Band in touching distance of the ‘very top’

Natalie Beer, Danny Beer and MD Russell Gray

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After knocking on the doors of success for several years, Milnrow Band have gained entry to the hallowed halls of British Brass Banding, qualification enabling the band to play in the National Finals of the British Brass Band Championships at the Albert Halls (London) in October 2013.

The band contested with eleven other top North West bands, all vying for the only places left available for two of the best of the 12 bands to be invited to perform in London, Fodens having already qualified.

After many weeks of strenuous and sometimes exhausting rehearsal,s under the direction of husband and wife team Mareika and Russell Gray, the band had honed its performance of the Champion Section test piece ‘Harmony Music’, by Philip Sparke, to what was perceived to be ‘near’ perfection.

On three previous ‘public type rehearsals’ of the test piece at Boarshurst Band Club, Dobcross Band Club and Milnrow Cricket Club, the consensus of opinion was that the band this year could possibly do better than last year's magnificent fourth place.

In the North West Championship Section of 12 bands there are three whose positions of excellence are deemed almost unassailable and if either Fairey, Fodens or Leyland bands were to falter on the day it would be left open for almost any one of the remaining bands to slip in ahead of the pack, and gain a much coveted qualifying place.

Upon taking the stage as fifth band to play it was obvious that Russell Gray had a confident and well focussed bunch of players ready to give their all in pursuit of a long cherished dream.

To attempt to fully describe the contents of ‘Harmony Music’ (definitely the toughest test for the band so far) would take an expert to fathom, so suffice to say that from the first hardly audible notes welling to a full crescendo of sound, and with ensemble playing par excellence combining both slow melodic phrases and finger ‘busting’ gymnastics, the Milnrow players were able to display their undoubted technical abilities.

Interspersed  were various sections in which the bands soloists were required to perform their art, and within the piece we were treated to some delicious and excellent playing from Senne La Mela (Principle Cornet), James Emberley (Solo Euphonium), Mike Morris (Solo Horn) with Kenny Pain (Soprano Cornet), Natalie Beer (Flugel Horn) and others adding their individual virtuosity to the proceedings, but on the day, right from the percussion team, basses and an on form trombone section through to the back row cornets on the day all of the Milnrow players were undisputed stars.

After the performance Russell Gray (MD) intimated that he would be happy for the band to emulate last year's result with a fourth place, so consolidating its position as the ‘best of the rest’ or even look to displace one of the ‘big guns’ and gain a thirrd place in order to qualify for the finals in London - the band did just that by occupying third place with the well known Fairey Band dropping to fourth spot.

Milnrow Band, heady and happy with the best result in living memory, returned to the village on Sunday evening with the ‘George Davenport Memorial Trophy’ and a mere £75 to go towards the expected sum of £5,000 required to take the band to London.

A spokesman for the Band said: "The feeling of achieving the position of being the third best band in the North West Area is unbelievable but one of which the band and supporters can be justly proud, for after some 153 years the band is actually in touching distance of the ‘very top’, proof that hard work and dedication can get you almost anywhere."