BAND NEWS 2004

Successful Concert at the Caedmon Hall

Click Here For More Photos

The band performed recently at the Caedmon Hall in Gateshead. the programme consisted of first half: Amparita Roca, Maraba Blue, Hot Toddy, Midnight Euphonium -soloist Victoria Smith, Laudaute Dominum and Crimond. The second half : The Great Escape, Serenade in Mambo - Soloist Rob McBurnie, Clog Dance, Angels, From Both Sides Now - Soloist Dave Bradford, Anything Goes, Pastorale and All that Jazz. The band played to a very high standard and the audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves. More photos can be found of the concert by clicking here!!

Several New Players Join The Band

The band are pleased to announce the acquistion of several new players. Chris Stephenson and his wife Lisa, who previously played for Westoe Band has signed on 2nd Baritone and trombone respectively. Three younger players Craig Robson and John Pearson have joined on solo cornet and John Connolly has joined on 2nd trombone. George Armstrong has also rejoined the band on solo cornet, after a spell with Sacriston. This is in addition to the 3 players we signed earlier in the year, Steve Whitehead, John Jones on cornet and Steve Hill on trombone. Hopefully the webmaster will find time to sort out the members page as well as conduct the band:) We are now in the position of having extra cover in all positions and are looking forward to making a mark in the next few contests.

Concert Season Over For Another Year 2004

The summer season of concerts are over for another year with the final concert at Gibside Chapel on Sunday 12 September. The band have been very busy in the summer delighting the public with there new music program. They have played at several parks in the region including Saltwell Park, Gateshead and Heaton Park, Newcastle and have been very well received for playing an entertaining and varied programme of music. The band have also appeared at Beamish Museum on on two occasions. The band hope to be organising a concert in the near future with a guest soloist. News of this will be posted on the web as soon as details are available. During the close season the band will again be purshasing several pieces of new music ready for next summer.

 

Farewell Jim

Its with great sadness we have to announce the death of our Bass Trombone player - Jim MacKay. Jim took ill the Saturday before we competed at the Whitehaven contest. He phoned up devasted that he would be letting the band down, due to illness, which shows the kind of man he was. He had an operation on the Monday, which was unsuccessful and died on the Wednesday night. Although in his 70's he was fit and well until his sudden illness and it has come as a great shock to all the band. Jim was a true gent who time for everyone and will be a big miss to everyone that knew him. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

 

CUMBRIAN CHAMPIONS 2004

Dunston won the Whitehaven 4th Section Brass Band Championship for the second time in 3 years. As well as receiving a trophy the band gained a welcome £500 prize money. Adjudicator Mal Brownbill said in his remarks before giving out the results that Dunston stood out as the winning performance because, as well as having excellent soloists throughout the band, the performance and accompaniments were balanced and were always kept under control by the MD. The band performed the same test piece as they played for the Area qualifiers - Edward Gregson's Partita - but this time with a much better result and performance than the 10th place they managed at the Area Contest.

Full 4th Section Result
  1. Dunston Silver Band - Partita - 176 Points
  2. Five Rivers Brass - Partita - 173 Points
  3. Stanhope Silver - Lydian Pictures - 171 Points

Click Here To Read Remarks

Dunston Rep Layla Marries Eb Bass Peter from Five Rivers - Jan 2004

Layla Brennan married long term partner Peter Barker on January 2nd. Their romance resembles the plot of West Side Story with their love for each other overcoming the friendly rivalry between the two bands!! Peter is a member of local rivals Five Rivers Brass and both bands were represented at the evening disco in Jarrow. The band wish both Layla, Peter and their young family best wishes but hope the children follow in their Mammy's footsteps and join the superior Dunston Silver Band:)