WEBBA success and Promotion

On Saturday 9th March the band headed to Torquay to take part in the annual West of England brass band contest. Playing Philip Sparke’s “Triptych” in the 2nd section against 14 other talented bands from across the South West.

Drawn lucky number 7 the band produced a confident, well rounded account of the piece which was brought to life with an excellent reading from MD Philip Littlemore. The band really enjoyed getting to grips with this piece and it clearly showed in the end result, with the adjudicators in agreement and awarding the band with 3rd place.

The band will now once again be heading to Cheltenham in September after securing another invitation to the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain lower section finals and can not wait to find out what the test piece will be. Another achievement will see Gosport Solent Brass promoted to the 1st section in January for the very first time since it was formed in 2011

MD Philip with Back row cornets…..Tony, Alan, Julie, Lorraine, Steve and Principal cornet Tracey

Remembrance Sunday

photo courtesy of Crown copyright 2023

GSB had the privilege of playing for the Gosport Civic Remembrance Service on Sunday outside the Gosport War Memorial Hospital. Our very own solo horn player Mark had the honour of playing the Last Post and Reveille.

We Will Remember them

photo courtesy of Crown copyright 2023

And the hits keep coming

What a fantastic night! Our Autumn concert of 60’s and 70’s classics was a smash hit with the local Gosport community, and the band certainly got into the groove!

Donning their party gladrags the band entertained the crowd with some smash hits from the 60’s and 70’s including tracks from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, 60’s Eurovision medley, and many more. The soloists were fantastic too, four of our principal seat players stood up to take the floor throughout the programme, this included our solo cornet -Tracey, flugelhorn -Bekki, solo horn -Mark and solo euphonium, Les.

The night was a great success and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves

Back row cornets getting into the groove

The band will now be working towards the Wessex Winter contest at the end of November and a busy Christmas season.

Our main Christmas Concert will be on Saturday 9th December at Holy Trinity Church, Gosport. Tickets on sale soon.

GSB open Stubbington Fayre!

GSB opened the 2023 Stubbington Fayre on Monday 28th August to huge crowds that had gathered early for what was a fantastic and glorious day.

With the weather on both the band’s and the organiser’s side, the Fayre kicked off at 10.30am with the band offering a light and varied programme. The band also gave the Fanfare to announce the Mayor’s official opening.

The band also featured some music to be heard at their forthcoming 60s & 70s Night on Saturday 7th October.

GSB members attend prestigious summer school

Les, Sue and Bill at the summer school venue

Last week three of our GSB family attended the Elgar International Brass Band Summer School held at the prestigious Malvern College. The five day course was attended by a wide range of brass band players of all abilities from all over the country and from Europe, with workshops, concerts and one to one tuition with some of the world’s leading musicians in the brass banding field. The course promised to be the best yet and it didn’t dissappoint according to our members who have already signed up for next years event.

In Loving Memory

On Tuesday 12th April we said our final farewell to a very special Man.

Colin was appointed Musical Director of GSB in 2016. It was a short time at the helm but in his 4 years he worked his magic and we blossomed as a band. Winning the West of England 4th section regionals in 2018 and then going on to win the 3rd section in 2019 was a real high point for us all.

In 2021 Colin contracted Covid and unfortunately in early 2022 we saw him lose his fight with the truly horrific aftermath that covid had caused to his body. A true gentleman, talented musician, teacher and friend. We at GSB are all totally devastated by his passing but he will live on in our hearts forever. Love and thoughts are with his family. Rest in Peace. Colin Douglas Christopher Garner - 11th December 1959 - 6th March 2022

To make an online donation in memory of Colin, please visit his tribute site at www.funeralcare.co.uk/tributes-and-donations or alternatively by cheque, payable to Spinnaker Ward, St Mary’s Community Health Campus

Podium finishes for GSB at recent ODBBA and WEBBA Contests

The 2022 season for GSB kicked off with the bands annual trip to the Oxford winter contest on the 27th February. Competing for the first time in the second section, the band played against 4 other bands and came a very respectable 2nd place putting us in good stead for the next contest coming up, the WEBBA Regionals.

Normally the regionals are held in Torquay over the second weekend in March but due to the venue not being available this year we had to travel to Cheltenham on Saturday 2nd April. Competing against 10 other bands we went in with no pressure or expectations and really enjoyed playing Goff Richards - The Aeronauts. We were happy with our performance and were hoping for a good final placement.

Results time came and we all sat at the back of the hall, listening with intent at the top 6 placements. 2nd place was announced and the band broke into a rapturous roar. We were over the moon and as a result we have been invited back to Cheltenham to take part in another National Finals in September. This will be the 4th time in a row for the band and is a real achievement for us all.

Gosport Mayor continues fantastic support of GSB

Our Treasurer, Mark Rooke and Chairman, Tony Rose accepting the Mayor’s grant.

On April 16th, the band met up with the Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Diane Furlong, who invited members of the band to the town hall.

Gosport Solent Brass are fortunate to have a great relationship with the Gosport Council and especially the current Mayor, who generously offered the band a financial grant at our meet up.

The Mayor congratulated the band on the current achievements, both on our contesting success and for allowing children to learn to play a musical instrument for free, and offered to display our West Of England Regional winning trophy, as part of the mayoral collection which contains many various and fascinating trophies, shields and other prizes.

The band will be playing at the Gosport Mayor Making ceremony on Wednesday 15th May and will support Gosport by welcoming the new Mayor, but we would like to thank Diane once again for her keen interest and enthusiasm in the band’s activities (she was one of the first people to congratulate us on our West Of England win back in March), and for her support. Thank you, Diane Furlong.