GRIMETHORPE LATEST NEWS
Summer Youth Band Course Announced!
We are delighted to announce that the next opportunity to meet as an ensemble will be spread over a full weekend! The weekend we have chosen is Saturday and Sunday the 22nd and 23rd of June 2013.
We are constantly trying to keep the Youth Band innovative and progressive and feel that a weekend course would be much more beneficial to our young stars of the future.
Further to this, we are hoping to have the Youth Band join Grimethorpe Colliery Band on stage at the Doncaster Dome on the evening of Sunday the 23rd June. We feel this would be a tremendous experience for the Youth Band and a fantastic way to end our latest course!
With all of this in mind, the weekend will take a huge amount of organisation and we are looking for parents/guardians to ‘open up their homes’ to the members of the band who travel from far and wide to attend the course. Therefore, if you live in the Barnsley/Doncaster/Sheffield area and you have room for one of our members, we would be grateful if you could offer a place to stay for the Saturday night.
We have created a Facebook event for the weekend (this can be found on the Grimethorpe Besson Youth Band’s Facebook page) and would urge members who wish to attend the course but are unable to travel the long distance home on the Saturday night to write on the wall of the event so we can sort out accommodation for the Children over the weekend! Alternatively if you email grimethorpeyouthband@aol.co.uk we will sort out accommodation for your son/daughter with another member of the Band.
We are looking forward to what promises to be another brilliant few days! All of the above information and any further news about the day will be posted on www.grimethorpeband.com, www.facebook.com/thegrimethorpebessonyouthband and also in the Grimethorpe Besson Youth Band group which is searchable on Facebook.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all in June!
Grimethorpe Besson Youth Band meet again!
The Youth Band had another brilliant day last Saturday.
Lead by Shaun Crowther, members of the senior band tutored the youngsters throughout the day before putting on a showcase concert infront of friends and family at our base, Shafton ALC.
A big thanks go to Besson Musical Instruments for their continued support of the band, to all of the tutors and to the children and parents for joining the Grimethorpe family.
Photos of the day are available by following this link; https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.462560167143081.1073741826.336903089708790&type=3
Keep checking on www.grimethorpeband.com and on our Grimethorpe Facebook pages for information on our next gathering day!
Trip to Kensington secured at Bradford!
After a four year absence from the Albert Hall, Grimey secured a trip to London in October with a stunning performance of Harmony Music at Bradford.
Finishing in third place behind Carlton Main and Brighouse & Rastrick, the band brought the house down with a fantastic account of the test piece which drew praise from all corners of the St. George's Hall.
Special mentions must go to our soloists Billy Rushworth, Michael Dodd and especially to Roger Webster for picking up the best Principal Cornet award.
These are the live comments from 4barsrest.com from yesterday evening:
11. Grimethorpe (Luc Vertommen)
What a start - nigh in perfect and it builds with such intensity and dark drama. The first climax is so controlled and so musical.
The first Vivace is played with such neatness - razor sharp in detail and so well balanced too. Euph gives his all in the cadenza and the following reprise is playing of the very highest class too. This has such an intuitive sense of musicality.
This is Ravel - sumptuous and melancholic and laid out with simple beauty by the MD. Roger Webster is still the daddy - what a cadenza, but Billy Rushworth pushed him close too. What wonderful emotional playing to follow and final repose.
The reprise is stunning - played at such a pace, but with so much panache. It throbs like a nuclear reactor ready to explode. Now the turbo charger is engaged and it so flying with such purpose.
Grimey in overdrive now and heading for glory surely. What a close - simply stunning.
Overall: Brilliant - simply brilliant. What a superb reading by the MD and the players responded in kind. A truly magnificent performance.
We wish to thank Luc Vertommen and Mark Bentham for their hard work and preparation in the build up to the contest and also to our friends and fans for their kind words of support over the last few days
The full results were as follows:
Championship Section:
Sunday 3rd March
Test Piece: 'Harmony Music' - Philip Sparke
Draw: 4pm
Commence: 5.30pm
Adjudicators: Nigel Boddice MBE & Rob Wiffin
1.Carlton Main Frickley (Phillip McCann) 9*
2.Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof. David King) 5**
3.Grimethorpe Colliery (Luc Vertommen) 11*
4.Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts) 13
5.Hepworth (Michael Fowles) 3
6.Black Dyke (Dr Nicholas Childs) 4
7.Skelmanthorpe (John Roberts) 10
8.Marsden Silver Prize (Glyn Williams) 8
9.Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (David Nesbitt) 2
10.Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths) 7
11.Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) (Derek Renshaw) 12
12.Wakefield Metroplitan (Michael Howley) 1
13.Meltham & Meltham Mills (Norman Law) 6
** pre-qualified for National Finals
*qualify for place at National Finals
Next up for us is the Grimethorpe Besson Youth Band Day on Saturday. We look forward to inspiring our next generation of superstars!
