Who are the Drogheda Brass Band?
The Drogheda Brass Band is a much-loved institution in the town representing Drogheda and its communities since 1886. We are currently enjoying our most successful period ever as reigning National Brass Band champions of Ireland for the 4th year in succession. We have recently moved to an impressive new band-room in East Coast Business Park, Donore Road.

Why join our School of Music?
The principal aim of our organisation is to provide the people of Drogheda and surrounding areas with an opportunity to enjoy music in a safe, affordable, fun and educational environment. Over the years many past and current members have developed careers from the skills we provide – many have become professional players, composers and music teachers. This, combined with the incredible success of our senior band, proves that we succeed in developing skills to help students progress in whatever musical genres they choose.

Affordable Price
Our main objective is to make the extremely expensive (and often elitist) area of music education accessible, affordable and enjoyable for students. We currently charge €300 annually (with family discount and standing order discount options available). For this highly
competitive price you receive the following:

1. Entry to our book scheme – students are proved with the books required and don’t have to purchase any music.
2. Entry to our instrument rental scheme – all students receive brass instruments from the band.
3. Subsidised visits by professional brass tutors.
4. Subsidised competition entries.
5. Internationally-recognised grade examinations examined and certified by Trinity Guildhall, London.
6. Preparation for practical elements of Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations.

Group Learning
We strongly promote group learning. All classes are taught in groups meaning students socialise with people of their own age while learning to play as a soloist and as part of an ensemble. This builds friendships that last for life.

Investment
The Drogheda Brass Band is investing very heavily our School of Music. We have ambitious plans for the school because it is vital for our
continued success. In the last year we’ve purchase over 100 new books and CDs for our ever growing book scheme, 20 brand new brass
instruments for our instrument scheme and we’ve moved to a state of the art new band-room. We plan similar investment over the coming year to ensure our students enjoy a safe, clean, modern and interactive environment to enjoy music.

Qualified Teacher
Both classes will be taught by Aoife Crowley who has a BA in Applied Music from DKIT specialising in Music Education.

A magical musical weekend was enjoyed by band members recently when Gary Curtin flew in from England to take the band for its annual Summer Sounds event.

Gary, who is originally from Cork, moved to England five years ago to pursue a career in euphonium playing. Aged 29, he is Principal Euphonium player with The Fairey Band (soon to be called Fairey Geneva) who, after a long period in the brass contesting doldrums, recently captured the English Nationals, beating Black Dyke into second place.

Those who were lucky enough to hear Gary playing his euphonium during the weekend were enthralled to be in the presence of a world class player. He performed his own cadenza-style ‘encore’ piece which involved taking the euphonium where no-one thought it possible to go! His multiphonics and spectacular range left everyone in awe of his great ability. We were also treated to his hauntingly beautiful rendition of ‘Lament’ from Ronan Hardiman’s Cry of the Celts.

There were a total of five sessions over the course of the weekend, with great attendances throughout. This was the first event to be held at the band’s brand new premises at East Coast Business Park.

There were one-on-one lessons on Friday afternoon with full band rehearsals starting with an 8pm session on Friday evening. On Saturday there were sectionals at 11am and 12 noon followed by rehearsals in the afternoon and evening.

The weekend culminated with a rehearsal and recording session on Sunday morning.

We are very grateful to Gary Curtin for his time and expertise. Band members genuinely feel they benefited from the weekend.

There was a nice social side to the event too and Gary was more than happy to spend time with band members on the Drogheda social scene.

We are grateful to Coca-Cola for their sponsorship of the weekend and for their long-standing support of Drogheda Brass Band activities.

The band’s calendar has been updated to include the list of confirmed summer gigs. Click here to view it: http://www.droghedabrassband.org/?page_id=6

http://utv.vo.llnwd.net/o16/LMFM/2010/04/20/MichaelMaher.mp3

Click here for video footage of the intro to the test piece

Drogheda Brass Band swept the boards at the IABCB National Championships in Limerick on Sunday as they retained their title, were joint own choice piece winners, took the best first section band title for the first time and regained the best overall band.
The band won with a total of 140 points (92 for the test piece Partita, 48 for own choice Land of the Long White Cloud) – five clear of both Arklow Silver Band and Steadfast Brass Band on 135 (89 & 46 – 87 & 48 respectively).

ANOTHER update from the new bandrooms and the rooms are starting to take shape. Only the main bandhall remains ceiling-less but work on that is beginning next Monday and should be complete in a week. All systems go for the end of April fingers crossed!!

Check the gallery here:

http://www.droghedabrassband.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3868

EXCITING time ahead for all at Drogheda Brass Band as progress on their new bandrooms at East Coast Business Park continues apace.

