2019 BrassPass.tv UK Band of the Year
Congratulations go to the Cory Band and their MD as the winners of the inaugural BrassPass.tv 'UK Band of the Year'. The event took place at Stoller Hall in Manchester and was successfully broadcast live on the internet throughout the day. The decision to award Cory the top spot and impressive prize money was unanimous, with adjudicators Tom Brevik, Reid Gilje and Jan De Haan also rewarding the band’s principal cornet player, Tom Hutchinson with the soloist award for his sublime playing of the first movement of Derek Bourgeois’ ‘Cornet Concerto’. This work was sandwiched by an opener of T. J. Powell’s 'The Spaceman’ and final work of ‘Explorers on the Moon’ from the pen of Philip Harper, all delivered in impressive and bold fashion.
Black Dyke were awarded second place for what was considered by many to be an exceptional performance from the Yorkshire band, soloist Katrina Marzella-Wheeler and MD Professor Nicholas Childs. Certainly a few pundits and audience members were surprised that the band was not the outright winner, given the top notch playing on display. The final podium place was awarded to Welsh Champions, Tredegar and their conductor Ian Porthouse.
The event closed in spectacular fashion with a superb gala concert given by Black Dyke and guest soloist David Childs, who was described by compere Frank Renton as ‘the greatest euphonium player in the World. David lived up to his introduction with truly world-class performances of fiendishly difficult ‘tour de force’ pieces as well as two truly beautiful renditions of ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘A little Prayer’. Black Dyke showed no hint of disappointment over the result in their performance and the entire concert was simply sensational. Bands and audience members, both live and virtual, will be deighted to learn that a 2020 BrassPass.tv UK Band of the Year is already being planned.
Result:
Adjudicators: Jan De Haan, Tom Brevik, Reid Gilje
De Haan/Brevik/Gilje/(Soloist*) = Total
*only used in the case of a tie
1. Cory (Philip Harper): 1/1/1/(1) = 3
2. Black Dyke (Prof Nicholas Childs): 2/2/2/(2) = 6
3. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse): 3/3/3/(4) = 9
4. Fairey (Garry Cutt): 4/4/5/(7) = 13
5. Foden's (Michael Fowles): 5/5/6/(6) = 16
6. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Russell Gray): 7/6/4/(3) = 17
7. Brighouse & Rastrick (Dr David Thornton): 6/8/7/(5) = 21
8. Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths): 8/7/8/(9) = 23
9. Flowers (Mareika Gray): 9/9/9/(8) = 27
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