Grimethorpe Besson Youth Band Spring Coaching Day - Details
The next Grimethorpe Youth Band Day will take place on Saturday 9th March 2013.
Please read the full details of the day below;
GRIMETHORPE BESSON YOUTH BAND
SPRING COURSE: SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2013
VENUE: SHAFTON ALC, ENGINE LANE, SHAFTON, BARNSLEY, S72 8RE
Conductor / Tutors
Due to the success of the last two courses there will be additional Grimethorpe Colliery Band tutors supporting at the spring 2013 course:
Jamie Cooper and Gareth Crane (Cornets), Dan Robson and David Gilson (Cornets)
Andy Holmes and William Rushworth (Flugels & Tenor Horns)
Garrath Beckwith (Trombones), Michael Dodd (Euphoniums & Baritones),
Ben Dixon and Shaun Crowther (Basses), Andy Lockett (Percussion).
The band are delighted to announce that Shaun Crowther will lead and conduct the Spring 2013 course, which we are positive will be another inspiring event.
Outline of the day
9.00am – Registration
9:30am – Warm Up in Sections
10.00am – Morning session
12.30pm – Lunch break (please bring a packed lunch)
1.30pm – Afternoon session
5.00pm – Showcase Performance
The cost of the event will once again be covered by Besson Musical Instruments, all that’s required is attendance with instrument, a packed lunch and drink, dress for the day is casual. Admission to the showcase performance is free and will include a short programme by the Grimethorpe Besson Youth Band, all parents / supporters are most welcome.
Each local authority music service has a nominated representative to link with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band / organising committee in the planning of this event, so please contact your local representative with any further questions or queries.
We look forward to hearing from you soon and hope you can join us in March.
Best wishes,
Grimethorpe Colliery Band
N.b. - if you would like your child to join the Grimethorpe Besson Youth Band, please email andylockett1986@googlemail.com - the band is open to children under 18 years of age and who are grade 4+ on their instrument. Any existing members of the band, please keep an eye on facebook, email, text and grimethorpeband.com for any updates or details about the up-coming coaching day
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band has announced the appointment of Mark Bentham as their new Musical Director
Delighted
Commenting on the appointment, Mark said: “I’m delighted to be taking up the challenge of directing such a fine band.”
Relinquishing post
Mark continued: “My appointment means that I will be relinquishing my position with the Pemberton Old Wigan DW band – a partnership which has lasted four and a half years”. I wish the band well in the future and thank them for all of their hard work and dedication.
Career development:
A former horn player with Leyland and Brighouse & Rastrick – Mark began his conducting career with the Drighlington Junior band whilst he was playing Tenor Horn with Black Dyke. Since retiring from playing he has had successful conducting spells with the Drighlington (Senior band), the Reg Vardy band, the Hepworth band and most recently Pemberton.
Everyone involved with Grimethorpe Colliery Band is delighted with Mark's appointment. We look forward to working alongside our new MD in the coming years!
Soprano legend Kevin Crockford returns to Grimethorpe!
Grimethorpe Colliery Band has announced the return of soprano star Kevin Crockford to its ranks, following a successful 12 month spell at rivals Brighouse & Rastrick.
Kevin told grimethorpeband.com: "I have really enjoyed my year with Brighouse and feel sad to leave. They are a fantastic band with great players and conductors and are such genuinely nice people too.
However, the travelling time from my home to Brighouse, coupled with my increased workload has become challenging to the point where I could see me missing rehearsals – and that is something I just do not like doing."
He added: "Grimey is 15 minutes from my home, so that will make a huge difference. I first signed with the band back in 1990 and have been there for a total of nine years in two spells, so the band is obviously very dear to me."
Kevin revealed that principal cornet player Roger Webster had been instrumental in his return.
"Roger contacted me and we have been speaking regularly about a potential return as Andrew Bannister was having major work issues which meant he would have to leave as soon as a suitable replacement was found. In those circumstances I believe it is now the right time for me to come back."
Kevin takes up his old seat with immediate effect and is looking forward to a very busy Grimethorpe schedule.
