27th May 2002
Golden Jubilee Fanfare Contest Result
Brass is the winner, as fanfare fever comes to town…
Surrey Brass, a new brass and percussion ensemble unveiled themselves to the public at their Golden Jubilee Fanfare Concert on Saturday 25th May 2002 at Holy Trinity Church, Claygate. This was by no means an average gig, as it was the setting of both the Surrey Brass inaugural concert and of their innovative “Golden Jubilee Fanfare Contest”.
Nine fanfares were entered, and performed admirably by Surrey Brass, before the large audience. A panel of distinguished judges (Roger Argente-Bass Trombone, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Dr Tim Ewers, Music Lecturer, Kingston University; Cllr Nigel Cooper form the Borough of Elmbridge) made their decision. John Hughes, from New Malden, wrote the winning fanfare, simply entitled “Golden Jubilee Fanfare”. The youngest composer award went to17 year old Simon Nobbs, an ‘A’ level student at Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Reigate, for his composition “Timeless Fanfare”.
Hughes is a prolific composer of many years experience, and has also written a Concert Overture for the Golden Jubilee entitled “The Sceptred Isle” which will be given its premiere by the Woking Symphony Orchestra on Saturday 15th June 2002 at the HG Wells Suite in Woking. The concert was recorded by Richard Sutcliffe, from Surrey University, and Surrey Brass is hopeful that his fanfare recordings will be played on BBC local radio and Classic FM over the Jubilee period. Surrey Brass was supported by a grant from RC Sherriff Rosebriars Trust.
Fanfares were not the only order of the day. An innovative and entertaining selection of both original and transcribed music for brass and percussion interspersed the fanfare entries. The first half included Gabrieli’s “Canzoni Noni Toni”, Handel’s “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” and the superb “Cats Suite” by Chris Hazell, culminating in superb renditions of Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” and Abreu’s “Tico, Tico” by the evenings’ trumpet soloist, Hugh Davies.
Yet more original brass music followed in the second half, following the final 2 fanfares. “A Londoner in New York” suite by Jim Parker, who is famous for his TV music including “Ground Force”, and the appropriately titled “Easy Winners”, a rag by Scott Joplin, led to the announcement of the winners. The evening concluded with a performance of Premru’s “Divertimento”, with the last movement, “Blues March”, providing a rousing finale that made the audience cheer for more.
On the strength of this performance, Surrey Brass has a bright future. The feedback received from those who witnessed this first outing was very positive, as many expressed interest for future dates, and commented on the organisation of what was an extremely enjoyable occasion. More bookings are already in the pipeline including the RHS Wisley Festival on 14th and 15th June.
For those who missed Saturdays performance, and want to hear the Fanfares and more, there are opportunities to hear Surrey Brass during a packed programme over the Jubilee Bank Holiday on Monday 3rd June, as they play no less than three back to back concerts in Hersham (to mark the opening of the Hersham Cricket Club Golden Jubilee Match at 1:30pm), the Bandstand at The Peacocks Centre, Woking at 3pm, followed by an evening show at the Jubilee Beacon lighting ceremony at Reigate Priory at 9pm.
Surrey Brass has a more detailed biography for John Hughes, Simon Nobbs, and the other fanfare composers on their website www.surreybrass.co.uk. You can also listen to the fanfares, get more information about future concerts, as well as details about the ensemble and its players on the website, which was recently showcased at a “Making Music” seminar,.
-ENDS-
Photographs are available.
