Brass Band voted ‘best in show’ at Spring Festival Championships

STRABANE BRASS BAND scaled the heights of success last weekend triumphing with a quartet of prizes at the Brass Band NI Spring Festival Championships in Omagh. The Strule Arts Centre was host as eight bands from all across the North came together to do battle to decide who was best of the best in brass.

On the day, Strabane Brass Band won not only Best Band in the North but also took home prizes in the Best Trombone and Percussion sections but also Best Conductor for Charles Fyffe thanks to their sparkling rendition of Phillip Sparke’s ‘London Overture’.

Speaking after the win, band member and trustee Tommy Barr said, “This was a huge win for us, especially on what is near to our home turf and we’re delighted to take home not just one, but four prizes.

“Everyone has been working tirelessly over the past few months to ensure we got everything just right. ‘London Overture’ can be a big, difficult piece; it has many moving parts with many of our soloists featuring but everything went brilliantly on the day and every member came together just at the right moment with the rhythm and timing.

“It was important that we sounded just right; it’s a blind adjudication process which is very tight so the judges mark us on how we sound, not how we look.

“It is difficult under the lights but we pulled it off and give the entire band a spring in our steps to get going for further competitions.”

Tommy also took the time to praise the winners of the trombone and percussion sections and was glowing about conductor Charles Fyffe.

“Charlie is a brilliant conductor and for such a young man he has wonderful talent in conducting. Hailing form Ballinamallard, Charlie comes up to Strabane straight after his work every night there’s practice.

“Without fail, Charlie and every member of the band has shown that, Strabane may be a small town, but we have a burgeoning musical talent, with younger members already coming through, who commit and look after each other showing that we’re the best band about!”