News 2007

 

 

November

 

Great Reception from our home crowd at Brass In Concert

Sporting new uniforms and new music the Reg Vardy Band had the honour of opening the 2007 Brass In Concert Championships at the bands second home, The Sage, Gateshead. Given a fabulous reception from the crowd the band opened in Traditional style with the National Anthem. Being the only North East band invited to Brass In Concert the band were in relaxed mood in front of our home audience. Frank Renton was again the compere for the contest and the adjudicators were Peter Roberts, Geoff Whitham, Michael Garasi and Stephen Roberts. Stephen Malcolm directed the band this year and had put together an imaginative programme which was greatly recieved by the audience.

The band opened with the exciting Devils Gallop the Theme music from Dick Barton Special Agent arranged by Mark Bentham. Joanne Winspear then wowed the crowd with the beautiful Flugel solo Evergreen arranged especially for the band by our very own Alan Catherall. Then followed the rousing March Bombasto arranged by Alan Catherall. A change of mood followed with the playful Anyone can whislte written by Stephen Sondheim, arranged for brass band by Howard Snell and featuring the bands principal trombone player Chris Bentham. The band then played a brand new arrangement called Huapango which is an orchestral work by Moncayo and skilfully arranged for the band by Alan Catherall, this featured very complex rythmns in a latin American style. After rapturous applause for the band, for soloist Joanne Winspear and for Alan Catherall the band gave the audience a send off to remember with a spectualor version of The Cup of Life arranged by Ray Farr. The programme found favour with the judges who placed the band sixth for entertainment and tenth overall.

The band wore a new uniform (pictured right)for Brass In Concert organised by Gillian Dixon and Linda Cook. Our new look is not to replace the famous scarlet tunics but to run alongside them and allow the band a modern look to reflect the modern music in our reportoire. Will we be wearing our new uniforms at our next concert? To find out why not join us at Newcastle City Hall on Saturday 8th December for what promises to be a fabulous night.

 

 

David Long models the new

Reg Vardy Band uniform


Vienna Nights for Blackpool Weekend.

The announcement has been made that the Grand Shield testpiece for 2008 will Phillip Wilby's fantastic Vienna Nights. The piece was commisioned for the British Open in 2006, held at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham. It was very well recieved by listeners, conductors and musicians alike and will certainly prove a stern challenge. The Reg Vardy Band will be aiming to finish in the top two places in the Grand Shield in order to make a swift return to the British Open. The last time the band played at the Grand Shield they finished second playing Percy Fletchers Epic Symphony, which happens to be the testpiece for the senior trophy next year, a good omen perhaps?

 

 

Phillip Wilby

 

Stephen Malcolm to conduct Reg Vardy Band at Brass In Concert

The Reg Vardy Band is very pleased to announce that Stephen Malcolm will be leading the band at the Brass In Concert Championships held at the Sage, Gateshead this weekend. The band is currently working very hard with Stephen and looking to end the year on a positive note.

 

 

Stephen Malcolm

 

Ray Farr Resigns

The Reg Vardy Band announce that Ray Farr has resigned his position as Musical Director with immediate effect. The band has enjoyed six highly successful years under his direction which had seen them rise to consistent top ten placings in every major contest, including memorable 3rd places in the National Finals, Brass in Concert and the All England Masters, as well as many high profile concerts and masterclasses for Durham University, radio broadcasts, CD and DVD recordings and overseas tours.Ray and the band could not agree on a strategy for improving recent poor contest results so he has therefore, reluctantly, resigned.

The Band wish to thank Ray for his immense contribution during the last six years, wish him well for his future ventures and would hope that the opportunity to work together in the future will arise.

Reg Vardy Band

 

Ray Farr

 

 

All New look for Regvardyband.co.uk

Months of hard work and anticipation are at an end! The new look website has arrived with new player profiles, regular news updates and lots of new photos. The band would like to thank Gareth Sykes for taking on a new apprentice in David Long and for all his help in revamping the band website. Enjoy looking around the new site and watch out for new photo galleries and new features over the coming months.

 

 

October

Trip to the capital

The band played at the Royal Albert Hall in the National Finals on Saturday 20th. An early draw of 7th out of 20 was not a help to the band and after a disappointing performance the band were awarded 19th place.

