Wychavon Festival 2006

Porthywaen Silver Band - Winners at Wychavon  

Wychavon Festival of Brass Sunday 17 September 2006

On a very misty but fine autumn Sunday morning, members of Porthywaen Silver Band boarded their coach at 6 a.m. [that's very early!] to travel to the Wychavon Festival of Brass at Evesham. This festival is a long established entertainment competition which attracts brass bands from all over England and Wales. Each band plays a 20 minute programme of its own choice, with penalty points if this time was exceeded.

The band's Musical Director, David Thomas, chose a programme which ranged from the traditional march The Dam Busters to the 'familiar yet unfamiliar' piece of Forgotten Dreams by Leroy Anderson. The band played at 10.30 a.m. with the results being announced in the early afternoon when all the bands had played.

The results were given in reverse order, a nerve racking experience, but well worth the tension when the band were given first place in their section, three points ahead of the second placed band. The adjudicator considered both soloists in the band as 'quite outstanding' but judged Oliver James as best soloist of all the bands. Oliver played the xylophone in Helter Skelter much to the delight of all.

Final rehearsal in Evesham church hall. Note time is 8.30 a.m.!

David Thomas congratulated by adjudicator Brian Buckley

JOY!

MORE JOY!

THE ADJUDICATION

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