day for assembled relatives and friends and also included two items by the tutors.

 

As one of the delegates commented "I have been every year and this was the best one yet. We have had a great day. Facilities are excellent and with the help of such good tutors we met the challenge and we are going home enthused and looking forward to the next workshop"

 

The next YHBBA Brass and Percussion Workshop, sponsored by Grimethorpe Colliery Band will take place on 6th November 2010. Details and application forms will be available on the website www.yhbba.org.uk closer to the event.

 

Photos show Michael Dodd taking the Euphonium sectional and 7 year old Matthew Lawrance on percussion during the concluding concert.

 

OCTOBER

More new signings

The band are pleased to welcome two new members to the cornet section.
Benjamin Richeton who joins us on Solo Cornet from Hammonds Saltaire and Richard Carradus on Second Cornet from Hepworth. We extend a warm welcome and look forward to a long association with the band.

 

London

Sunday, 20th September saw the band taking part in the Bernstein Project under the American Project Artistic Director and Conductor Marin Alsop.

 

The event took place at the Royal Festival Hall and was a unique gathering celebrating Leonard Bernstein through music, film and conversation hosted by Marin Alsop.

 

The band performed alongside other music ensembles including Britten Sinfonia, Southbank Sinfonia, Orchestra Europa, Pipers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and Bellowhead.

 

On Monday, 5th October the band returned to the Royal Festival Hall, London to perform at the Celebration and Tribute to the Life of Jack Jones, General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union from 1969 to 1978 who died in April this year aged 96 years.

 

This commemorative event was hosted by Unite the Union with speakers and messages of commemoration from Tony Blair, Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown M.P. Prime Minister, ex Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock, actress Glenda Jackson and many prominent union officials.

 

On Saturday, 31st October the band will once more be performing in London. The bi-annual Festival of Brass and Voices in aid of Cancer Research U.K. will take place at the Royal Albert Hall.

 

Grimethorpe Colliery Band along with Brighouse and Rastrick Band and a combined male and female choir of 1,500 from around the U.K. will perform under the baton of William Relton, formerly General Manager of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

 

Commencing at 7.30 p.m. this year's festival will hope to raise £100,000 for Cancer Research U.K.

 

Recent Signings

The band are pleased to announce that Ian Yates has joined the band on Second Euphonium and Matthew Broadbent has joined on B Flat Bass. Both players bring with them a wealth of experience and are looking forward to the exciting projects that the band will be involved with over the next few months.

 

JULY

PHIL CONVEY

Grimethorpe Colliery Band are pleased to announce the appointment of Phil (Swede) Convey to fill the vacancy on Bb Bass.
Joining us from Desford, Phil brings a wealth of experience to the bass section and we are sure he will make a significant contribution to the band.

 

JUNE

BRYAN SMITH

It is with great sadness to announce the death of former Grimethorpe horn player Bryan Smith on the 18th June. Bryan was widely regarded by many as one of the finest exponents of the instrument.

 

He was one of life's great characters, who always had a wicked twinkle in his eye, and he will be sadly missed by his many friends and admirers.

 

'Many will have tremendous memories of a beautiful sound, allied to his innate musicianship - it was said he could bring a tear to a glass eye' - David James

 

Deepest sympathies are with his wonderful wife Elsie and his daughter Kim, son Keith, and his six grandchildren. He had been ill for a number of years and Elsie was his administering angel, who kept him going.

 

Funeral details

The funeral was held at St. Luke's Church Grimethorpe on Wednesday 1st July.

 

Donations would be most gratefully received at Ward 27 Barnsley Hospital.

 

[Tributes can be sent via Terry Webster or Stan Lippeat]

 

NEW SOLO TROMBONE

The Band would like to announce the recruitment of their new Solo Trombone Player Gary Macphee formerly of the Brighouse and Rastrick Band. Everyone concerned welcomes Gary to the Band.

 

Gary won the Best Trombone at the 2008 Brass in Concert Championships held at Gateshead and also won the Best Trombone soloist at the 2004 Grenland International Brass Festival.

 

Gary has previously orchestral work with ensembles such as the Halle and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras.

 

LUDLOW MUSIC FESTIVAL

On Saturday the 20th of June the Band carried out a concert at the 50th Ludlow Arts Festival in Saint Laurence's Church in front of a capacity audience. The audience were treated to a pleasant surprise which saw the Band meet up with its old friend the Shropshire based Actor Peter Postlethwaite. who was invited to conduct the Band by Jim Gourlay on the Galop from the William Tell Overture.

