NEWS

February 2014

We are pleased to announce that Dave Smith has accepted the role of interim Musical Director to take the Band to this year’s area contest pending the appointment of a permanent MD. Dave’s playing career began with the Harrogate Band, where he became the youngest principal in the bands’ history. After a short spell with Carlton Main Frickley for the last 5 years he has played for Black Dyke winning european, national and regional titles with the band. Dave is also the conductor of the Tewit Youth Band who were the Whit Friday Youth Champions 2013. We would like to extend a warm welcome to Dave. The Band is looking forward to working with him.

1st January 2014

New Year's Day Wedding

What a fantastic start to 2014! The Band was proud and honoured to be invited to play at the wedding of our long standing member, Sarah Joy, to Dave Smith, in Selby Abbey on New Year's Day. Thanks to members of Dave's former band, Harrogate Band and friends of the couple who performed with us on the day. It was a real pleasure to play with you and sounded brilliant!

We wish Sarah and Dave every happiness in their life together.

29th December 2013

South Milford Brass officially announce the resignation of their MD, Martin Hall. We would like to thank Martin for his last 3 years' service to the band which has been our most successful period to date winning the 2nd Section North of England title in March 2012 and then the 2nd Section National title in September 2012 and therefore promotion to the 1st Section in 2013. We wish Martin all the very best for the future.

16th March 2013

North of England Regional Championship 2012

Playing Gareth Wood's 'Brass Triumphant', the Band came 4th in our first North of England Regional Championship in the First Section Although disappointed not to be placed higher we were pleased with our overall performance and our soloists did a fantastic job. Congratulations to Harrogate and Catterick who will be representing the North of England in the National Finals in September.

4th November 2012

South Milford Brass Win Kippax Entertainment Contest 2012

South Milford Brass ended a very successful season's contesting with a win at the Kippax Entertainment Contest. The band locked horns with last year's winners Crofton Silver and Strata Brass, winners of the recent Bolsover and Wychavon Entertainment Contests, in a very entertaining and enjoyable contest adjudicated by David Lancaster.

Congratulations to all the players, to our MD Martin Hall on his trophy for the winning MD, to Maria Beazer, flugelhorn soloist of Strata who won the soloist prize for her rendition of Doyle's Lament and to Matthew Bradley of Crofton who won the prize for the best instrumentalist.

A special mention too for our percussion soloist Chris Snowdon who gave a fantastic Xylophone performance of The Bumble Bee resplendent in his bumble bee costume!

Thanks to our hosts, Kippax Band, for a very well organised contest.

22nd September 2012

South Milford Brass - 2nd Section National Champions of Great Britain

What a day to remember!

"We waited very nearly all day for a performance of this quality." Melvin White

The Band made the long journey to Cheltenham to represent the North of England in the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

Drawn 16th in the field of 17 top bands, all winners and runners-up of their own area contests earlier this year, we had long wait to go on stage to perform our interpretation of the Academic Festival Overture by Johannes Brahms which was adjudicated by John Maines and Melvin White.

Keeping nerves in check, the Band delivered a fine performance which the adjudicators described as ‘a wonderfully musical performance’ that ‘gave the music, space and time’ to secure 1st place and the title of 2nd Section National Champions of Great Britain and with it promotion to the 1st Section.

Thanks to our MD Martin Hall for guiding the Band to our first national title in the Band's 30 year history and for helping us to become the first North of England band to win a nationals title for over 20 years.

Congratulations also to runners up Bilton Silver and Haslingden & Helmshore and the other placed bands and to Bilton Silver's Solo Horn who won the Best Instrumentalist prize.

18th March 2012

South Milford Brass become North of England 2nd Section Champions

We had an early start travelling to the Dolphin Centre in Darlington for this year's North of England Regional Championships. Drawn number 3 the Band produced a winning performance to gain the title of North of England 2nd Section Champions which also secures a place at the National Finals in Cheltenham in September. Well done to our fantastic bass section Pete, Ken, Andy and Paul who picked up the trophy for Best Basses and Richard who was awarded the Best Soprano title. Special mentions must also go to Robin for a fantastic euphonium cadenza, Claire for her beautiful cornet solo and everyone who had solos to play. And finally thanks to our MD Martin Hall for all the hard work he has put in over the last few weeks, we couldn't have done this without you.

Well done to runners up York Railway Institute Band who also won the Best Euphonium trophy and will join us in representing the North of England at the National Finals.