Burry Port Town Band claim runners-up spot at the National Brass Band Championships

Burry Port Town Band travelled to Cheltenham to compete against the best First Section bands in the country in the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

All 17 bands performed the set test piece “Vivat!”, a specially commission work from the pen of former Burry Port junior and senior band member Tom Davoren.
 Having been drawn to play 16th out of the 17 bands, Burry Port had to endure a very long wait to perform, and did not take the stage until just after 8pm.

However, the hanging around proved to be worth it with the band delivering a majestic performance of the piece, all the way through from the quiet, exposed opening movement “In Memoriam”, a test of nerves for even the most experienced players, to the pomp and thrills of the “Coronation” and “Jubilate” movements, with the final note drawing enthusiastic applause from the large audience.
 In their general remarks, adjudicators Frank Renton and Kevin Wadsworth commented that although many bands were able to play the notes, only the top four bands were able to really bring the music out from the score.

They also complimented the standard of the soloists in those top bands, who were able to put their nerves to one side and handle the demands of the opening movement, most notably the baritone players who had the responsibility of starting the piece on their own.

Luckily for Burry Port, this task fell to the former Principal Baritone of the Black Dyke Mills Band, Ceri John, who executed his duties to perfection.

Taking a lead from Ceri, the various other lyrical solo lines from Chris Jenkins on cornet, Jayne Thomas on soprano, Keith Curtis on horn and Jane Stredwick on flugel were all delivered beautifully, with the music shaped to perfection by Musical Director Michael Thorne.
Band spokesman Gareth John said:"This performance was far and way the band’s best result in the National Finals, just behind winners City of Sheffield Band, and ahead of one of the great names in banding, Yorkshire Imperials in third, which is testament to the work Michael Thorne and the band have put in over the recent months to develop to this level."
The band will perform “Vivat!” again at the West Wales Contest in Fishguard on the 9th October and then at their “Audience with the Band” evening at St. Mary’s Church, Burry Port on the 27th October, in which composer Tom Davoren will be on hand to talk about the piece and explain some of the background to the musical ideas that formed this stunning piece of music.