Thu 07 Jun 2012
Jubilee Finale in Poynton

Tuesday saw the final day of Poynton's Jubilee Celebrations. Throughout the Jubilee weekend there had been concerts, drama performances, competitions, fairs, workshops, jubilee lunches to celebrate the festivities and the band was delighted to take part in the final concert alongside on of Poynton's other fine musical groups the St George's Singers.

Today we received a letter from the organisers and thought it only right to post it here on the website:

Dear All
 
We have already thanked several people personally as the weekend has gone on, but we just wanted to say a final HUGE thank you for participating in the Jubilee celebrations in Poynton, whether you provided a venue, singers, dancers, musicians, whatever...  It was a fantastic weekend and we have had a lot of very favourable feedback from all the events.
 
Thank you once again. We couldn't have done it without your support.
 
Annie & Catherine 
Cantata Music Education
Bringing communities together through music

 

Thu 07 Jun 2012
Whit Friday... IT DIDN'T RAIN!

Last Friday saw Vernon Building Society (Poynton) Brass Band (along with around 150 other brass bands) take part in the annual Whit Friday March Competition in Tameside and Saddleworth.

We started off at the Hurst Cross competition at around 5 o'clock, but moved from Tameside into Saddleworth for the rest of the evening performing at 6 other venues throughout the evening (A band must compete in 6 contests in either Tameside or Saddleworth to get an overall ranking for that area).

At each venue we marched down the street (or in most cases up the hill!) to the march Death or Glory, and on the competition stand performed the Grand Contest March Knight Templar by Geo Allen.

Our results were as follows:

Hurst Cross - 26th out of 40
Denshaw - 11th out of 52
Diggle - 22nd out of 50
Lees - 12th out of 49
Lydgate - 24th out of 62
Scouthead - 25th out of 58
Uppermill - 6th out of 53

Overall in Saddleworth we came 21st out of the 57 bands that managed 6 or more contests in the Saddleworth area.

At Uppermill where we gained a very respectable 6th place we were only beaten Fodens, Marsden, Hepworth, Brighouse & Rastrick and the Swiss band Chermignon. It's very nice to be in the mix amongst such big names in the banding world.

Next years contest will be on Friday 24th May.

 

Wed 16 May 2012
Jimmy 'Tew'ba

Our Principal Eb Bass player, the one and only Mr Jimmy Tew, has been winning the Slow Melody Competitions again. This time at  Elland Silver Band's 23rd Annual Slow Melody, Junior Duet & Quartet.

Jimmy took part in two sections, the Open section and the Veterans' section, and came away with first prize in both.

Adjudicator Stuart Fawcett said he had enjoyed every minute of the day.

Open Section:
1. Jimmy Tew - Eb bass (Vernon Building Society Poynton)
2. Alex Crisp - tenor horn (Clifton & Lightcliffe)
3. Charlotte Ankers - flugel (Flixton)

Best Flugel: Charlotte Ankers (Flixton)
Best Cornet: Dominic Wood (Elland Silver)
Best Bass: Jim Tew (VBS Poynton)


Veterans (Over 40):
1. Jimmy Tew (Vernon Building Society Poynton)
2. David Armitage (Elland Silver)

 

Wed 09 May 2012
Listen to our Buxton Performance

You can now listen to our performance of Year of the Dragon by Philip Sparke from the Buxton Contest here.

 

Tue 01 May 2012
Drummer Rolls Away....

Our Vice Presidents' Concert on Saturday and Buxton Contest on Sunday were our Tuned Percussionist, Craig Harper's last performances with the band.

Craig has been with the band for many years but has been offered a position with Fairey Band and obviously couldn't turn down the chance to play regularly for one of the countries top bands.

We wish you the best of luck Craig (but hope to see you back at Poynton where you belong soon!)

In the meantime, the band is now seeking to recruit a top class tuned percussionist to fill Craig's boots!

 

Tue 01 May 2012
Dragon's Rising....

On Sunday, the Vernon Building Society (Poynton) Band competed in the Championship section of the Buxton Brass Band Festival.

Playing Philip Sparke's The Year of the Dragon (which is very appropriate considering we are in the Chinese year of the dragon), the band came off stage buzzing having performed really well with 4BarsRest describing us as delivering an exciting rendition. A special mention must go to our Solo Trombone John Anderson who played the solo in the 2nd movement beautifully.

Although, we would have liked to have won the contest, obviously 3rd prize is still an improvement over recent form and we have to thank our MD Colin Short for getting the band back in to the prizes once more... our dragon is definately rising!

Our next competative outing will be at the Whit Friday marches. See you there!

 

Mon 23 Apr 2012
Wednesday's Rehearsal

Wednesday's Rehearsal (25th April) is at:

Our Lady & The Apostles R C Church
Shaw Heath
Stockport
SK3 8BQ

Normal 8.15pm start time.

 

Sat 14 Apr 2012
Concert Brass (Poynton) requires a Conductor

Concert Brass (Poynton) - a subsidiary of the Vernon Building Society (Poynton) Band - requires a Conductor from Mid-June 2012.

Concert Brass is non-contesting band and only plays a few concerts each year, but it is not a 'learner' band and aims to attract players of good quality who find they cannot give their time to a busy contesting/engagement calendar. 

Concert Brass rehearses Wednesdays 8pm-10pm at our own band room in Poynton

If you are interested in conducting Concert Brass please contact Tom Peak on tompeak@btinternet.com or Tel:07768396839

 

Thu 29 Mar 2012
Rehearsal Schedule for run up to Buxton...

Thursday 29 March - Bass Sectional
Tuesday 3 April - Percussion Sectional
Thursday 5 April - Trombone Sectional
Tuesday 10 April - No Rehearsal
Thursday 12 April - No Rehearsal
Tuesday 17 April - Cornet Sectional
Thursday 19 April - FULL BAND
Sunday 22 April: 10am-12pm - Horns, Euphs & Bari
Sunday 22 April: 1pm-3pm - FULL BAND
Monday 23 April - FULL BAND
Wednesday 25 April - FULL BAND (Venue TBA)
Friday 27 April - FULL BAND
Saturday 28 April - VPs Concert - test piece will be part of the programme.
Sunday 29 April - Buxton Contest

 

Wed 14 Mar 2012
Well-known faces return...

The band would like to welcome Andy Ingleby on to our Solo Euphonium seat and Graham Keen on to BBb Bass. Both Andy and Graham are well-known faces in the bandroom, having played for the band in the past, and it is wonderful to have such fine players join the band once again.

We would also like to say a big 'Thank You' to Mark Parfitt who stepped into the Solo Euph seat and Tara Hardman, Solo Horn, for being there during the Christmas season and Regional contest. Good luck with your future musical endeavours.

The band is now looking for a Solo Horn, 2nd Baritone & a 2nd cornet player to complete our lineup.

 

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