Soloists Jeremy Belton(Euphonuim), Chris Bentham(Trombone) and Laura Boyle(Baritone) gave excellent performances which lead to some positive comments from listeners and the brass band media. However too many errors in general, a lack of detail and balance issues cost the band dearly.

Pictured left is The band's Musical Director Ray Farr conducting the Reg Vardy Band at the Royal Albert Hall.

 

September

Solid performance at the Open

The Symphony Hall, Birmingham was again the venue for the top competition in the Brass Band calendar. The band entered the competition knowing a good result was required to avoid relegation to The Grand Shield Contest. A very solid performance of Kenneth Downies "Visions of Gerontius" saw the band finish thirteenth from another early draw of number six. Sadly this was not enough to allow the band to retain its British Open status. The band now go the Grand Shield in May 2008 looking for an immediate return to the British Open.

 

  

 

Keswick sell out.

The band once again returned to one of it's favourite venues to play at the fabulous Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. The audience were packed in to enjoy a fabulous nights entertainment with Percussionist Jonathan Fenwick stealing the show with a breath-taking rendition of the very difficult Xylophone solo "Helter Skelter". The concert helped to raise money for charity and a splendid time was had by all.

 

Jonathan Fenwick

Percussion

 

August

Stephen Malcolm

Resident Conductor

 

Summer break and British Open preparations

The band are now having a well earned summer break after which the preparations for the British Open in Birmingham will begin. The band's resident conductor will be putting the band through it's paces on Kenneth Downie's newly commisioned work "Visions of Gerontius". The band faces a busy end to the year with The National Finals in London and Brass In Concert at the Sage, Gateshead on the contest horizon, whilst concerts in Spennymoor, Keswick, Alwick and Newcastle will see the players clock up a fair few miles.

 

July

 

Durham Miners Gala

The summer sunshine and enthusiastic crowds welcomed the reigning Northern Area Champions to the Miners Gala through the streets of Durham. The band is still very proud of its heritage and retains close links to the North East Mining Community. This year the band were very proud to lead in the Kelloe Colliery Banner as well as providing a concert in Kelloe the night before. The band wowed crowds with a spectacular version of "The Cup Of Life" outside the County hotel in front actor and comdeian Ricky Tomlinson. It was a treat fit for the Royle family!

 

 

 

 

Changes at the back.

Sadly stalwart Colin Dixon has reluctantly had step down from his Bb Bass chair due to increased work commintments, Colin has always been a very commited player and although we are sorry to see him step down we are very pleased that he will remain as a non-contesting player. Shaun Roche comes in from Carlton Main Frickley Colliery on to Bb Bass and we hope he enjoys a long and successful time with the Reg Vardy Band.

 

Colin Dixon

 

June

Bryan Tait - Principal Cornet

 

Improved peformance at the English National Championships

A number 2 draw saw the band improve considerably on it's perfomrance at the International Masters. The English National Championships has found a new home at the Guildhall in Preston and this year the testpiece was Peter Graham's "On Alderley Edge" a popular choice with players, conductors and listeners alike.

The band finished in eleventh place with fantastic performances from principal Cornet Bryan Tait and Soprano Player Tom Glendinning. Fourbarsrest had this to say "plenty of fine moments when the old Reg Vardy was heard to true effect." After the disappointing performance at Cambridge the Band had approached the contest in a determined mood and can take a lot of confidence to the British Open from this performance.

 

 

May

 

Cambridge and the International Masters

A day to forget is probably the best way to describe a very disappointing performance at the All England International Masters at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge. Too many errors and insecure playing led to a placing of nineteenth. The testpiece was the remarkable work "In Memoriam RK" by Elgar Howarth, an early draw of number six contributed to one of the lowest points in the recent history of the band. However the band has a chance to make amends at the English National Championships in June at the Guildhall, Preston.

 

 

April


Gareth Sykes

 

Gareth Sykes moves to pastures new.

The band was very sorry to see Bass Trombone player Gareth Sykes move to the YBS Band. Gareth has been a loyal and hardworking member of the band often travelling many miles to get to rehearsals. Gareth has also been the bands webmaster for the last three years and has done a sterling job. Gareth hails from Yorkshire and a move to his 'homeland' proved too good to turn down. Gareth has been very popular member of the band and will be sorely missed, we wish him well.

