Sovereign retains 2024 ConsTest Title
Congratulations to Sovereign Brass and Musical Director Alan Gifford on successfully defending their ConsTest Birmingham Open title. Returning as a Championship section band at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire their ambitious own-choice test of Derek Bourgeois' 'The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea' impressed the audience and adjudicators alike. Judges Ian Porthouse and Ryan Watkins described the performance as having “flair and purpose”, with the band not only winning the Newmoon Insurance Trophy, but also taking home £475 in prize money.
Fellow Midland challengers Newstead Brass was runner-up with its own choice piece of Gregson’s 'Of Distant Memories', with 'The Saga of Haakon the Good' performed by first section Seindorf Beaumaris completing the podium places. Full results are below:
1. Sovereign Brass (Alan Gifford)
2. Newstead Brass (Martin Heartfield)
3. Seindorf Beaumaris (Bari Gwilliam)
4. Jackfield Band (Ryan Richards)
5. Oddfellows Band (Craig Williams)
6. Harborough Band (Ben Smith)
7. Skelmersdale Prize Band (Ben Coulson)
8. Amington Band (Chris Barker)
9. Nailsworth Silver Band (Anri Adachi)
10. City of Chester Blucoat Band (Ewan Easton)
11. Clock Face Miners Heritage Band (Will Haw)
12. Cleobury Mortimer Concert Band (David Nicholson)
13. Croft Silver Band (Henry Dunger)
Highest Placed Championship Section Band: Sovereign Brass
Highest Placed First Section Band: Seindorf Beaumaris
Highest Placed Second Section Band: Skelmersdale Prize Band
Highest Placed Third Section Band: Amington Band
Highest Placed Fourth Section Band: Croft Silver Band
Most Promising Lower Section Band: Skelmersdale Prize Band
Best Euphonium: Pete Woodley (Jackfield Band)
Best Instrumentalist: Claire Taylor (Principal Cornet of Newstead Brass)
Best Cornet: Kirst Abbotts (Oddfellows Brass)
Best Back Row: Seindorf Beaumaris
Best Bass Section: Seindorf Beaumaris
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