STOP PRESS: FRIARY GUILDFORD SECURES RETURN TO BRITISH OPEN GRAND SHIELD IN 2018
BRITISH OPEN SPRING FESTIVAL:
After a disappointing result at last year’s British Open Spring Festival, Friary Guildford travelled the now familiar route up the M6 and M55 to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, determined to bounce straight back from the Senior Cup contest to the Grand Shield. A top four place was needed out of the field of 20 bands, not the easiest of tasks, in the tricky acoustics of the Pavilion Theatre.
Drawn to play 15th, Friary produced an excellent performance of Dr Peter Meechan’s Fragile Oasis which found considerable favour with the two adjudicators, Paul Holland and John Doyle. John Doyle in particular enthused about the quality of playing. Summing up his adjudication, he wrote: ‘Wow - what a great performance. Bags of style, poise, time, musicality and commitment. Thank you – so much.’
It was enough to earn Friary second place, pipped only by Filton Concert Brass who took the Senior Cup, so the mission was accomplished with some room to spare.
The Grand Shield contest which Friary will take part in next year is the gateway to the British Open itself: the top two placed bands in that are invited to play at Symphony Hall, Birmingham in September. But for now, it’s a break from the contest stage as the Band prepares for the summer concert season, starting with …
JOINT CONCERT WITH THE OCCAM SINGERS:
On 3rd June at 7.30pm, Friary will be sharing the stage at Holy Trinity Church, High Street, Guildford with Guildford-based chamber choir, the Occam Singers for Fanfare! – French music for brass and voice. Bringing you ‘une abondance’ of brilliant and beautiful French music from the fifteenth to the twentieth century, Occam Singers and Friary will perform music by such wonderful composers as Josquin Deprez, Bizet, Delibes and Debussy. The second half of the concert will be Gabriel Fauré’s beautiful Requiem in a new arrangement for brass and voice. For ticket information, please visit http://www.occamsingers.co.uk/public/concerts.html
NEW CONCERT DATE – STROUD SUBSCRIPTION ROOMS:
Friary is delighted to have been invited to take part in the prestigious Stroud Subscription Rooms Brass Band Season, with a concert on Sunday 17th September (3.00-5.00pm). It’s not exactly on Guildford’s doorstep, but we are looking forward to performing to a new audience. It would be great to have some familiar faces there too – it’s a lovely part of the world, in the Cotswolds.
Please visit http://www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk/whats-on/friary-guildford-band/ for more information.
RANKINGS NEWS:
The May update of the World Rankings saw Friary slide three places to 29th, having been overtaken by several continental bands who took part in the European Championships at the end of April. The Senior Cup result should help for the June update.