Wychavon Festival of Brass Champions 2018!

On 3rd November, Filton Concert Brass were crowned Wychavon Festival of Brass Champions in the Championship Section for the first time. 

With our regular MD Tom Davoren working abroad, the band were very fortunate to secure the services of Russell Gray, fresh from his victory at the National Championships with the Foden's Band. 

​Russell immediately impressed every member with his approach and musicianship, and over the course of a week worked up the programme of:

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Thy Matchless King (Joel Collier), Finale from Rituals (Tom Davoren) - featuring solo euphonium Anthony Smith, Prelude on Quem Pastores (Geoffrey Nobes), Bring Back that Leroy Brown (Queen), and Danse Macabre Variations (Benjamin Tubb). 

Playing from the number 17 draw, the hard work paid dividends and the band performed excellently, receiving a warm reception from the audience and impressed adjudicator Michael Fowles sufficiently to claim a title that had continuously eluded the band in the past. A special congratulations must go to solo euphonium Anthony Smith, who was awarded the very well deserved 'Best Soloist' accolade (you can listen to his performance below - mobile devices please click here).

The band would like to extend our sincere thanks to Russell Gray, not only a consummate musician, but a really great guy, and to Tom Davoren for helping prepare the programme in advance of Russell's arrival with his usual care and dedication. Congratulations also to our friends in Aldbourne and City of Cardiff bands on the podium places, and to the Wychavon organisers for running such an excellent contest.