Shanklin Town Brass Band

Rylstone Chalet, Popham Road, Shanklin, PO37 6RG

Registered Charity Number: 1134447

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News Archive


29th July 2011 - music exams

We have several people of all ages who take advantage of our Saturday morning Brass Academy lessons and seven of the youngsters recently took various Associated Board music exams.

And we're pleased to announce that they all passed.

The results were as follows:

Name

Exam

Result

Adam Rogers

Baritone Grade 5

Pass with Merit

Alex Warner

Cornet Grade 3

Pass

Ashley Wicks

Cornet Grade 8

Pass with Merit

Charlotte Lewis

Tenor Horn Grade 6

Pass with Merit

Emma Cusworth

Flugel Horn Grade 8

Pass with Merit

Hannah Cusworth

Baritone Grade 5

Pass with Merit

Ryan Jones

Eb Bass Grade 8

Pass with Merit

Our MD Malcolm Lewis was delighted with the results saying, "I'm ever so pleased for the youngsters as they've put a lot of hard work and effort into preparing for their exams and they've thoroughly earned their passes."

29th May 2011 - Hangleton Youth Band Visits Shanklin

Hangleton Youth Brass Band, from near Brighton, paid a visit to Shanklin Youth Brass Band. A joint rehearsal was held in the morning, which was followed by the two bands socialising by having  lunch and some games together.

In the afternoon, however, the two bands took turns in entertaining the public in Rylstone Gardens before joining forces to present one big massed band that was 70+ strong. Fitting everybody on the bandstand was no mean feat but we managed it.

The concert was very popular with the audience in Rylstone Gardens and the whole day was deemed a great success by all those involved. Shanklin's Youth Band are looking forward to visiting Hangleton at some point in the near future.

17th April 2011 - Success at Hove

Shanklin Town Brass Band Sweeps The Board!

At the SCABA Spring Contest held at Hove on Sunday 17th April 2011, Shanklin Town Brass Band took several prizes.

Karen Lewis received the Second Section Trophy from John Williams

The Senior Band took:

  • FIRST place in the Second Section, playing the test piece Occasion

  • BEST Conductor in the Second Section

  • BEST Instrumentalist, Emma Cusworth who played the Flugel Horn

  • Second with the march Punchinello

 
Malcolm Lewis, assisted by Kieran Wetherick & Alex Warner, collects the Youth Band's trophies and certificates

The Youth Band took:

  • FIRST place in the Youth Section, playing the test piece Anglian Dances

  • BEST March in the Youth Section, with Barnard Castle

  • BEST Conductor in the Youth Section

  • BEST Youth Instrumentalist, Ashley Wicks on Solo Cornet

5th February 2011 - Youth Band Concert

The Youth Band held a concert in Shanklin's United Reformed Church to raise money for the Sandown High School trip to South Africa in August 2011 as part of Operation Wallacea.

Operation Wallacea is a series of biological and conservation management research programmes that operate in remote locations across the world. These expeditions are designed with specific wildlife conservation aims in mind - from identifying areas needing protection, through to implementing and assessing conservation management programmes.

The concert, which was well attended, had an 'animal theme' to it with musical numbers ranging from Born Free to a piece called Elephant Act to The Teddy Bear's Picnic!! 

One of the soloists was Ashley Wicks (Cornet) who is one of the students from Sandown High who will be going on the trip, for which a total of £316 was raised.

12th November 2010 - ANDREW PAYNE

Shanklin Town Brass Band deeply regret to announce
the sad death of Andrew Payne
on 12th November 2010

Andrew, a former helper with the band, sadly passed away at St Mary's Hospital, Newport at the age of 84 after losing his battle with ill health.  He was a very popular non playing member who helped the band tremendously.  Shanklin Town Brass Band would like to offer its deepest condolences to Andrew's family.

At Andrew's funeral Malcolm Lewis, the band's MD, gave a short tribute to him.

"One nice sunny afternoon at a band concert, Andrew answered our plea for help on band nights (e.g. making the tea!)

