Drogheda Brass Band gave the town’s new TLT Theatre & Concert Hall at the Sound Shop a spectacular opening, receiving standing ovations on every night of the series of opening concerts in September.

The 900-seater hall, mooted as the likely venue for the national band championships in 2011, was officially opened on Wednesday 23^rd September with a four-night all-local show featuring superb performances from the Honey Bees Jazz Group, traditional Irish group the Murphy Family, and St Peter’s Male Voice Choir in the first half.

The second half made full use of the huge 70ft x 30ft stage by featuring a sight seldom, if ever, seen in Ireland before – two individual brass bands onstage side-by-side together, as Drogheda Brass Band under the baton of Michael Maher and Lourdes Brass Band (conducted by Harry Kelly and Mark Shortt) treated the audience to two highly entertaining programmes. The concerts were hosted by Drogheda born comedienne and actress Deirdre O Kane.

The band opened with the very apt “Fanfare for a New Age” following with “Mack the Knife” and “Mid all the traffic” (Shenandoah). All pieces were very warmly received each night, however, the band literally brought the audience to their feet with our spectacular finale version of “Riverdance”.

The final item of the concert then featured both bands combining and being joined by St Peter’s Male Voice Choir for a suitably rousing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” conducted by the choir’s MD, Edward Holly. The nights were hugely enjoyable for audiences and a further proof that Drogheda is a hot bed for musical talent – a point TLT owner Tommy Leddy of the Sound Shop was keen to make describing the concerts as a “great success” and thanked all the groups who took part, particularly as proceeds went to the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society. Tommy also looked forward to welcoming many more large audiences to future shows in the TLT.

For more information about the TLT visit http://www.thetlt.ie/

Members of Drogheda Brass Band were well received around the primary schools in the region recently, none more so than out at Whitecross National School in Julianstown where an enthusiastic young crowd greeted the players.

The future of Drogheda Brass Band is very bright if the latest set of grade results from the students in their school of music is anything to go by.
On July 17th last, 21 nervous students sat grade exams ranging from initial recorder to Grade 8 set by the Trinity Guildhall School of Music, London.
Despite the nerves and tension on the day the students received the best results in a long time with Stephen Murray (Grade 8), Francis Daly (Grade 7), Amy Townley (Grade 4), Eoin Tunstead, Ian McCormack, Grace English (Grade 3), Hannah Plunkett, Aisling Reilly and Ciara Condra (recorder grade) all receiving distinctions.
Speaking after the grade exams, examiner Brendan Drummond of Trinity Guildhall said: “The standard of playing was really quite excellent. I have examined all over the British Isles and in Asia and these students are as good as any I’ve examined in the past. It’s difficult to believe it (the school of music) is an entirely amateur school.”
Director of the School of Music Barry Maher was delighted with the results. “The most pleasing part for me is the average result of 78%. When you consider that for a lot of students this was only their first or second exam this is a brilliant average.”
The teachers – Aoife Crowley, Mark Nutley, Sarah Flood, Francis Daly, Yvonne Cunningham, Eoin Tunstead and Fiona Shields – deserve a huge amount of credit according to Barry.
“The teachers are incredibly dedicated. They balance their work and playing commitments brilliantly to keep the students interested and motivated.”
Band chairman Tony Collins was delighted with the continuing success of the youth system saying: “The band is 123 years old this year. This wouldn’t be possible if it was not for the continued dedication of our teachers, students and committee members towards our youth policy.”
The results crown what has been an excellent six months for Drogheda Brass Band and its school of music. The senior band has retained the National Brass Band Championships for a third successive year and played at the European Championships in Belgium, while the students in the school of music have enjoyed success at local level, winning prizes and plaudits at the north eastern solo competitions.
The students are currently taking a well-deserved break and will start back again at the end of August. The school of music is enrolling a new beginner class for students aged 8-12. Please contact Barry Maher at barry.maher4@gmail.com before September 28th for more information or visit www.droghedabrassband.org

Drogheda Brass Band euphonium player Anthony Murphy, author of Island of the Setting Sun, met up with Drogheda-born composer Richard Rock at a band rehearsal recently.
Anthony presented Richard with a signed copy of the book, while in turn Richard gave Anthony a copy of the score of his composition “Island of the Setting Sun”, which was written for brass band. The presentation took place at the Drogheda Brass Band, which gave the piece its European debut in April at the European Brass Band Championships in Oostende in Belgium.
The piece is inspired by the book, and indeed Anthony contributed to the composer’s notes in the score which help explain the title. Richard took time during his visit home to conduct the Drogheda Brass Band through a few of his arrangements. He is looking forward to more books from Anthony which will hopefully form the basis of future compositions!

