Michael Plunkett Wins National Solo Competition
by Brian Murphy
Popular Eb Bass player Michael Plunkett is still on a high following his magnificent victory in the Irish Association of Brass and Concert Band's (IABCB) national solo contest, held in Notre Dame School, Churchtown, Dublin.
And his winning performance of "Andante and Rondo from Concerto for Double Bass" by Antonio Capuzzi was made all the more remarkable as Plum, as he is more commonly known, was lucky to get to the contest on time after heavy traffic delays on the notorious M50!
Michael proudly displaying his trophy.
In fact, his win is a wonderful achievement and completes what is thought to be the first "clean sweep" of titles within the association.
Michael is now IABCB National Solo Champion, having been in the past North-eastern Region Solo Champion, and having played alongside other band members in winning groups in National Quartet, National Ensemble, North-eastern Region Quartet and North-eastern Region Ensemble Contests, along with the North-eastern Region Band Contest and five National Band Championships with the full band at championship and senior grades.
Adjudicator Superintendent William Byrne, Musical Director of Band of An Garda Siochana, awarded 91 marks out of 100, including a perfect 10 for artistic merit.
Michael has also previously featured as soloist in the National Concert Hall with the IABCB National Broadcasting Brass Band, and have won the South of Ireland Band Championships (Clonakilty ), three North of Ireland Band Association (NIBA) Championships of Ireland contests (Belfast), played at the European Brass Band Championships in Birmingham in 2000 and took part in two "Friendship Force Exchange" trips to Iowa and Oklahoma in the USA with the band.
It is indeed a real honour for the band to have such an accomplished player within their ranks.