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Dec 20th 2004; Festive update The review for the Albert Hall Christmas concert is now available which was kindly provided by our new band manager Steve Taylor. This is also viewable on www.4barsrest.com or on the reviews section of the site |
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Dec 17th 2004; Gallery update Following our extremely successful concert for the BT annual Christmas concert at the Royal Albert Hall, the gallery has been updated. A review of the concert will appear soon. click here to view the gallery |
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Dec 13th 2004; Concert review Reviews now available for the Stockport Plaza concert and also a short report on the British Open Solo contest that our own Helen Varley did extremely well in. click here to view |
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Dec 8th 2004; Gallery update The Bit of an update to the gallery section, with some pictures taken at last years Royal Albert Hall concert |
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Dec 3rd 2004; Cornet section full The final piece of the jigsaw is now complete with the signing of the experienced Emma Nosworthy on the repiano seat. Emma is head of music in Blackley school and she brings a wealth of experience and talent to the back row, welcome Emma! |
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Nov 28th 2004; Crimewatch photo call!! Following our highly successful concert at the Stockport Plaza, we took the opportunity to record on camera some of the more aesthetically challenging characters in the band. Click on the player profiles, but beware! |
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Nov 28th 2004; New additions The band are pleased to welcome to the cornet rank, the exceptional young talent of Matt Henry. Matt's played with a number of top flight bands already and he will be an asset to our cornet section. Also joining the band is Paul Deighton. Paul has joined up with two other Paul's in the Eugh/Bari section and he will take up the 2nd Baritone seat. Welcome Paul and Matt and we hope you enjoy your time with the band. |
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Nov 23rd 2004; Player profile updates Since the launch of the website, I've been threatening Steve Taylor and Aidan Howgate that if they don't produce a player profile for the site, I'll ask the king of spoof write ups, Paul Grezzer Greenwood to do them. They are now there for all to chuckle at! Other players in the band yet to do this,,,,,,,, be warned!!!!! |
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Nov 12th 2004; More additions to the ranks The band are pleased to announce the addition of Kyle Harrison and Paul Hughes to the Bass section. Both Paul and Kyle have helped out the band previously and have decided to join the band on a permanent basis. The band would also like to thank the departing Chris Barnes. Chris played his last engagement with the band at the Pontins Championships and has unfortunately had to leave the band due to work commitments. |
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Nov 9th 2004; Gallery update Finally managed to locate some old pictures of the band, there's some rather dodgy looking players on there!! Check out the Gallery |
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Nov 2nd 2004; Pontins Contest The band recently competed in the Pontins Brass Band Championships and despite an excellent performance from the band, we finished a slightly disappointing 5th place out of a total of 23 competing bands. A full review of our performance at the Pontins Championships will appear soon! |
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Nov 2nd 2004; Player news The band have recently strengthened the ranks of a number of key positions. On the front row, Nigel Hughes joins the band from Wingates. Also joining a very experienced cornet section, the band are pleased to announce the appointment of Renate Saele joining on Soprano and Svein Roger Koppang joining on 2nd cornet. Renate and Svein have recently come over to the UK from Norway where they are studying at the Royal Northern College of Music. Phil Shatliffe joins the band on Solo Trombone, Phil has helped the band out lately and we are very pleased he has chosen to join us on a permanent basis. |
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Sept 7th 2004; Band sadly loses stalwart It's with great sadness that the band has to announce the death of one of it's longest associates. Ron Tunnicliffe had been involved with the band since it was the POEU band over 20years ago. Ron sadly passed away last weekend after failing to recover from an illness. Ron will be sadly missed by all of the band and our thoughts are with Ron's family. |
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Sept 7th 2004; Band update The band has just returned from a well earned summer break. We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Fugel player Becky Cunliffe that has joined the band. Becky helped out the band previous to the summer break and has come in to replace the departed Kate Chisholm. Kate left the band over summer due to a work re-location. |
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July 12th 2004; Concert reviews now available Reviews are now available for the "Brass on the Grass" concert at Mellor and also the "United Brass" concert at Nantwich. The reviews can been seen on the review section of the site. |
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July 10th 2004; New look to website and gallery update The website has gone through a bit of a re-vamp and also thanks to Darren "Ginsters" Wood, there's some nice piccies of the band from Whit Friday. |
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June 30th 2004; Listen to the band trial Samples of some of the music the band has recorded will be available on the "recordings" section of the site. At present, there is only one file available, but hopefully more will appear soon. |
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May 25th 2004; Welcome back Hitomi The band would like to extend a warm welcome back to Hitomi Koshigoe who returns to the band on the back row. Hitomi has taken some time out from banding and has realised that she misses us too much!! She will again be teaming up with a very "experienced" section of the band and I'm sure they will again form a great team. |
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May 10th 2004; BT win Elland Quartet contest A quartet representing the band entered the Elland contest and won 1st prize. |
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May 9th 2004; Senior Cup The band competed in the senior cup yesterday and finished a very creditable third. This result ensures the band now qualify for next years Grand Shield contest. 4barsrest's remarks on our performance; "A nice opening - solid and sensible in style and the
