2023 West of England Bandsmens Festival
St Dennis doubled up with victories in the Championnships and Youth sections last weekend at the 97th annual West of England Bandsmen's Festival. The Championship Section had two competitors: Bodmin Town under Simon Badge and defending champion St Dennis led by Darren Hawken. St Dennis made a great impression on adjudicator Steve Sykes with their performance of the set-work, 'The Essence of Time' winning not only the title, but all the individual awards on offer and the 'Best Hymn Tune' prize.
Congratulations are also owed to Lanner & District Silver, Mount Charles, Verwood Town, Bugle Silver and St Dennis Youth (pictured) on winning their respective sections. The Bugle committee along with the family of the late David Jane introduced two new awards this year as a mark of respect to David who had been a tireless worker for the contest as well as representing his beloved Bugle Silver Band. Each conductor was also presented with a special commemorative plaque to mark the Coronation and continued patronage of the event of King Charles III.
Championship Section:
1. St Dennis: 192
2. Bodmin Town: 188
Hymn Tune: Prelude on Lavenham
1. St Dennis: 93
2. Bodmin Town: 91
Best Player: Dewi Griffiths — cornet (St Dennis)
First Section:
Test Piece: Ballet for Band (Joseph Horovitz)
1. Lanner & District Silver: 180
2. Forest of Dean Brass: 179
3. Regent Brass: 178
March: The Black Knight
1. Forest of Dean Brass: 89
2. Regent Brass: 88
3. Lanner & District Silver: 87
Best Player: Steve Thomas (euphonium) — Lanner & District Silver
Second Section:
Test Piece: Hollywood! (Goff Richards)
1. Mount Charles: 185
March: Gruss an Thuringen
1. Mount Charles: 185
Best Player Simon Taylor — flugel (Mount Charles)
Third Section:
Test Piece: Own Choice
1. Verwood Town: 186
2. Bideford Town: 183
3. Indian Queens: 181
Best Player: Steve Rowland — cornet (Verwood Town)
Fourth Section:
Test Piece: Own Choice
1. Bugle Silver: 183
2. Lostwithiel Town: 181
3. Indian Queens: 180
Best Player: Leanne Osborne — flugel (Bugle Silver)
Youth Section:
Own Choice Programme
1. St Dennis Youth: 177
2. St Austell Youth: 176
Best Player: Neythan Powell Jones — baritone (St Austell Youth)
Best Cornet Player: Lia Teague (St Dennis Youth)
Special Awards:
Best Soprano: Andrew Julian (St Dennis)
Best Solo Cornet: Dewi Griffiths (St Dennis)
Best Euphonium: Kimberley Kenderdine (St Dennis)
Best Solo Horn: Francesca O'Neill (St Dennis)
Best Basses: St Dennis
The David Jane Awards:
The Jane Family Cup: Norman Pendray
The Lang Bennetts Cup: Phillip Hunt
Deportment:
1. Bugle Silver: 42
2. Indian Queens: 39
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