 

March

 

Record 30th Northern Area Title

A number six draw was a relief to the band after succesive number one draws at the Northern Area contest held at the Dolphin Centre Darlington. Robert Redhead's wonderfully melodic "Isaiah 40" was the testpiece and a fine performance saw the band win for a record thirtieth time, this is currently the national record. This will be the fortieth appearance at the finals for the band. This was the band's sixth consecutive win which saw Tom Glendinning winning the prize for best Soprano Cornet and Stephen Malcolm, David Long, Colin Dixon and Alistair Storey retaining the Doug Cairns Prize for the best Bass section.

The band now head to the Royal Albert Hall in October for the National Finals.

 

 

The Bass Section

with Doug Cairns

 

February

 

 

Contest Music and conductors a plenty!

The Reg Vardy Band have been working hard under the watchful eye of resident conductor Stephen Malcolm in full preparation for the forthcoming Northern Area Qualifying Contest. The two highest place bands win the right to represent the Northern Area at the National Finals at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in October later this year. The test piece is the wonderful ‘Isaiah 40’ penned by Robert Redhead. The piece is a particular favourite with the band after coming a very close second to the famous Grimethorpe Colliery the last time it was used in a major competition.

To get the band in the mood we were pleased to host a Conductors Master class led by the band’s Musical Director Ray Farr. Six different conductors from across the country put the band through its paces on Wilfred Heaton’s ‘Contest Music’. The band looks forward to our next date with the conductors in March where we will be playing Kenneth Downie’s masterful ‘St Magnus’.

 

 

Paul Robinson

Principal Euphonium

 

Star Euphonium player faces injury lay off

Paul Robinson, Principal Euphonium player with the Reg Vardy Band will be taking a few months away from band after undergoing surgery on his shoulder last week.

Paul, who won the 4barsrest instrumentalist award at the 2005 International Masters, is facing some six months on the sidelines to recover from a double shoulder operation. He hopes to return to playing in August in time to rejoin the Reg Vardy Band for the British Open at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

Everyone associated with the Reg Vardy Band would like to wish Paul a speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing him back in the famous Scarlet Tunic in the Autumn.

Meanwhile Jeremy Belton will take over the mantle as Principal Euphonium for the Northern Area Qualifying Contest and an announcement will follow shortly regarding the other Euphonium position.

 

January
Great show at Emmanuel College

The Reg Vardy Band shared the stage with a new band of young players at Emmanuel College last Friday. The youngsters with ages between 11 and 15 had only been playing for three months and delighted the audience with their first ever performance. We feel sure this will the first of many performances by Emmanuel College’s new Youth Band.

The Reg Vardy Band then when on to wow the audience with a thoroughly entertaining programme chosen by resident Conductor Stephen Malcolm. Featured soloists were Brian Tait, Joanne Winspear, Paul Robinson and Chris Bentham who was then joined by his fellow trombone players Peter Liddle and Gareth Sykes. A great time was had by all and everyone agreed that the night truly belonged to the brass stars of the future.

 

Hello, Goodbye at Reg Vardy Band

The Reg Vardy Band would like to say a goodbye and thank you to Keith Gilfillan BBb Bass, Gordon McGeorge Solo Cornet and Jim Thompson 1st Baritone, three stalwarts who have given the band sterling service. All three bandsmen have served the band with distinction and we would to thank them for their commitment, hard work and friendship over the years. With loyalty in bands a rare thing these days we feel it a fitting tribute to them that their total service to the band is a staggering 77 years! We wish them well, they will be sorely missed.------------------- -----------------

We would like to welcome to the band Alistair Storey from YBS on BBb Bass, Laura Boyle on 1st Baritone from Whitburn, Jonathon Fenwick on Percussion from Broughtons Brass and Peter Liddle on 2nd Trombone from Greggs Bakery Band. We hope our new faces will enjoy pulling on the famous Scarlet Tunics and have a successful time with the band.

Making their Northern Area contest debuts with the band this year are Phillip Tait on Cornet and Jeremy Belton on Euphonium. We would also like to welcome back to the front row Nicola Bentham returning from maternity leave.

 

- Jim Thompson

Gordon McGeorge--

Keith Gilfilllan---