Following the return of two of City of Chester’s band jackets recently, the band are still adrift by five more. If you haven't already checked that wardrobe or car boot now would be a great time to do so. We need them back, at about £200 a go they are very hard to replace. All members please note that all Band Jackets need to be brought in to band practice next week for dry cleaning. Don't forget! It appears to be that missing band jackets are a common problem. Wingates band are also appealing for the return of about 40, yes forty!!!, missing jackets. See their website for the full story. http://www.wingatesband.freeservers.com/

Friday night was music night on September the 24th when the Band played a concert at Kelsall Methodist Church. Musical Director Derek Mitchell put together an entertaining programme, with arrangements of film and show music being predominant, but with some secular items offering a complete contrast. Probably one of the best film theme arrangements around at the moment, The Best of Bond, proved to be a popular item, as did the Band’s rendition of the very atmospheric Irish Blessing. The cornet solo Solitaire, featuring the Soprano Cornet, was also very well received by the appreciative audience, as was the not-so-politically-correct Post Horn Galop, featuring Robert Macdonald on the straight bit of tubing! Lack of space in the church meant that the Band’s seating arrangements for the concert were somewhat unusual, with the cornets, trombones and euphoniums on ground level, baritones, horns and flugel on the first ‘floor’, and the basses looking down on proceedings from the pulpit! Thankfully, Band Secretary and B Flat Bass player Les Platt managed to resist the temptation to preach to the Band about poor attendance at rehearsals. 2nd Cornet Chris Clowes recently celebrated his 18th birthday so Derek Mitchell took the opportunity to publicly present him with a gift from the Band. Chris Peover on Rep was obviously disoriented by the temporary relocation of star Flugel player Mandy Macdonald, so took it upon himself to move to the horn section midway through the second half; unfortunately this came too late for Mandy, who could have done with sight of the Rep and Flugel part for Gershwin for Brass earlier in the concert! Never mind, Mandy got by with a combination of an incredible memory for the part and smiling sweetly at the MD when her memory failed her. All-in-all it was a very enjoyable concert, both from the playing point of view and that of the audience (judging by the comments that were received at the end of the evening). Thanks to all who made it possible, but particularly the team of helpers that provided the Band with tea, biscuits and sausage rolls at half-time!

A few pictures from the Solo Competition are now online here: http://www.chesterbrass.co.uk/?grp=9&pg=2&gallery=62

This Friday - 24th September Hear the band live in Kelsall - Venue is opposite the pub - used to be The Morris Dancer (The Olive Tree now I think) 19.30h kick off, more details and tickets from Les Platt.

Usually still on sale on Saturday! It's got a good photo (Rob MacD's I think) and report of the solo comp - well done Brian! If you missed it just ask Brian to email the photo :) I'm sure he won't mind....

The 4barsrest web site has, once again, done us proud by featuring another of our news items! The report on the Solo Competition can be seen here: http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=2532 Brass Band World magazine also features the story on its web site ( go to http://www.brassbandworld.com/ then click on 'News Update' and search among the headlines!) PS. Anyone got a copy of the August edition of Cheshire Life? Apparently there's a picture in there of the Band at the Waverton Bowling Club job. The picture was spotted in the waiting room of a chiropractor's surgery... :-)

3rd section test piece: extract from www.4barsrest.com 3rd Section - Tam O' Shanter's Ride (Denis Wright) [after the poem by Robert Burns] The preface to the score carries the clue to the style of the music. A cautionary tale of the danger of taking too much strong drink and interfering with the Devil's business. "Whene'er to drink you are inclined, Or cutty-sarks run in your mind, Think! you may buy the joys o'er dear - Remember Tam O' Shanter's mare." It is a wonderfully descriptive piece, written for the 1956 British Open Championships which on that occasion was won by Harry Mortimer (for the last time) and the Fairey Band. Malcolm Arnold had written his orchestral overture just a year before Wright undertook his work, but nevertheless it is a piece of music that stands both comparison and the test of time. It is also a work that will certainly test the players and conductors at this level as well, with soprano and bass trombone players in particular in for a hard days work fending off the Devil on horseback as Tam makes his way back from the pub and a night on the whiskey. It is a piece the bands and the audiences will enjoy, although it will stretch many a band too far we think. Interesting choice though. Tam O'Shanter's Ride by Denis Wright based on a Burns poem that can be found at: http://www.rabbie-burns.com/the_poems/tamoshanter.cfm complete with translation! Anyone know it? Seems Riddings got a 4th at Buxton 2nd section in 1996 with it.. and Harry Mortimer won at the Open in 1956 with Faireys also playing this piece. Denis Wright was the founder of the NYBB in 1951. He died in 1967. biog can be found at: http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2001/July01/MenofBrass.htm Drop any info into the guest book :)

The Band held its Annual Solo Competition at Mickle Trafford Scout Hut last Sunday (12 Sep). Being held for the 4th time, the competition gives members of both the Main and Training Band the chance to display their musical prowess to an audience of friends, family and fellow musicians. For a lot of the instrumentalists it’s the first time they’ve stood up and performed a solo item in front of an audience, but all this year’s players performed admirably with little sign of nerves. The pieces chosen were extremely varied, with perhaps the most unusual item being a re-creation of Kelly Holmes’ 1500m gold-medal winning performance at the Athens Olympics, immediately followed by a breathless rendition of the National Anthem! Every effort was made to give the soloists a taste of a proper brass band contest; the adjudicator for the day (the Band’s Musical Director, Derek Mitchell) was sat behind a screen, unable to see the competitors, and each player was announced by number rather than name in order to make the proceedings as fair as possible. After some very encouraging performances the results were: Vice President’s Award (for the new player who has made the most progress) – Matthew McCleary Overall Winner of Solo Competition – Kirsty Blain Overall Runner-Up – Chris Clowes Training Band Solo Winner – Leanne Wilsher Training Band Runner-Up – Charlie Thomas All the competitors received a certificate, and they can all be congratulated on the hard work and effort that they had so obviously put in to practising their chosen pieces. Well done!

Fantastic - that was the conclusion of all who attended today (12th Sep) Full report and prize winner list will follow :)

An article about the new music stands and the Solo Competition has made it on to the 4barsrest web site! Click here to see it - http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=2500 The same article can also be found on the news pages of the Brass Band World web site - http://www.brassbandworld.com See Ian presenting the stands to Derek here===> http://www.chesterbrass.co.uk/?grp=9&pg=2&gallery=61