NEMBBA 2024

There was an excellent turn out of bands that added to a wonderful atmosphere of inclusion at the annual North East Midlands Brass Band Association (NEMBBA) contest earlier this month. Expanded to a two-day event at the Post Mill Centre in South Normanton, it saw 30 bands and ensembles perform, including training and unregistered bands who were able to showcase entertainment sets to gain feedback from adjudicator John Roberts as well as put plenty of smiles of everyone's faces of the supportive audience. John also adjudicated Section 2 and 4 with Alan Morrison in the box for the Championship, First and Third Sections.

Newstead Brass led by Martin Heartfield gave themselves a huge boost of confidence ahead of the Midlands Regional Championships at the beginning of March with a fine account of Area set-work 'Variations on an Enigma' to retain the title. Commenting on social media a spokesperson for the band stated, "Super proud of our win today. The band have put in a huge amount of work so far, which definitely seems to have paid off! Also, a massive thumbs up to our solo horn Richard for receiving the Ruth Draper Memorial Trophy for 'Best Tenor Horn'. Lastly, well done to Blidworth and Horbury on their performances and we look forward to the Area Contest in two weeks time."

Congratulations too for Unite the Union, Hatfield & Askern Colliery, Dronfield Genquip and Whitwell Brass who won their respective sections with impressive performances. A spokesperson for the event stated, "NEMBBA would like to thank the bands and supporters for attending another successful contest and wish all competitors good luck for their performances in Corby or Huddersfield. We look forward to welcoming bands to our November own choice test piece contest and next years' Spring contest."

Results:
Championship Section:
Variations on an Enigma (Philip Sparke)
Adjudicator: Alan Morrison

1. Newstead Brass (Martin Heartfield)
2. Horbury Victoria Band (Duncan Beckley)
3. Blidworth Welfare Band (Gary Perrin)

Best Horn: Richard Shaw (Newstead Brass)
Best Euphonium: Michael Dodds (Horbury Victoria)

Section 1:
High Peak (Eric Ball)
Adjudicator: Alan Morrison

1. Unite the Union (Jonathan Beatty)
2. Yorkshire Imperial (Garry Hallas)
3. Hucknall & Linby MC (Paul Whyley)
4. Langley (Cliff Parker)
5. City of Coventry (Lee Woodward)
6. Strata Brass (Leigh Baker)
7. Chapeltown Silver Prize (Colum O'Shea)
8. Harborough (Ben Smith)
9. Carlton Brass (Chris Banks)

Best Cornet: Maria Beazer (Unite the Union)

Section 2:
Triptych (Philip Sparke)
Adjudicator: John Roberts

1. Hatfield & Askern Colliery (Richard Marshall)
2. Leicestershire Co-op (Ben Hewlett-Davies)
3. Shirland Welfare (Lynden Cooper)
4. Audley Brass (Tom Hancock)
5. Barnsley Brass (Ben Brickles)
6. Shirebrook Miners Welfare (Luke Pallister)
7. South Yorkshire Police Band (Leigh Baker)
8. Kippax (James Beecham)
9. Pleasley Colliery Welfare (Elizabeth Pearce)

Best soprano: Mike Kilmartin (Hatfield & Askern Colliery)

Section 3:
Corineus (Christopher Bond)
Adjudicator: Alan Morrison

1. Dronfield Genquip (David Holling)
2. Newark Town (Gary Wyatt)
3. Long Eaton Silver Prize (Sharon Stansfield)
4. Ireland Colliery Chesterfield (John Davis)
5. Maltby Miners Welfare (Terry Clifford))

Best Euphonium. Emma McCormick (Long Eaton Silver Prize)

Section 4:
Music for Jock Tamson (Alan Fernie)
Adjudicator: John Roberts

1. Whitwell Brass (Rob Deakin)
2. Matlock Band (Chris Banks)
3. Moulton 77 (Kirsty Woodhouse)
4. Bakewell Silver (Sarah Fellowes)

Best cornet: Christopher Emblen (Whitwell Brass)

Training Band Section:
15 minutes own choice entertainment
Adjudicator: John Roberts

1. Ratby Crescendo Band (Becky Cook)
2. Long Eaton Silver Prize (Sharon Stansfield)

Best instrumentalist: Daniel Rigley (Long Eaton Silver Prize Band)

Unregistered Band Section:
20 minutes own choice entertainment
Adjudicator: John Roberts

1. Shirland Training Band (David Hill)
2. Dronfield Daytime Brass (Roland Spencer)

Best instrumentalist: Jocelyn Trow (Shirland Training Band)

Youngest Player:
(Training, unregistered and Fourth Sections)
Rowan Nicolson (Long Eaton Silver Prize Training Band)

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