A south Warwickshire brass band played all the right notes – and in the right order – to come away with second prize at a recent contest.
Shipston Town Band beat competition from six other bands from across the country to take home the second place trophy at the Oxfordshire and District Brass Band Association Winter Contest held in Witney on Saturday 28 February.
First place was taken by Worcestershire-based Avonbank Brass Band – who beat Shipston by just one point (188 points to 189).
Shipston performed a three-movement test piece Three Haworth Impressions written by prolific brass composer Gordon Langford. The suite was written in 1979 to describe the landscapes and scenery of Haworth and the famous Brontë sisters who called the little West Yorkshire village home.
Contest adjudicator Steve Pritchard-Jones described of Shipston’s performance as: “A reading of the piece with a good sense of style.”
The band’s musical director Alex Bland said: “I was delighted with the band’s performance on the day. Everyone worked really hard to ensure we could deliver a great interpretation of this beautiful piece by Gordon Langford – and we were thrilled to come away with a trophy!”