Band spokesperson Gareth Crane added: "We are delighted Kevin has returned. He really is at the top of the tree as far as soprano players go and his commitment as a bandsman is unquestionable.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Andrew for his superb playing and commitment to Grimethorpe. He will be sadly missed as he always gave 100% as a player and bandsmen."
Cheltenham Town Hall Concert
On Sunday the band travelled to Cheltenham to perform an afternoon concert under the baton of Gareth Pritchard.
A review of the concert can be found by following this link; http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Review-Grimethorpe-Colliery-Band-Cheltenham-Town/story-17486212-detail/story.html
Finally, a rather disappointing review of the band's recent concert in Cardiff made its way on to the popular brass band website 4barsrest.com recently - our thanks to Phil Canon for sending his review in to the website of Sunday's concert in Cheltenham
This is what Phil sent;
Further to Jen Thomas' letter regarding Grimethorpe Colliery Band's concert in Cardiff, I'd like to mention that I was lucky enough to see them in Cheltenham this past weekend and it must have been a different band and a different conductor all together! In my opinion the band were on top form, well directed throughout by their conductor for the evening, Gareth Pritchard, who only read the introduction to 1712 from the score (not every piece as Ms Thomas experienced) and had a great rapport with the audience. The concert was well advertised as a Brassed Off tour concert, so of course featured many pieces from the film as well as their new concert material/brass in concert pieces and some not so new pieces from their repertoire. I'm not sure what else I would have expected to have heard to be honest.
What a great band and what a superb conductor. My wife and I had a great time and would not hesitate in going to see the band the next time they are in the neighbourhood - Chris Gommersall playing Dark Eyes and Andy Holmes playing Concerto De Aranjuez were particular favourites of ours. We would thoroughly recommend that if you ever see a concert with the Grimethorpe band advertised you go and see them!
Great to have some public support from our biggest fans - thank you to everyone who has been to see us this year! It has been a long one with over 50 concerts, but as we approach Christmas we only have 5 to go starting with Cudworth on Thursday night!
100 young Brass and Percussionists attend Grimethorpe Youth Band Day!
Last Saturday saw a record breaking 100 budding musicians attend the second Grimethorpe Besson Youth Band Day.
The children, who travel from as far away as Devon, were coached by tutors Jamie Cooper, Dan Robson, Stan Lippeatt, Andy Holmes, Gaz Beckwith, Shaun Crowther, Michael Dodd and Andy Lockett in sectionals and in full band situations. The day finished with a joint concert involving the Youth and Senior band infront of a packed hall at the Shafton ALC School.
Grimethorpe would like to thank Stan Lippeatt for conducting the event, Nigel Dixon and Gaz Beckwith for organising the day and to Gavin Somerset of Pennine Music Publishing for providing us with music for the Youth Band - http://www.penninemusic.com/index.php
The next Youth Band day is set for March 9th 2013 - we look forward to seeing all of our talented youngsters in the new year!
4 Days to go!!
Preparations are going on behind the scenes at the band for what promises to be another fantastic day for our Youth Band.
Full details of the day are as follows;
VENUE: SHAFTON ALC, ENGINE LANE, SHAFTON, BARNSLEY, S72 8RE
9.00am – Registration
9:30am – Warm Up in Sections
10.00am – Morning session
12.30pm – Lunch break (please bring a packed lunch)
1.30pm – Afternoon session
6.00pm – Concert Performance
If you have any further questions please contact andylockett1986@googlemail.com - also please check out our Youth Band's Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/TheGrimethorpeBessonYouthBand. For new and existing members of the band there is also a group on Facebook that you can join to keep up with the latest news @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/grimethorpeyouthband
A very damp trip to Cardiff
The band travelled to a rain-sodden Cardiff on Saturday evening to play at St. David's Hall.
After a four hour journey down Grimey, put on a great show which included stunning solo work from Michael Dodd, Chris Gomersall, Andrew Holmes, Danny Powell, Gavin Pritchard and Shaun Crowther. Other items included our full Brass in Concert programme, music from Brassed Off! and a thumping end to a great evening with the 1712 Overture.
Grimethorpe would like to thank Tom Hutchinson from the Cory Band for filling in for us on Principal Cornet and also to our guest M.D., Jonathan Corry who will also be taking Thursday night's concert at the Sheffield Citadel on Psalter Lane.
Thanks to everyone who came to the concert - next up is Thursday's concert, Saturday's Youth Band day and another concert in Cheltenham on Sunday!