Great Results at the National Championships 2006
by Stephen Murray
On Saturday 22nd April the Drogheda Brass Band made the short trip to Dominican College, Griffith Avenue, Dublin for the annual Irish Association of Brass and Concert Bands National Brass Band Championships.
The band entered the first section brass competition and the test piece for this was T.J. Powell's "Snowdon Fantasy". Along with this the band had to play a own choice piece and they picked "The Plantagenents" by Edward Gregson. The adjudicator was Dutch composer Jacob De Hann.
Martin Cassidy is presented with the second place trophy.
Unfortunately, the band could not pick up the win and could only get second. However, this defeat was met with jubilation as the band won the best own choice section and picked up second prize.
The winning band was Arklow Shipping Silver Band who made it an amazing seventh successive victory. There own choice piece was "Land of the Long White Cloud" by Philip Sparke. The other band in the section was Lourdes Silver Band who fell just short of second. Their own choice was "Music for a Festival", also by Philip Sparke.
Conductor and musical director Michael Maher is presented with the best own choice trophy.
| Band | Test Piece | Own Choice | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arklow Shipping Band | 85 | 39 | 124 |
| Drogheda Brass Band | 78 | 40 | 118 |
| Lourdes Silver Band | 82 | 35 | 117 |
Champions! (well, almost)