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| Own Choice Contest - Saturday 18th February 2006 |
| Concert - Alexandra Presbyterian Church - Friday 17th March 2006 |
Own Choice Contest - Saturday 18th February 2006
FLUTE BANDS HIT THE HIGH NOTES AT ANNUAL CONTEST
by Walter Porter
The 46th annual own choice contest piece contests, promoted by the Flute Band League (Northern Ireland) took place last Saturday in Lisburn's Island Civic Centre, when there was an excellent attendance of spectators to savour the music provided by the cream of Ulster's flute bands.
The adjudicators were Drew Ronan, LTCL, and Hughina Naylor, DRSAM, LTCL, RNCM, from Scotland, who is acknowledeged as one of the top flute band adjudicators.
Overall, this contest was a show with many stars. Top of the bill must come the senior championship section, where Ballyclare Victoria came within an ace of acquiring a 'full house' of points - 98 - two points off perferection, in winning the George Hawthorne Memorial Trophy and the special award of a Trevor James silver cantabilie concert flute.
Under their conductor Carolyn Watson, the band played two pieces, Hungarian March by Berlioz and Sicilian Vespers by Verdi, with both being arranged for flute bands by David Heaney, a former player and conductor of the Ballyclare band.
Last year's winners, Ballygowan, played immediately after Ballyclare with 96 points were also in great form under conductor, Dr Windsor Hylands.
Scottish visitors, the Carluke Primrose Orchestral Flutes produced another good performance in taking third place - a result which made their journey worthwhile.
Grade Two had four very good bands and adjudicator Drew Rowan commented that two fo them were outstanding. From that we can assume they were the first two bands, Kellswater, conducted by Glen Houston, and Cahard, under the direction of Nigel Edgar.
Certainly both had big hands playing with plenty of youthful members in their ranks.
The only disappointing feature of the day was that there was only one entry in Grade Three. This is no freflection on the band which did play - and even they can be congratulated on taking part with quite a number of very young members. So with that in mind, this band is making the effort with a view to the future
Championship Grade
1 Ballyclare Victoria 98 (also the interpretation prize & special prize of a concert flute)
2 Ballygowan 96
3 Carluke Orchestral Flutes 92 (also best percussion)
Concert - Alexandra Presbyterian Church - Friday 17th March 2006
COMING SOON
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