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).

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!

Adjudicator James McCafferty with Grace English, Mark Nutley, Conor Rothwell and overall winner Stephen Murray.

On Thursday 30th April a party of over 40 members and supporters travelled to Ostend, Belgium where we represented Ireland as National Champions in the B Section of the European Brass Band Championships, run by the European Brass Band Association and hosted by Vlamo (the Flemish Band Association).
We stayed in the Hotel Ter Kade and rehearsed on Thursday evening and Friday in nearby Celtic Ireland, before going to the magnificent Kursaal Hall contest venue on Saturday 2nd May. Our section began at 9am and as we were drawn to play first of six bands it meant an early start for everyone, but also gave us the distinction of playing the world premiere performance of the specially-commissioned test piece “Catedrales” by Bert Appermont. This extremely complex piece attempts to recreate the wide variety of sounds (including echo-effects) one could expect to hear in any of the world’s great cathedrals.
Under conductor Michael Maher we opened our programme with “The Plantagenets” by Edward Gregson – a major musical depiction of England during the reign of the Plantagenet kings – which we had also played when completing out hat-trick of National Championships a fortnight earlier in Cork. We followed this with “Catedrales”, and closed the programme with Richard Rock’s “Island of the Setting Sun”. This piece has particular connotations for us as Drogheda-native Richard is a former solo horn player with the band who is carving out a successful career as a player, composer and arranger in England, and the piece takes its title from a book of the same name by one of our euphonium players, Anthony Murphy, from a quotation of Amergin, who is buried locally at Millmount.
In the afternoon some members went off on sightseeing trips in Ostend and nearby Bruges, while others (gluttons for punishment!) returned to the hall to hear some of the world’s top bands perform in the professional A section. A great day was rounded off in front of the big screen watching Leinster thrash Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final, before going back to the hall (again!) for the Gala Concert and Results.
The other bands in our section were 3BA Brass (Germany), Brass Band Wipptal (Italy), Austrian Brass Band of the University of Music & Performing Arts, Graz (Austria), Murley Silver Band (Northern Ireland) and Brass Band Senjorai (Lithuania). The standard was, as expected, extremely high especially from winners 3BA Brass and the Italians and Austrians who were placed 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In recent years the Irish have understandably been the whipping-boys of this contest given the gulf in standard – and financial & educational support – between Irish bands and our continental cousins, but on this occasion Drogheda rose to the challenge with a fine performance and were unlucky to be just pipped for 4th place by Murley. 5th place in our section of the most prestigious brass band contest in the world against bands mainly comprised of professional and academy players is a wonderful achievement for a genuine town band, and one of which we are extremely proud.
Having won the National title again we qualify for next year’s European contest in Linz, Austria. Whether we go is a decision for another day – for now we’ll savour the memories of Ostend.

There are also two different galleries available. View them here:

http://www.droghedabrassband.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2886

http://www.pbase.com/troonly/2009_ebba

SEE THE FULL PICTURE GALLERY HERE!

http://www.droghedabrassband.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1937

DROGHEDA Brass Band made their own piece of history at Cork School of Music on Sunday last as they captured the section one title at the National Brass Band Championships for the third year running, beating Arklow Silver Band into second place.
The band have had a hectic schedule of late with extra rehearsals, tuition and practice in the run-up to their trip to Oostende in Belgium for the European Brass Band Championships at the end of this month.
In the own choice section, playing The Plantagenets by Edward Gregson, Drogheda Brass Band were awarded 45 out of 50, but Arklow had already been awarded 46 for their performance of Laudate Dominum.
Playing Sunset Rhapsody by Eric Ball as the test piece, Arklow were awarded 87 but as last band on, Drogheda heard their score of 90 from 100 giving them a two point win on 135 over Arklow’s 133.
Lourdes Brass Band, also from Drogheda, came in third place on 126 and Steadfast were fourth on 124.
There were further local connections with Tony Leddy there to represent the Sound Shop as main sponsors of the weekend events. Tony announced to the crowd that the championships would be staged at the Sound Shop’s new auditorium in two years time.
Drogheda Brass Band leave town on Thursday, April 30th, for their European adventure and are thrilled to have retained their crown, won for the second time in Limerick last year.

Photographs from the IABCB NE region solo contest held in Ardee at the end of February. Full details to follow.

Drogheda Brass Band took second place in the recent IABCB NE region ensemble contest, held in Ardee Concert Band’s terrific Bohemian Centre on Sunday, February 1st last. The quartet, made up of Kirsty Kerr on flugel, Neal O’Kennedy on cornet, Barry Maher on baritone and Francis Daly on tenor horn finished as runners-up with 90 marks for their version of Pastoral Theme by Cyril Watters.

First prize on the day went to Ardee Concert Band’s trio of Tony Flanagan, Linda McCarron (clarinets) and Vincent McArdle (french horn) for their Overture for 2 Clarinets and Horn (Handel) with a total of 91 marks.
Third prize went to Navan Silver Band quartet Lorraine O’Brien, Heather Regan (cornets) Grainne McNally (tenor horn) and Shane Smith (euphonium) for Excerpts from Water Music (Handel) on 89 marks.
Adjudicator on the day was Lorcan Daly (principal horn, Army No.1 Band and conductor of Lucan Concert Band).

