The music plays on at Cory Brass Band online championships

It seems nothing can stop the Cory Brass Band’s incredible reign – over the last 13 years, it has been the world’s leading brass band.

Due to the cancellation of all live competitions, the band marched onto stage its own online competition, the Cory Online Brass Band Championships, which can be viewed on their YouTube channel.

Supported by Arts Council Wales, the championship attracted 68 brass band entries from around the world.

The competition, held at the end of September, was broadcast from Kapitol Promotions, in Penarth, South Wales, and hosted by Cory Band’s Musical Director Philip Harper.

Over two weekends, the brass bands showcased their skills to an online audience of thousands worldwide.

Across four sections, the judges, marked the bands on production, visuals, storyline, intonation, originality and performance.

From pieces including the lively Pirates of the Caribbean theme by Cheshire’s Hawk Green Band to Sir Karl Jenkins’ Lament from Stabat Mater, performed by Principal Euphonium, Kang Chun Meng of Lion City Brass from Singapore, audiences were treated to a harmonious union of sound, instrumental expertise and attractive, often fun, visual effects with each band bringing a unique sense of character and style.

The second day’s opening act by BTM Brass Band from South Wales featured an upbeat rendition of the Kaiser Chiefs’ I Predict a Riot, while other performances included The Beatles’ With a Little Help from My Friends and the closing act of Singing in the Rain. The judging panel praised “a great start”.

In contrast to the other bands who could not perform together due to the pandemic, Manx Concert Brass Band played in a music hall because social distancing restrictions were relaxed on the Isle of Man and viewers could enjoy a more traditional setting.

Among visually stunning entries were two international entries bands from America – the Brass Band of Northern Virginia and Arkansas Musicworks Brass Band who used advanced video software to record performances with US scenes in the background.

Musical Director Philip Harper praised all the winners and said of the Best Welsh Music Performance: “Our project is supported by Arts Council Wales which enabled us to put all of this together. The Cory Band is right in the heart of South Wales – this is a very important part of the competition to us and it’s been fantastic to see so many Welsh pieces, from traditional to modern.”

The Best Soloist Award was also keenly fought and Mr Harper added: “Having watched all 68 bands’ videos over the course two weeks, I can tell you the standard of solo playing has been incredibly high.

“We have so much talent in the brass band movement and it’s wonderful to see that even the lockdown and inability to get together as bands still means our players and our soloists can keep playing. Keep it up!”

Lark Music salutes The Cory Band for its innovation to ensure the music plays on and congratulates the winners of the Cory Online Brass Band Championships 2020.

Championship Section
Winners – Fountain City Brass (USA)
Runner Up – Whitburn
3rd Place – City of Cardiff

1st Section
Winners – Downshire Brass Band (Northern Ireland)
Runner Up – Lion City
3rd Place – Brass Band of Northern Virginia

2nd Section
Winners – Lochgelly Band (Scotland)
Runner Up – Fjell (Norway)
3rd Place – Bearpark & Esh Colliery

3rd Section
Winners – Lostock Hall Memorial (England)
Runner Up – Brass Band B10
3rd Place – Towcester Studio

4th Section
Winners – Woodhouse Prize Band (England)
Runner Up – Royston
3rd Place – Dungannon Silver

Best Section Awards

1st Section
Cornets – Bollington
Horns – Seindorf Arian Deiniolen
Euphonium & Baritones – Downshire
Trombones – Lion City
Basses – Arkansas Musicworks
Percussion – Downshire

2nd Section
Cornets – Wotton Silver
Horns – Fjell Brass
Euphonium & Baritones – Wotton Silver
Trombones – Fjell Brass
Basses – Lochgelly
Percussion – Lochgelly

3rd Section
Cornets – Newcastle PCYC
Horns – Lostock Hall Memorial
Euphonium & Baritones – Brilliante Brass
Trombones – Brass Band B10
Basses – Brass Band B10
Percussion – Lostock Hall Memorial

4th Section
Cornets – Test Valley Brass
Horns – Blackley
Euphonium & Baritones – Holmestrand
Trombones – University of Bristol
Basses – Fakeham
Percussion – Simply Brass

Championship Section
Best Section Awards
Cornets – Fountain City
Horns – City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) M1
Euphonium & Baritones – City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) M1
Trombones – Hitchin
Basses – Whitburn
Percussion – Fountain City

Special Awards Section
Most Entertaining Programme
Championship Section – Hitchin
1st Section – Brass Band of Northern Virginia
2nd Section – Lochgelly
3rd Section – Lostock Hall Memorial
4th Section – Woodhouse

Special Music Award
Best Welsh Music Performance
Championship Section – City of Cardiff (Melingriffith)
1st Section – Arkansas Musicworks
2nd Section – Wotton Silver
3rd Section – Towcester Studio
4th Section – Crosskeys Silver

Best Soloist Award
Championship Section – Chris Bradley (Bb Cornet)
Whitburn
1st Section – Lauren Stewart (Flugel Horn)
Downshire
2nd Section – Eli Johanne Fischer (Bb Cornet)
Fjell Brass
3rd Section – Ewan Rigby (Euphonium)
Towcester Studio
4th Section – James Owen (Euphonium)
Poyntzpass Silver