An up-and-coming brass band, based in Keswick, has been crowned North of England champions in a win causing ripples across the brass world.
North Lakes Brass, whose reputation as one to watch, or should that be one to listen to, has lifted the tiny trophy, winning promotion after just over 12 months in existence.
It means that next year, the band moves up a “division” from the fourth section to the third – becoming only the second Cumbrian representative to be playing at that level, the other being Flookburgh in south Cumbria.
Asked to describe Saturday’s achievement in footballing terms, member Andy Cannon, aged 54, of Keswick, who plays solo euphonium, said: “It’s like Carlisle winning the second division.”
On Saturday, North Lakes Brass continued its impressive form as a competition band by wowing professional judges deep in the heart of “pit country” at The Gala Theatre, Durham.
It triumphed over seven other regional competitors from across the North of England – some with decades of history behind them – after practising on the test piece for months above the Derwent Club, Keswick, on Wednesday nights.
North Lakes Brass, whose members are drawn from across north Cumbria, including Keswick, Penrith, Threlkeld, Wigton, St Bees and Carlisle, delivered what judges ruled was the best performance of the piece on the day.
With competition “friendly but fierce” each band was tasked to play a challenging 13-minute test piece before adjudicators.
With a pair of judges hidden behind a “curtain” so they could not see who was playing, all eight bands had to step on stage and play the long and tricky four-section piece called Hungerford Town.
The piece by Darrol Barry, demands confident playing, clear articulation, carefully-balanced dynamics, and perfect tuning throughout – with a lot of reliance on individual performances and maintaining the right speed.
With each band having 25 players and up to four percussionists, the pressure is on each to get their part just right.
Andy, a headteacher, explained: “The challenge with Hungerford Town is that it’s what’s called a thinly-scored piece with four sections. That means it’s not a piece where the whole band is playing all at once where people can hide.”
The piece started with the trombone section of Craig Woods, from Keswick, Kaytie Harding, from Threlkeld, and Julian Simpson, of Wigton, who played with confidence and near perfect tuning.
It required “excellent contributions” from principal cornet player, John Sanderson, of Keswick; a beautiful solo from flugelhorn player, Alison Richardson, from Carlisle; and technically proficient playing from solo baritone player John Redgate, of Penrith.
As well as the first prize, the band was awarded a trophy for the youngest player in the competition, Sophie Richardson, aged 19, of Carlisle, the daughter of Alison.
North Lakes Brass finished first ahead of Billingham Silver Brass Band from Stockton-on-Tees, and third place Crag Head Colliery Band, County Durham. Penrith Town Band also took part and finished six with the North Lakes Band congratulating their neighbours.
While most people associate brass bands with Yorkshire and Derbyshire coal towns, Cumbria is no stranger to brass, having bands all along the west coast and the south of the county.
The band has now set its sights on maintaining its contest success and striving to win promotion to the second section and maintaining a standard there.
Andy thanked the Derwent Club in Keswick for allowing it to practise, and the band’s talented new conductor Gareth Sykes who was drafted-in with competitions, rather than concerts, the focus.
Mr Sykes, of County Durham, plays bass trombone in the City of Bradford brass band, one of the best bands in the country, who knew and used to play with a member of the North Lakes band many years ago, and agreed to lead them.
“We are very, very lucky to have found Gareth,” said Andy. “He is such a talent.”
The North of England area, one of eight across the UK and Ireland, covers a vast swathe of the country home to many top bands, from the Scottish Borders down to York, across to Barrow and Carlisle too.
The band will now play against the other regional champions at the national finals in Cheltenham in September.
Catch them next on April 21 at Threlkeld Village Hall. See www.northlakesbrass.weebly.com for more details.
