Bodmin Town Band represented Bodmin and the whole of Cornwall in a brass band competition in November.
The band’s committee and members decided to participate in the Wychavon Festival of Brass in Evesham, an entertainments contest - a little different to the usual competition!
Musical director and conductor Colin Hudson said: “Usually there’s a set test piece for bands to perform at a ‘closed audition’. Months are spent perfecting the test piece. Without seeing each band, the judges listen and select the band who plays the best. At an entertainments contest, however, the band produces a 20-minute programme of music of their choice to showcase their standard. Judging includes visuals and choreography as well as the choice of theme, compere and delivery. Judges and bands in the competition are the audience.”
Twenty bands in the championship section of the contest performed their programme on Saturday, 4th November. Bands enter this level only if they have earned their place as ‘champions’, as a set number of points are required, gained from entering and winning competitions.
Bodmin Town Band are champions. They have participated and won many competitions to earn that right, for example, the ‘iconic Friday marches’ in Yorkshire, famously depicted in the film ‘Brassed Off’ that includes a mad dash from venue to venue. Band members thoroughly enjoyed this experience and plan to return next year.
Bodmin Town Band is only one of a few championship bands in Cornwall and demonstrates an extremely high level of playing. Colin said: “Bodmin Town Band is very fortunate to have fabulous musicians as committed members.
“The band has worked extremely hard on this and bought into the crazy ideas and the sentiment behind the contest programme.”
The winning spot eluded the band on this occasion, but Bodmin is proud of its championship brass band.
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