****
Press Release ****
Friary
Guildford Brass Band Reflect on
a Successful Year
18/04/2008
Friary
Guildford Band reflected on another
successful year as they held their
Annual General Meeting at Weyfield
School in Guildford on Wednesday
16th April. Membership Secretary,
Nigel Stevens, said that whilst
the band had lost one or two faces
this year the combination of "a
wealth of committed and flexible
bandsmen, a first class musical
director, and the loyalty of two
or three long-term brass-banding
friends has helped contribute to
arguably Friary's most successful
year in its 25 year history".
Whilst many brass bands are finding
it harder and harder to field the
same band throughout the concert
and contesting seasons, Friary are
making an impact on the British
Banding scene because they are a
team who turn up to every rehearsal
eager to improve as a unit under
the baton of musical director Chris
King.
The
recent addition of percussionist
Emma Stoffer, who is studying music
at Kingston University, not only
completes Friary's percussion section,
but also helped them win the Best
Section award at the recent Yeovil
Entertainments contest. Former member
Nigel Simmons returns to the band,
bringing with him a wealth of experience
to the bass section, whilst Ben
Dowsett joins on Baritone. Finally,
Janatha Yarham, who previously played
for St Sebastian's Wokingham, bolsters
the Cornet section. Friary are currently
holding auditions to fill their
principal Euphonium position, who
will play alongside the band's "Player
of the Year", Steph Westwood.
Looking
back over the past year Chairman,
Mark Yarham, commented that he was
"surprisingly pleased with
the band's progress" against
its short and long term objectives
over the year. When commenting about
recent contesting results he said
that "whilst the band had a
disappointing result at the Area
Contest in Stevenage last month,
recent successes at Folkestone,
Pontins and Yeovil, as well as becoming
SCABA band of the year has meant
that people across the country are
really starting to sit up and listen!"
The band will hope to continue their
recent success by returning to Blackpool
to compete in the Spring Festival
in May.
For
more information about Friary Guildford
Band, go to www.FriaryGuildfordBand.co.uk
or listen out for them at a venue
near you.
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