Andrew was a very private man, we did not know his age until the first time he went into hospital.  Making the tea soon extended to other things, Andrew and  myself built the reception area at the bandroom.  He also built the acoustic ceiling screens in the bandroom to improve the sound, which he did on his own.  His willingness to help ended up with him on the Band Committee where his views and ideas were well respected.  In fact, he won the Chairman's award in 2003 for all his hard work.

Andrew was our caretaker to the building; he would hoover, paint and change any lights that needed changing.  He was always there to let any visitors in and show them around.  He would also travel with the band to contests in Brighton, Folkestone and Torquay.  He also travelled to London for the three consecutive concerts we did at Westminster Abbey.

Andrew was always the first one at band on band nights and if you crept in you would hear him playing on the xylophone or glockenspiel and even the drum kit.  So much so, if we were short of a percussionist Andrew would always be willing to help on the bass drum or cymbals.  If he knew the words, he would join in and at times he would even whistle, especially to the Great Escape!

The band will always be grateful for Andrew's hard work in our early years.  It was his hard work and encouragement that helped the band to prosper."

29th October 2010 - The Award Winning Youth Band

The award winning Shanklin Town Youth Brass Band with some of the trophies they won at Folkestone, including SCABA Band of The Year.

16th October 2010 - SCABA Autumn Contest

SHANKLIN TOWN YOUTH BRASS BAND

Has been named as
The
Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association
's
Brass Band of 2010

This was the big news at the SCABA Autumn Contest held in Folkestone on Saturday 16th October 2010. 

At a well attended contest, the Youth Band won their section, repeating their success from Hove earlier this year and the Senior Band came third in their section, beating some bands who nationally are in higher sections.  Malcolm Lewis, Musical Director, was very pleased with all the results but he was especially proud of the Youth Band's achievement, saying that the Youth Band can be justifiably proud of themselves.

The Youth Band, in addition to the above, took:

  • FIRST Place

  • BEST Youth Instrumentalist, Robert Bartlett on Euphonium

  • BEST Conductor

  • BEST placed Member Band

The Senior Band took:

  • Third Place in the Second Section.

  • BEST Conductor in the Second Section.

The actual result was

Pos

Band

Conductor

National Section

1

Hitchin

Craig Paterson

3

2

Colchester

Peter Ivey

2

3

Shanklin Town Brass

Malcolm Lewis

4

4

Betteshanger Colliery Band

Steve McIntyre

3

5

Oxted

Martin Beaumont

N/A

6

Uckfield Concert Brass

Nick Morris

3

7

St Sebastian Wokingham

Lee Woodward

2

8

Medway Concert Brass

Garrie Harvey

3

9

Hangleton

Richard Baker

3

10

Cranbrook Town

Ian Lanceley

N/A

 

18th April 2010 - Success at Hove

Shanklin Town Brass Band Sweeps The Board!

At the SCABA Spring Contest held at Hove Town Hall on Sunday 18th April 2010, Shanklin Town Brass Band took several prizes.

 
Malcolm Lewis receives the Best Conductor trophy

The Senior Band took:

  • FIRST place in the Second Section, playing the test piece Music For A Festival

  • BEST Trombone Section

  • BEST Conductor in the Second Section

  • Second with the march Castell Coch

The Youth Band took:

  • FIRST place in the Youth Section, playing the test piece Malvern Suite

  • BEST March in the Youth Section

  • BEST Conductor in the Youth Section

  • BEST Youth Instrumentalist, Ashley Wicks on Solo Cornet


The Youth Band on stage at Hove

13th March 2010 - NATIONAL BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

West of England regional Championships

Held at The Riviera Centre, Torquay, Devon

Saturday 13th March 2010

Results:

1. Test Valley Brass (Steve Large)

2. Hatherleigh Silver (Dave Hayward)

3. Downton (Roland Wright)

4. A W Parker (Drybrook) (Kevin White)

5. Shanklin Town Brass (Malcolm Lewis)

6. Wight Brass (Alan Ingram)

7. New Forest Brass (Richard Sharp)

8. Swindon Brass (Francis Cowley)

9. Totnes (Steve Young)

10. Launceston Town (Dave Dobson)

Twenty Bands competed with Shanklin playing at number 17 and equalling their best performance in the competition with fifth place. 