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.

DROGHEDA Brass Band are thrilled to announce that they have secured a building in the East Coast Business Park which they say will provide the expansion of their top-class school of music.
Following negotiations with Drogheda Borough Council and Town Clerk Des Foley, the band had originally agreed to purchase a site from the council at Toberboice Lane, Mell. However, with the economic downturn, the band’s committee decided that this plan, which would have left the band with a minimum shortfall of e220,000, was not viable.
Following an extensive search, they secured this new building and with legal work due to commence this week, the band hope to move into the 3,000 sq ft building before the end of the year.
The main rehearsal room for the band will be soundproofed to top class standard following a recent visit of band officers and conductor to the recently-refurbished Garda Band headquarters in Dublin with the band’s architect for the project Declan Walsh.
Mr Walsh gave the committee officers a detailed tour of the building last weekend with his plans which will include room for development on a second floor, allowing continued expansion of the school of music.
‘This new building, and its location, will give us a superb facility,’ band secretary Michael Plunkett commented. ‘With Funtasia, the 24-hour Tesco store, Lidl, Aldi, The Sound Shop and the retail park with Harvey Norman, Argos, KFC and others nearby, there will be easy, free parking for parents and students of the school of music plus a range of extras on our doorstep.’
The band will continue their fundraising efforts over the next few years but with a much-reduced shortfall on the new building over their original plan they hope to leave the organisation debt free as soon as possible.
‘We are grateful to Drogheda Borough Council, and in particular Cllr Paul Bell, who was heavily involved in the negotiations for our original site, and also Town Clerk Des Foley who was very understanding when we informed him of our need to change plans. We are grateful for their understanding and cooperation and hope that the site at Mell can be used by the borough council or another deserving local organisation,’ said Michael.

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).

ELECTRIC Avenue and Geriko have been lined up by Drogheda Brass Band for what should be a packed house in the Westcourt Hotel on Saturday, November 15th, for a fundraising party night.
Having sold out the venue over the bank holiday weekend recently, Electric Avenue fans will be scrambling to make sure they have their hands on a ticket for the hottest gig in town this side of Christmas!
With DJ Justin also lined up to get the party atmosphere going, this is sure to be a night to remember.
The event is being organised by the fundraising committee of Drogheda Brass Band and all proceeds from the night will go towards offsetting the costs of building their new purpose-built bandrooms.
Electric Avenue are one of the hottest properties on the gigging scene in the north east and have sold out venues wherever they play.
This talented nine-piece outfit play all the best of the 80s, the songs you remember and the tunes you want to dance to. Always guaranteed to get you dancing and leave you with a smile of reminiscence on your face, this is a great chance to see Electric Avenue live on stage in the comfortable surroundings of the Westcourt Hotel.
Local three-piece Geriko have a cult following in town and have had since they first hit the scene a number of years back. Famous for their theme nights in town, the lads have been working on new material and this is a huge chance to catch these new tunes lives for the first time.
The brass band have already sent letters round to companies in town seeking donations, sponsorship and raffle prizes but anyone who would like to contribute in any way at all can do so by contacting Brian Murphy on 086-8238174 or brian.murphy@droghedabrassband.org
Generous contributions have already been secured from AIB Drogheda, Boyne Valley Country Club, Thomas Byrne TD, Fergus O’Dowd TD, Boylesports (Trinity St), Hoey’s Butchers, The Salt House, Scholar’s Townhouse Hotel, Marks and Spencers, Sorrento’s, Premier Periclase, Ming Garden and Gala Cleaners.