Milnrow Band at British Open Brass Band Championships

Milnrow Band continued their steady progress in competition with the elite when they competed in the British Open Brass Band Championships at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

This was the second appearance at the championships for the band having performed last year, with the band finishing twelfth out of 17 bands – exactly the same placing as last year.

During the competition Milnrow were to compete against five competitors who have been previous winners of the event since 2000. In addition, the band was up against the likes of Fairey Band, Fodens, Grimethorpe, Leyland and last year's winners
Tredegar from Wales.

After many weeks of sectional and all day rehearsals under Musical Director Mareika Gray (assisted by Kevin Gibbs), members of the band were fired up with an all consuming passion for the test piece Vita Aeterna, by Dutch composer Alexander Comitas, with the desire to peak on the platform on the day.

Playing seventh in the competition, Milnrow appeared on stage early in the afternoon and it was apparent that Mareika had worked her magic with her usual before performance “be cool, be confident” and “play for yourselves” message as there were
confident and relaxed smiles from her players.

The band excelled in the very quiet opening, introduced by a few just audible notes from a solitary EEb bass which ushered in the Adagio, with quiet and well balanced playing depicting the 'Beginning of Life'.

The following sections, Allegro energetico, and Tempo di valse modo subdolo - “each seeks to seduce and gradually succeeds” - the band admirably and achieved all of these objectives with some lovely controlled playing.

Allegro tempestuoso (fate strikes), Tempo di Marcia and the finale Fugue and Apothesis provided the band with the opportunity to display its ability to match the other competitors with some boisterous and beautifully powerful playing to bring the test piece to a rousing conclusion.

Throughout the performance the ensemble supporting the various solo elements were described as “superb.”

Black Dyke were eventually crowned the winners with Cory in second place and Flowers in third place.

After the competition, the band maintains its right to represent the North West area in the British Open Championship of 2015.