tempos are observed. It's a performance that is working well - we listen and
don't write. Slips are minimal - not major - and it continues well. Once again
the music moves with sensibility - nothing is over exaggerated - thank you MD. A
good overall show - the first good one for a while." The first 4 places are as follows; 1. Ransome, Russell Gray, 1 |
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Apr 8th 2004; Easter break The band is now ready for the Easter holidays and is having a well earned rest for a week. The bands engagement list is filling up and has been updated today. |
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Apr 3rd 2004; BT Band reaches top 40 in the world! Following the bands highly acclaimed performance at the North West area contest and it's subsequent 5th Placing, the band have risen 10 places in the 4barsrest world rankings system to number 40. The band is also placed 7th overall in the North West region of the country. To view the full table click here: http://www.4barsrest.com/rankings/rankings.asp |
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Mar 16th 2004; North West Area The band have recently competed in the North West area qualifying competition, where we came a creditable 5th place, finishing only one point behind the reining holders Fodens Richardson. The band has received excellent comments on the performance and a good report from 4bars rest who said; BT under MD Michael Fowles followed, and they too gave a very musical reading, but too many clipped notes spoiled what could have been even higher than the 5th place they were awarded. They will have been pleased by their showing though and there is a very good band here in the making. For a full report on the contest click here; http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2004/art378f.asp |
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Jan 25th 2004; Web site re-opens The BTBand website re-opens, although lots more changes are on the horizon. You may find that some page links do not work. This is due to a technical problem with the Service Provider. |
NW Area results 2003
Last Sunday saw the band compete in the North West Area qualifying championships at the Winter Gardens Blackpool. For the full results see: http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=846
Site Updated 24th Jun 2002
A new look to the site. News and player updates coming soon
New Year, New faces
The new year banding shuffle has seen a couple of new faces arrive at the band, most notably the arrival of principal cornet Mike Jones, who replaces Alex Francis following his departure to National Champions The Black Dyke Band. Also joining the band is Mike's long term girlfriend Nikki Rowe who makes a return to the band on the front row.
Royal Albert Hall 2001
On December 19th last, the BT Band participated in the annual BT Christmas concert. Sharing the stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the London Concert Orchestra, The Royal Choral Society, and the BT Melodians Steel Band, all admirably compared by Angela Rippon. Both halves of the concert saw the band in action , Joining in with the combined forces of all on stage in Wilcox's fine arrangements of a number of Christmas carols. For the first time in this long running series of concerts, The Band and the Orchestra combined to play Leroy Andersons Sleigh Ride.
Each half also saw the band playing it's usual solo spots. The first half consisted of Gaudette, and Peter Graham's, Shine as the Light. The second half started with Kabalevsky's Comedians Gallop, Gaelic Blessing, and rounding of with another Peter Graham piece, Gaelforce.
The concert was played to a capacity audience and left all feeling that Christmas had arrived.
(Report by Steve Taylor)
Pontins Championships
Firstly an excellent performance provided the band with a very creditable 3rd place at the Pontins Contest in October. The contest was won by the JAG Mount Charles Band .
For a full report on the bands performance see: http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=136
Wilkinson Northern Open
Another fine display saw the band awarded 2nd position at the Wilkinson Northern Open Contest, which was won by the Hepworth Band.
For a full report on the contest visit: http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=159
Alex Francis appointed as new Principal Cornet 27th June
The Band are pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Francis as the replacement of long serving member Peter Shaw, following his departure to the Williams Fairey Band last March. Alex has been a member of the band since the beginning of the year, sitting on the front row, and has now taken up the challenge of sitting in the hot seat.
North West Area result 2001
Despite a slightly below par performance at the NW Area contest in Blackpool, the band finished a very creditable 5th position. The results were as follows:
1st Williams Fairey: 2nd Fodens: 3rd Leyland: 4th Freckleton: 5th BT: 6th Besses
For a full report go to www.4barsrest.com
Personnel Changes 03/03/01
The arrival of Mike Fowels has brought new blood to the band, Sarah Baker (wife of Brett!!) has joined on 2nd Cornet, Joining Sarah on 2nd cornet is Jason, also Steve Taylor makes yet another return on 3rd cornet ( I think this is his third time now).
Mike Fowels takes over 03/03/01
Mike Fowels has been appointed as the new MD and will take the band to the NW area. Mike will continue his work with The Leyland Band.
Personnel Changes 22/12/00
December has seen a few comings and goings within the band. Long serving member Paul Greenwood and Dave Timmins have both left to joined Ashton. On the other hand , the band are pleased to welcome back Claire Smith on 1st Horn and her boyfriend Jeremy Belton who has left Fodens to join on Solo Baritone.
BT Band at the Royal Albert Hall 22/12/00
The Band have just returned from yet another hugely successful trip to London for the annual BT Christmas Concert. Playing to a capacity audience, the Band were onstage along with the London Concert Orchestra and the evening was compared by Alan Titchmarsh. Some of the highlights from the band's program were Holy Night played beautifully by Gareth Brindle (Euph), Post Horn Gallop played by Peter Shaw (Post Horn!!)and Trumpet Blue's and Cantabile.
New MD appointed 26/10/00
The BT band are pleased to announce that as from Thursday 26th October, John Maines has been appointed as the new Musical Director. The appointment sees a return to the middle for John, who originally took the band in 1984 guiding them up from the 3rd section up to the Championship. John has agreed to take the band until the end of the year.