25th February 2010 - STBB ACHIEVES CHARITABLE STATUS

Following a lengthy application we have been successful in our bid to become a registered charity!

11th October 2009 - SUCCESS AT FOLKESTONE

Shanklin Town Brass Band, and Shanklin Youth Brass Band, both had a successful trip to Folkestone for the 2009 SCABA Autumn Contest, held at Leas Cliff Hall on Sunday 11th October.

The Youth Band won their section, retaining the title in both the Hymn Tune and Test Piece. Euphonium player Robert Bartlett (pictured left) took the Best Instrumentalist Prize in the Youth section . The adjudicator's comments about the Hymn Tune they played, Eventide, in particular were that the youngsters were capable of competing against some of the bands in the third section - and possibly beating them!

The Senior Band, promoted to the Second section earlier in the year, also took a couple of unexpected prizes. They played Diadem as the Hymn tune, winning with 188 points.

The most encouraging award in the Second Section however, went to the Horn Section, consisting of four girls with an average age of 15, who had competed against players of many years' experience.

This is not the first time the girls have won an award. A few years ago they won the same prize in the Third Section at the Spring Contest in Hove, demonstrating that the Band have a strong and committed Horn Section with plenty of potential!

Malcolm Lewis, Musical Director, said "Folkestone was a great success for both bands. I am especially proud of the girls in the Horn Section, who once again took on players of many years experience and won."

All four of the successful Horn Section. Emma Cusworth, Charlotte Lewis (with the trophy), Lauren Sebastian, Millie Pusey

Pictured (from L-R) are Millie Pusey, Emma Cusworth (holding the Trophy - a cut down Tenor Horn!) and Charlotte Lewis. Not pictured is Lauren Sebastian who returned to University on the evening of the Contest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28th June 2009 - James Sparks

Shanklin Town Brass Band deeply regret to announce
the sad death of James Sparks
on 28th June 2009

See separate page for more details

The much missed James Sparks

5th April 2009 - YOUTH BAND SUCCESS AT SCABA SPRING CONTEST

Spring 2009 Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association

Hove Town Hall

5th April 2009

Shanklin Town Youth Brass Band Triumph at Hove Contest

The members of the Youth Band travelled to Hove in Sussex on Sunday 5th April to take part in the SCABA Spring Contest. Despite stiff competition from Hangleton Youth, they won their section, the March Prize, and Ashley Wicks on Solo Cornet, scooped the Best Instrumentalist Award. MD Malcolm Lewis won the Conductor's Prize

The youngsters performed a fundraising concert in February at the United Reformed Church in Shanklin (from which the above photo was taken) to pay for the coach to take them to the Contest and their hard work and dedication has really paid off. 

The success of the Youth Band complements the achievements of the Senior Band who were recently promoted to the Second Section within SCABA and finished fifth overall in the competition.

Oscar Pusey and Sophie Cusworth, accompanied by MD Malcolm Lewis, receive the winner's trophy from John Wiliams, SCABA Chairman.

17th January 2009 - OUR TALENTED YOUNGSTERS

Talented Youngsters Receive their Associated Board Certificates

14 young players from the Shanklin Town Brass Academy received their certificates for their success in their Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Examinations held in early December last year.

Every youngster entered, passed, two with distinctions, and many more with merits. The instruments represented almost all parts of the band, including cornets, flugelhorn, tenor horn, euphoniums and baritones and basses.

The levels assessed ranged from foundation level, with three members taking grade I, intermediate level where nine players took grades III-V, and advanced level with two girls taking grade VI.

6th April 2008 - SCABA SPRING CONTEST

Spring 2008 Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association

Hove Town Hall

6th April 2008

Shanklin Town Brass Band were represented by both the Senior and Youth Bands at this contest. Each Band was required to play a March and an own choice Test Piece.