Following the bands very successful National Brass Band Championships the band received an email from non other than Paul Lovatt-Cooper who is the composer of The Dark Side of the Moon, the piece the band played on their way to Championship glory this year. Paul commented on how happy he was that the band had won the championships and also at his delight that it was the Irish Premiere of the piece also. Paul has really has become the man of the moment on the brass band scene and really has got a Golden Pen at the moment.

<>The band really enjoyed performing his work so much so that they have now began rehearsing another one of his pieces Vitae Aeternum and they hope to give yet another Irish Premiere very soon so watch this space!

Drogheda Brass Band created their own piece of history on Saturday March 29th, 2008, by retaining the national brass band title for the first time in their 120 year history.Having won the title in New Ross last year after a seven year gap, the band travelled to University Concert Hall, Limerick, on Saturday last for their date with destiny at the Irish Association of Brass and Concert Band (IABCB) contest.The band played Paul Lovatt Cooper’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ as their own choice piece and the set piece was Michael Ball’s ‘Chaucer’s Tunes’.There was added pressure on both competing bands (the other being Arklow Shipping Silver Band) as Michael Ball was also the adjudicatoron the day.The fantastic venue and wonderful acoustics appeared to lift the band to a terrific performance and at the end of their choice piece there was an unprecedented extended round of applause.Arklow Shipping Silver Band played ‘A Moorside Suite’ by Gustav Holst as their choice piece.Following speeches by IACBC chairman Lorcan Daly, Mayor of Limerick Ger Fahy and adjudicator Michael Ball, it was down to the results.Drogheda Brass Band received 45 (out of 50) for their choice piece and 85 (out of 100) for the test piece for a total of 130, while Arklow received 41 and 83 for a total of 124.There were great celebrations amongst the members, many of whom are very young, and the band stayed over in Limerick to celebrate.’It really is a fantastic achievement for the band,’ said a spokesperson. ‘To retain this title is a huge boost for the band and it really is exciting times ahead with our new premises hopefully open for the end of this year.’All credit must go to our musical director Michael Maher who has been the driving force behind this resurgence in recent times and I’m sure there were times we had him tearing his hair out but it was worth it in the end to see his delight.’

March 29th 2008 saw the band make the long trip down to Limerick for the IABCB Championships of Ireland. The band having won last year in New Ross where hoping to create history by retaining the National title for the first time in our history.

The band played Paul Lovatt Coopers “The Dark Side of the Moon” as their own choice and the set piece was Michael Ball’s “Chaucer’s Tunes” who was also the adjudicator. The band opened the section which only featured two bands this year. The band played exceptionally well under a lot of pressure and it was clear after their performance that it would take two good performances to beat us. Arklow Shipping Silver Band where the other band and they played an old brass band classic called “A Moorside Suite” by Gustav Holst. Under their new musical director Stuart Anderson they played very well and needless to say come results time both bands knew that it was going to be close.

To our delight we retained the title we won last year, winning by six points and thus making history. This was a massive achievement for the band especially seeing as we were up against such strong opposition in Arklow. It was great to have Arklow return this year after a year out and they will no doubt return next year to continue the friendly rivalry between the two bands. However it was to be Drogheda’s day and we will now go forward with the hope of completing a hat trick next year.

A massive amount of credit must go to Michael Maher who’s hard work, patience and guidance has been an inspiration to us all and we look forward to continued success under his guidance.

IABCB Section 1 Brass Champions 2008

Result: Own Choice Test Piece Total

Drogheda Brass Band 45 85 130

Arklow Silver Band 41 83 124

Drogheda Brass Band bridged an eight-year gap to finally recapture the senior title at the National Championships, held in New Ross, County Wexford, on Sunday 15th April.

Under the expert tuition of musical director Michael Maher the band, who finished as close runners-up to Arklow Silver Band in 2006, this time had what it took to impress Scottish adjudicator Hughina Naylor to win the title from The Stedfast Band and neighbours Lourdes Brass Band.

Vice-Chairman of Irish Association of Brass and Concert Bands (IABCB) Lorcan Daly, a past conductor of Drogheda Brass Band, congratulated all the bands for taking part and told the audience that there had been an Irish theme to all the test pieces chosen for the different sections.

“Gaelforce” by Peter Graham was the test piece for section one brass and Drogheda Brass Band received 97 out of 100 for this piece, along with 47 out of 50 for their “own choice” of “Oceans” by Goff Richards, making for a total of 144; this was four clear of Stedfast’s 140 and eight ahead of Lourdes’ 136.

The cup was presented by Hughina Naylor to band secretary Yvonne Cunningham and Michael Maher. The band will now have the opportunity of respresenting the country at the European Brass Band Championships, due to be held in Norway next year.

It will be an exciting year ahead for the new national champions as they are also in the process of getting through the last of the red tape before they build their new purpose-built bandrooms at Toberboice Lane in Mell.

As a result of their efforts at the weekend, the band have also retained the “own choice” trophy they captured last year.