News

This year's AGM has been set for 7.45pm Tuesday 11th May 2010. All welcome. There are plans for a rehearsal once the official business has been completed so please still bring your instruments and music as usual.

Watership Brass is pleased, and proud, to announce that Dr. Chris Davis OBE has agreed to lead our band in a workshop on Sunday 6th June 2010. Following on from his adjudication and comments at the recent GBBA Entertainment Contest, we are looking forward to working with him on our dynamics, breathing techniques, listening and other musical areas. It will certainly be an exciting and interesting opportunity to work with such an experienced musician in order to improve our group.

Watership Brass were delighted, but not surprised, when Mick Wooldridge, solo cornet, was awarded the Best Solo Award at the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association Contest on Sunday 7th February 2010. His rendition of 'Misty' was stunningly beautiful and showed to its best the pure tone of a well-played cornet. Congratulations Mick, you were a worthy winner and we are all very proud to have you as the lead player of our band.

Watership Brass are pleased and delighted to announce the presentation of a Gold Award following their performance at this year's Gloucestershire Brass Band Association contest. A very early start saw the band arriving in Gloucester at 8.30am and with the draw taking place at 8.45am and finding we were due to play 7th we all had time to listen to the first three bands in our section. There was amazement on hearing that one of the bands had also chosen Dreamcatchers within their programme and it was interesting to hear a different band's interpretation of Paul Lovett-Cooper's piece. Having warmed up and been taken through to the registration room it was there that nerves kicked in for some of the players as an advance party set up the stage for the band. A real effort had been made to ensure our entry was professional as "the performance starts from the moment you enter the stage, not just from the first played note" (Mark Picken quote!) Each section had arranged to sit once all its members had arrived and after a brief introduction from the compere Mark appeared and it was time for our first piece 'Heavy Action' a rousing start and a good warm-up piece. Nerves ensured not the best of starts but once playing we all settled down and concentrated fully to give justice to all the hard work over the last three months. Our second item 'Misty' featuring solo cornet player Mick Wooldridge was a great success, with the band truly supporting our solo player, and following 'Nicaea' it was time to let the adjudicator listen to 'Dreamcatchers' for the second instance that morning. All seven soloists featured well considering rather difficult spacial issues and whilst maybe not our best ever performance, one worthy of the Gold Award we were subsequently presented with. A truly nerve-racking but thoroughly enjoyable and educating step into the world of contesting.

In true Christmas spirit a quintet of players arrived at Gordon and Dot's house on Christmas morning to spread festive cheer. Following a fall some months ago Gordon has not been able to attend rehearsals, nor play carols this year, and so Watership went to him instead. However, not only did we play to him in Thatcham but also in Sydney Australia, Edinburgh Scotland, Gloucester and a little nearer to home, Reading, as Dot called friends and relatives and asked for requests. A wonderful way to start a Christmas Day