Salford University, Saturday, February 2, 2002

Chalford Youth Band came 8th out of 13 in the community band section of the national youth band championships here today..

The Chalford youngsters, conducted by Steve Tubb, had 28 marks out of a possible 40 for the test piece; and 82 marks overall. So they got 54 marks out of a possible 60 for their four other pieces!.

Full results were: (bands listed in order of play):

Haydock Youth Band 5 th

Poynton Youth Brass Band 9

Queensferry High School Community Youth 10

Crofton Silver Youth Band 11

St. Keverne Youth Band 1

Dobcross Youth 2

Houghton Area Youth Band 7

Horbury Victoria Youth Band 6

Tewit Youth Band 4

Ratby Co-operative Junior Band 13

Shaw Youth Band 12

Chalford Youth Band 8

Lions Youth Brass 3

The best instrumentalist prize went to Christopher Crawshaw the euphonium player from the Poynton Youth Brass Band, (who played 'The Way We Were').

The 44 Chalford youngsters had tougher competition this year, having played in the Junior Band Championship for the three previous years.

The Community Band Championship was for players that are 19 or under on the day of the contest. This allowed Chalford to play several players who could not have played had we stayed in the Junior Band Championship , which has a upper age limit of 16.

The test piece for the Community Championship was 'Variations: A pilgrim's Song'. This is a set of variations on the hymn tune Monks Gate ('He who would valiant be'). The composer is a New ZealanderThomas Rive. The piece was composed in the early sixties and is a Salvation Army piece. The piece is certainly a test for all bands in this section. Chalford was probably the band with the youngest average age. No doubt others had lots of 17, 18 and 19 year olds!

The Community Band Section was open to all bands organised independently of an education authority, music service or school. Each band had to play a varied programme of between 20 and 22 minutes. This had to include the set work and at least one other original work for brass band.

Chalford's programme was

1) "The Geat Escape" by Elmer Bernstein arranged by M.J.Pegram.

2) "Variations: A Pilgrims Song" by Thomas Rive.

3) "Lady in Red" by Chris De Burgh arranged by Darrol Barry. (Flugel Soloist; Kelly Evans).

4) "Born Free" by John Barry arranged by Alan Catherall.

5) "Commuter" - the 4th movement of "The Journeymen" by Ray Steadman-Allen.

The two adjudicators were Michael Ball and Stephen Cobb. and adjudication was open.

As the results and prizes were not due to be awarded until 7.40pm,.the youngsters and their supporters did not stop for the results and Bandmaster Andy Godwin was given them by telephone later.