The Senior Band entered the Third section, playing Castell Caerdydd for the march and Four Cities Symphony for the test piece. This is the same Test Piece they played at the West of England Regional Championships that won them 5th place. This time they came second, scoring 177 points for the March and 182 points for the Test Piece.

As well as entering their own Section the Senior Band decided to test their musical abilities further by entering the Second Section. Here they chose to play Punchinello for the march, and scored 183 points. The test piece they chose for this section was Dimensions, for which they also scored 183 points. This placed the Band 5th in the Section, pleasing Musical Director Malcolm Lewis who said, "I thought I'd made a mistake entering us for the higher section but the Band did me proud - we didn't come last and we didn't come second to last, we came 5th. A good result"

In the Youth/Third Section the Youth Band played the march Slaidburn and the test piece Stantonbury Festival. They scored 179 points for each (beating the Senior Band in the March!) and were the highest placed Youth Band.

James Sparks (pictured left receiving his trophy from John Williams, Chairman of the Southern Counties Amateur Band Association) on Repiano Cornet won the Best Youth Instrumentalist and Musical Director Malcolm Lewis won the Best Youth Conductor's Prize.

8th March 2008 - NATIONAL BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

2008 West of England Regional Championships

Riviera International Conference Centre

Torquay 

8th March 2008

Twenty five members of Shanklin Town Brass Band travelled to Torquay to take part in this competition. They performed in the 4th Section, playing a piece written especially for the competition by Rodney Newton called Four Cities Symphony. The competition was adjudicated by Peter Roberts and Rob Wiffin.

The draw for the running order was announced and STBB were drawn to play last...

Despite the flat acoustics in the Hall the Band managed to produce a crisp and dynamic sound. Malcolm the MD felt they had played well enough, having heard all the competition play previously, to come 4th or 5th.

The results were announced, and a massive cheer was heard from the Island contingent when they were confirmed as 5th place. The points showed that they were only two marks away from qualifying for the National Finals in Harrogate.

The top six positions were:

1. Brunel Brass, J. Winterflood
2. Wincanton Silver, B. Kelloway
3. Totnes, I. Wilkinson
4. Bream Silver, H. Cole
5. Shanklin Town Brass (IoW), M. Lewis
6. Weymouth Concert Brass, A. Glynn

4BarsRest, the internet Banding Site had this to say about the Band

"Shanklin Town had not travelled over the sea from the Isle of Wight to give anything less than their all at Saturday’s contest, and they did just that. After waiting all day to play (having drawn 20, and last), Shanklin gave an extremely confident performance of the test piece. Some of the players seemed to be incredibly young, but when listening this was not at all evident, as the sound of the band was easily one of the most balanced of the whole day.

The MD created some very nice shapes with the music, the solo euphonium had a lovely sound and the young chap on bass trombone will be one to watch out for in the future without a shadow of a doubt. Credit must also be given to the band’s percussion section, who really drove everything along and created a real sense of excitement in many places, and ensured the band’s effort ended with a bang (and together as well – something hardly any others actually achieved!).

There were several moments of tuning that was not quite 100% accurate, especially as the piece moved towards its conclusion, and the timpani on which the concert G was being played was horribly flat in places. These did not do too much to detract however, and 5th place was a fine reward for this band made up of mainly extremely young, but all extremely talented players."

23rd February 2008 - YOUTH BAND FUND RAISING CONCERT

Shanklin Town Youth Brass Band performed a special fundraising concert at the United Reformed Church in Shanklin on 23rd February 2008.

Among the numbers they performed were The Great Escape, A Bridge Too Far, and Nessun Dorma.

Entrance was free and the retiring collection, which was in aid of the United Reformed Church, raised £235.

Solos were performed by Ashley Wicks (The Lazy Trumpeter on Cornet), Emma Cusworth (Georgia on my Mind on Flugel Horn), Dan Reynolds (The Acrobat on Trombone) and Robert Bartlett (Nessun Dorma on Euphonium).

Page last updated 26 January 2012