Bratton Silver Band has enjoyed further success after winning second place in their category at the South West Brass Band Association’s Weston-Super-Mare Contest.
After many weeks of intense rehearsal leading up to this year’s contest, the band scored 186 points out of a possible 200, just one point behind the winning band. There was further success for the band with cornet player Steve Smith winning the prize for best soloist.
The band travelled to Weston-Super-Mare hoping to continue their impressive track record, having made it to the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain last year. The competition saw a field of 30 bands travel from near and far to compete. Bratton Silver Band was one of eight bands competing in the fourth section, one of the five main divisions of brass band categories.
Chairman Brian Coles reflected on the band’s recent successes. He said, “The band has a good contest record from Torquay, this contest in Weston Super Mare and the entertainment contest at Wychavon. But there is something about Weston that brings out the best of the band. “The Weston contest allows bands to choose their own piece to play, unlike many contests where the piece is set and played by all the participating bands. So, the selection of the music is very important and we do seem to choose pieces that bring out the best of the band. Perhaps it is just a combination of the sea air and fish and chips on the sea front!”
The band maintains a busy schedule all year round and will be visiting Germany as guests of their friends from Musikverein Volkertshausen band in June. The summer schedule commences on their return and the band returns to the contest stage again on Sunday 16th September at Wychavon.
The band are always open to welcoming new players, and as a result of an impending retirement and positional changes within the band, there are currently vacancies for principal euphonium and principal EbBass. Instruments are available and anyone interested in joining the band can check the band out on their web site www.brattonsilverband.com or contract the secretary Lisa Hill, secretary@brattonsilverband.co.uk.