 

ENGLISH NATIONAL BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Grimethorpe Colliery Band will not compete at the English National Brass Band Championships to be held in Preston on Saturday the 27th of June. The Band has issued the following statement:

 

"The Grimethorpe Colliery Band have held a general band meeting on Thursday the 28th of May and a unanimous decision was taken to withdraw from the 2009 English National Brass Band Championships"

 

MAY

BEST SOLOIST

Congratulations go to the bands Solo Euphonium Player Michael Dodd who was awarded the prize of Best Soloist at the recent European Brass Band Championships which were held in Ostend.

 

The Band were representing England and came fifth in the Competition.

 

NEW PLAYER

We are pleased to welcome a new member to the cornet section.

 

Mark Bowater joins us on Second Cornet and brings a wealth of experience with him. Having previously played for Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick and Cory Band he will be a valued member of the team.

 

We extend a warm welcome to Mark and look forward to a long association with the band.

 

APRIL 

THE MARIA VON TRAPP STORY & GRIMETHORPE BAND

On the 28th and 29th of March Grimethorpe Colliery Band joined forces with students from Hemsworth Arts & Community College and Norwegian actress , Camilla Belsvik to tell the story of Maria von Trapp. The concerts took place at the Sage in Newcastle and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and the idea and production provided by Classic Music Withington Zubicky.

 
First devised for a Norwegian princess and a professional symphony orchestra, the parts were redistributed, music rearranged and the end result, judging by remarks from both the audience and outside critics, an absolute success.

 
Three excellent solo presentations by Michael Dodd, Kevin Crockford and principal cornet Rob Westcott added the final touch to a great evening.

 
This was a new initiative by Grimethorpe in an attempt to provide an alternative type of concert and to show how versatile the band actually is.

 
The students from Hemsworth provided some youthful passion and are already looking forward to the next project. So, watch this space. We will be back with a new and exciting concert idea next year.

 
Allan Withington

NEW PLAYERS 

The band are pleased to announce the appointment of three new players.

 

Gareth Beckwith joins on bass trombone, Dean Jones on second trombone and Nick Hamlett on third cornet.

 

Dean is a student at Huddersfield University and is tutored by Jonathan Beatty. Nick joins us from Skelmanthorpe Band and is also studying at Huddersfield University where he is tutored by Philip McCann.

 

Everyone wishes them a warm welcome and a long and rewarding stay with the band.

 

MARCH

APPOINTMENT OF JAMES GOURLAY

It is with great pleasure that Mr James Gourlay has returned to the Band to take up the position of Musical Director. James will be part of the Conducting Team at Grimethorpe Colliery Band. He took up his appointment from the 1st January 2009 and everyone connected with the band wish him a long and successful tenure.

 

With James's arrival, the Conducting Team of Allan Withington, Philip McCann and James is by far the strongest in British Brass Banding and this can only add to the previous success the Band has achieved on both the Contest and Concert platform.

 

James made his conducting debut with the band at the Assembly Hall, Worthing on Saturday the 24th January 2009.

 

On speaking to the editor of the Frog's Magazine, James hopes to have a successful assault on the Brass in Concert Championships at the Sage Gateshead, a Contest which has eluded the Band over the last few years.

 

He will also assist the Band Management in planning recordings, concerts and carrying out more educational work with young brass players. James also wishes to have better contact and involvement with the Grimethorpe and District Band.

 

NEW PRINCIPAL CORNET APPOINTMENT

Robert Westacott, formerly of the Hepworth Band, was appointed in February after assisting the Band on several engagements over the January and early February period. Robert has previously played with Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick and Leyland Bands.

 

Everyone connected with the band wish Robert a long and successful stay with the band.

 

MORE NEW PLAYERS

Michael Wells joins the Band on First Baritone from the Fairy Band. He is regarded as one of the best young Baritone players in the country and is keen to help the Band continue the success the Band has achieved on the Contest stage. He is currently attending the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and originates from Blackpool.

 

James Henson joins the Band on E Flat Bass. He has played with the Band in the 1990's but due to work commitments he had to leave the Band. He is pleased to be given a second opportunity to join the Band. James originates from Buxton and can't wait to perform at the Opera House Buxton. Which has been re-arranged for Saturday 14th November 2009.

 

AREA CONTEST - BRADFORD 8th MARCH

The band were  drawn number 8 out of 12 bands, with the contest starting at 5-30pm.

 

The band played extremely well, and most of the audience felt that Grimethorpe would attain either 1st or 2nd position.

 

It was not to be, as when the results were announced the band had come a disappointing 3rd position, which now means that the Band will not be competing in the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall London in October 2009.