Contest Review 2019
It’s been a whirlwind year for Flowers Band. As we charge into 2020, I’m using this time to reflect on the past year’s contest results under MD Paul Holland’s second tenure.
There have been a vast number of changes throughout the band which have strengthened the band in key areas. We are now pushing for the very highest accolades in the Banding world with one of the youngest average ages of any band.
January
Butlins Mineworkers Contest.
Test Piece Result - 7th Place
An extremely rare last place started our year with the Test Piece Benvenuto Cellini.
Entertainment Result - Music (2nd Place) & Entertainment (3rd Place)
Freedom programme -
Red Hills of Georgia (Jonathan Bates) Let Freedom Ring (Jonathan Bates)
Soloist: Paul Richards
The War Dance of the Red Cossacks (Jonathan Bates)
I Wish I Knew How it would feel to be Free (Nina Simone arr. Jonathan Bates)
That Promised Land (Jonathan Bates)
Overall Placing - 4th Place. Uncharacteristically poor from Flowers as we usually fight for the title at Butlins. A poor test piece rendition was the nail in the coffin for our weekend despite a much stronger showing in the Sunday’s entertainment.
March
West of England Area Contest.
Result - 1st Place
We get back to winning ways at the West of England Area contest on Seascapes. This qualifies us for the National Finals later in the year.
June
French Open Contest
March Result - 1st Place
A French holiday for Flowers Band. We performed a March (The Cossack) and were awarded 1st place with 98/100 points
Test Piece Result - 1st Place
Philip Wilby’s Ascension was our chosen Test Piece. Tom Fountain was our soloist with Threnody (Ben Hollings) and was awarded Best Soloist.
Band Of The Year Contest
Result - 9th Place
Revamping Ascension and Threnody, Flowers were part of a select group of bands chosen to compete in the inaugural BrassPass Band of the Year Contest during an incredibly stressful weekend for Flowers Band. MD Paul Holland slipped a disc in his back before the previous Thursday’s rehearsal, meaning he was unable to take the band. Marieka Gray stepped in at quite literally the eleventh hour to take us on a test piece she’d never seen before. We were lucky to have played at all, so the result didn’t hold too much significance.
September
British Open
Result - 5th Place
A turning point? We manage to pull off one of the surprise results of the contest by showing a glimpse of what we’re capable of on a new commission, Peter Graham’s Dynasty.
October
National Championship Finals of Great Britain
Result - 5th Place
Progress was the word on everyone’s lips as a resurgent Flowers Band once again achieve a podium finish on the devilishly difficult Titan’s Progress at the Royal Albert Hall. Representing the West of England as Champions, we are aiming to return as WoE Champions next year, too.
November
Brass In Concert
Result - 3rd Place
Captain Nemo serves as inspiration as we claim a fantastic 3rd place at the highly competitive Brass in Concert. Jamie Smith shines as our soloist.
Captain Nemo's Forgotten Journal
Dawn of a Voyage (Dan Price)
The Descent (Christopher Bond)
Soloist: Jamie Smith (cornet)
Monster Thrash (Paul Saggers)
La Cathedrale Engloutie (Debussy arr. Dan Price)
Escape the Kraken (Dan Price)