Brass Band of Central Florida
FOR BRASS BAND ENTHUSIASTS
Retired Bandmaster Ray Maycock has recently spent a week touring, as the guide, with the BBCF. He has sent us this report.
The top-ranked brass band in the United States, with previous and current successes at Championship Contest level to prove it. British instrumentation, numerous professional or semi-professional musicians and a most gifted conductor/arranger. That’s the Brass Band of Central Florida (and it’s only 7 years old)!
It was my great pleasure to be the BBCF’s Tour Guide during their very recent one-week tour of the UK. Their main objective was to participate in two major events – a “World of Brass in Concert” programme (this with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band) and the “Brass in Concert Championship” contest. Both events took place at The Sage, a brand new multi-million pound Concert and Arts centre in Gateshead.
Before those occasions they visited the “Rink” in central London (The Salvation Army’s church in Oxford Street), presenting a joint Festival with the Regent Hall Band. Then it was on to Banbury (of Banbury Cross fame) for a concert in a highly ornate church; hence to the partially ruined (8th Century) but very impressive Crowland Abbey near Peterborough to record a new CD. That was followed by a joint programme at the Peterborough Salvation Army church with the home Songster Brigade (choir). In all these events the Band displayed superb musicianship and innovative choreography, and many items were played from memory. Just one of their wonderful soloists was Herb Bruce, a trombonist of international repute.
Moving to Gateshead, the concert with Grimethorpe could easily be described as one of the outstanding band programmes of the year. The “Brass in Concert” Championship the following day featured 11 of the UK’s finest bands plus the BBCF (in its first appearance at such an event) – each band was given 23 minutes in which to perform a varied entertainment programme. The result? – the BBCF was placed 4th, beating 8 of the finest British bands in the process! It also most deservedly won the Best Percussion Section prize and the Best Entertainment & Presentation award.
Me? – hugely tired, immensely satisfied, plus 30 marvellous new friends! You? – if you get a chance to hear the BBCF (either for real or via one of their CDs), just do not miss it!
We are grateful to Ray for taking the time to send us this interesting report. Why not also visit www.worldofbrass.com