Lanner impress in their last first section appearance

Published in Band News on 2013-11-04 by Empty Chairs

More news from Lanner and District Silver Band

The members of the Lanner and District Silver Band made the familiar trip up the A30 to Torquay on Saturday to the annual South West Brass Band Association Contest held at the Riveria Centre. They competed in the Open Section for bands graded in the Championship and 1st sections. A total of 12 bands competed for the title of South West Champions. The Lanner Band was placed 3rd overall and retained their stranglehold on the prize for the highest placed 1st section band.

Lanner Band's inspirational Musical Director, Stuart Chappell, said, "Bands competing in the Open section were required choose the music they were going to play themselves and we chose a piece called Terra Australis by Martin Ellerby. This is probably the most demanding music this band has played having been used for the National Championships of Great Britain only a couple of years ago. It's wonderful music and the whole band responded to its demands magnificantly. As we played the last note I felt that we had given a performance that had something special about it and we are so delighted that the adjudicators Jim Davis and Derek Renshaw agreed".

Band chairman, Lee Rouse, added, "The whole band thoroughly enjoyed preparing the music for Saturday under Stuart's leadership and guidance. We won the 1st Section title for the fourth successive year. We think that this is a record and to achieve this from the 'dreaded number 1 draw' is deeply satisfying. I don't recall the Open section at this contest ever having as many as 12 entries before so we came away very happy indeed. Our congratulations go to the Aldbourne Band for winning the SWBBA title and Camborne Town Band for coming second". 

Saturday saw the last opportunity for the musicians at Lanner to compete for the 1st section title as they will be nationally graded in the Championship section from 1 January 2014. Prior to that, they are looking forward to a packed Christmas season and then their first ever appearance at the popular Yeovil contest in February.