Having enjoyed a great day out on St Patrick’s Day marching in the Drogheda parade, the band are still in the throes of preparing for the national band championships in Limerick in April – a title they have won for the last three years running.

The timber-frame company are on site in the new bandrooms and are flying ahead with building studded walls for new corridors and rooms, as well as fitting out the main band hall. It is hoped all work will be finished by the end of April and the band are eagerly looking forward to heralding a new era of brass music in Drogheda.

Stephen Murray was announced as the winner of the North East Region IABCB solo contest held at the Bohemian Centre in Ardee. Principal cornet player with the Drogheda Brass Band, Stephen played Zelda by Percy Code. And there was further good news when Eb bass player Mark Nutley finished as runner-up in the open category after playing the first movement from Edward Gregson’s Tube Concerto.

Grace English continued what was a great day for Drogheda Brass Band members when she won the U-15 section playing Over The Rainbow while Conor Rothwell secured third place in the U-18 section with Song and Dance by Philip Sparke. All in all, a great day for Drogheda Brass Band members and well done to all!

Drogheda Brass Band’s Student of the Year concert recently took place in the newly renovated Droichead Arts Centre. The night, sponsored by Beverage Business Solutions, featured the band’s School of Music and highlighted the ability of the students and teachers in the band. All students played to a packed hall of proud parents before being presented with their grade certificates following excellent results last summer.

The concert was opened by the senior band fresh from winning the North of Ireland Brass Band Championship before the real stars of the night took centre stage. The band’s newest members, taught by Aoife Crowley, were first to play. It was the class’s concert debut having only joined the band two months ago. The group, aged 7 to 10, played a really entertaining set, the highlight of which, Bb Blues, brought huge applause from the captivated audience.

Next on stage was the Grade 1 Brass group who entertained the audience with five pieces including On My Own featuring Hannah Plunkett, Rebecca Murray and Aisling Reilly, School Anthem written and performed by Rebecca and Orla Murrey and Ireland’s Call played by Ailish Newton and Una O’Shea.

The audience were then treated the brass trio of Sally Bogue, Evan English and Michaela Plunkett. Each student, accompanied by Kevin Donnelly on keyboard, performed nerveless solos to the delight of the audience.

The last group on were the Grade 5 Brass group and they produced a very stylish performance under the baton of Mark Nutley and Sarah Flood. The group played three quartet pieces, the highlight of which was Pie Jesu.

Each teacher nominated candidates from their class for Student of the Year award. The nominees were Rebecca Murray, Conor Higgins, Hannah Plunkett, Sally Bogue, Eoin Tunstead, Amy Townley and Conal O’Maolain. After much deliberation Conal O’Maolain was announced as the winner and was presented with the Jim Kierans Memorial Trophy by Karl Davis of Beverage Business Solutions.

Director of the School of Music Barry Maher thanked teachers and parents for their continuing support before the stars of the night rounded of the concert in spectacular style, playing Spooks Parade, a piece arranged and conducted by the band’s deputy conductor Stephen Murray.

The group will be back on stage on Dec 17^th for the band’s Christmas Concert in the Droichead Arts Centre.

View the full picture gallery here: #mce_temp_url#

DBB made history yet again, becoming the first brass band from the Republic to achieve the north/south double by winning the 2^nd Grade Brass Section of the NIBA Championship of Ireland contest in Armagh on Saturday last 31^st October, adding the northern title to the IABCB National Championship won for the third successive year in Cork in April.

We became the first brass band from the Republic to win at the NIBA contest when we won the same section in 1985, and have won it on two other occasions, 1997 & 1998. This year’s winning performance, under the direction of conductor Michael Maher, was awarded 93 points by adjudicator Peter Bassano, one more than runners-up Third Carrickfergus Band and two ahead of 3^rd-placed Downshire Brass. A total of  seven bands entered for the section with one withdrawn on the day.

 In his post-contest stage remarks Peter Bassano praised our musical approach to the test piece, Resurgam by Eric Ball, which dates from a time (c.1950) when the brass band sound was quite different from the modern era. Our bass section Mark Nutley, Terry Heeney (Eb), DJ Walsh, Michael Plunkett and Tony Collins (BBb) also won the Best Bass Section award. Representatives of the band will travel to the Awards Presentation Dinner Dance in Ballynahinch on Saturday 21^st November where the Symington Cup (1^st prize), William Herron Trophy (winning conductor) and John Beckett Memorial Cup (best bass section) will be presented to the band.

Conductor Michael Maher was delighted with the performance on the day. He praised the courage of the band in playing the quieter passages at the correct dynamic in such a pressure atmosphere. Resurgam is one of the most iconic pieces in the history of the brass band movement and it was a thrill to conduct such a fine performance.

(Article by Michael Plunkett posted by Stephen Murray)