Harlow Band attended the Scaba Entertainment contest on Sunday the 18th May 2014, the bands second contest appearance after over a 10 year break from contesting.

An early start to arrive at the Hawth Theater in Crawley for 9.30am, and what a wonderful venue for a Brass Band, a very well organised contest with every facility required including a warm up room, café & a Bar!

 

We were up against some bands that are graded on a National basis a lot higher than us as we are not even registered Nationally.

 

Effectively if we were registered Nationally we would be graded in the 4thSection as this is where every band starts.

 

We set up on stage in a different formation than a standard brass band and this was intended to provide a totally different sound and presentation, which in my opinion worked very well.

 

Our 20 minute programme commenced with the March Brass Adventures, a lovely lively march, followed by an unpublished arrangement of Malaguena, a terrific arrangement, then we featured our Flugel soloist Mel Hanmore with Share My Yoke a very soulful composition by I Bosanko and played beautifuly by Mel.

 

We then featured our Great Solo Cornet section Roy, Mike, Jo & John and also Chris on Soprano Cornet with Cornets a Go Go, the team really got into this one. Our final item was Gospel Brass Machine which showed the bands rythmn qualities and great full band sound!

 

The band performed to there best and sounded very good indeed, we could not have played any better.

 

The result, being placed 4th behind two 3rdsection bands and One 2ndsection band, and being awarded the Highest unplaced 3rd section band award.

 

A great day was had by all, the band enjoyed the day out and are very proud of the way they performed and so they should be.

 

A great band, great people, great atmosphere!

 

Bravo!!!

 

Chris Johnston (MD)