New Faces to Boost our Ranks Ahead Of Regionals
We are pleased to announce the signing of Will Dakin (soprano cornet) and Sam Noden (solo euphonium) ahead of the North West Regional Brass Band Championships at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.
Will, currently in his final year at Sandbach School, starts at the RNCM in September and is also a member of Lions Youth Band. Will told us “I am absolutely delighted to begin my adult banding career with VBS Poynton. I’m excited to see what the future will bring!”
Sam, a first-year RNCM student, moves to Poynton from Dobcross Band. Sam told us “It’s an honour to be accepted by such a successful, progressive band. I am ready for the challenges that face me on solo euphonium at Poynton.”
We are especially pleased to welcome such fine, young players to our band.
On behalf of everyone at VBS Poynton Band, we wish a very warm welcome to both Will and Sam and hope they have a long and happy time with us. Their signings move us closer to securing a full team for Blackpool, with just a few cornet seats left to fill.
Both players will make their debut with band in concert at Boarshurst Band Club on 29th January before taking to the contest stage for the first time at the ‘area’ on 26th February.
Fri 17 Jun 2016
Floods Hit VBS Poynton Library
We suffered a major flood to the basement of our band room following the flash floods which caused such havoc in Poynton last Saturday (11th June).
The band’s library was badly affected with approximately 50% of it (over 800 sets of music) being lost to the floods. Percussionist, Dave Johnson who oversaw the clean-up operation said ‘It was soul destroying to have to throw away so many pieces of music including original handwritten music from the 1920’s.’
The band refuse to be down beat. On 18th September the band will be representing the North West at the National Finals when we hope to be crowned National Champions of the 1st Section.
We continue to be busy raising funds to help towards the cost of attending the Finals.
The band’s Chairman Gary White says: ‘We need to raise over £4000 and any donations from individuals or companies will help us achieve that target’. Donations can be made online through Golden Giving www.goldengiving.com/wall/vernon-building-society-brass-band
Wed 25 May 2016
Ray Booth
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Ray Booth.
Ray had been associated with the band most of his life joining the band in 1948 - he used to play tenor horn. He was also on the committee and did lots of jobs when the band bought Clumber Road church. He was also a trustee before stepping down due to ill health. He was well known in the band world and also well known in Poynton. Ray will be greatly missed by all that knew him.
Thanks for all the good times Ray!
Mon 07 Mar 2016
New EEb and Assistant MD
The Vernon Building Society (Poynton) Band has announced the appointment of Iain McKnight to the Solo Eb Bass chair and also as assistant MD, to work in conjunction with the Band's Musical Director, Neil Samuel.
Iain grew up in Cornwall as a member of the St Austell Band, but moved to the North West in 2003 to study at the University of Salford under, amongst others, Peter Graham and David King. He was the recipient of the Roy Newsome award for conducting in 2006. Following a ten-year career at Leyland Band, Iain was appointed Musical Director of the Stockport Schools Senior Band in September. He has previously held positions as MD at Lostock Hall and Flixton bands as well as guest conducting appearances with bands such as Hebden Bridge and St Austell.
Commenting on Iain's arrival, MD Neil Samuel told us: "I'm thrilled to welcome such an experienced player and conductor to the band. Iain was kind enough to fill in for me and take rehearsals leading up to the North West Area and the feedback from the band was excellent. When I returned the following rehearsal it was clear that the band had been worked hard".
"I am really pleased to be joining the band at this time," added Iain. "There is a great deal of talent at Poynton, as evidenced by our success at the recent North West Regional Championships. Neil is the driving force behind the band and I look forward to supporting him by fulfilling conducting duties when work calls him away from the bandroom. With appearances at the Spring Festival and National Finals in 2016 there is certainly much to look forward to, and I'm very excited by the opportunity to work with the band both as player and conductor."
Mon 07 Mar 2016
North West Area 1st Section Champions 2016
Courtesy of 4barsest
The North West will send a brace of strong contenders to Cheltenham after Vernon Building Society Poynton and Rainford produced 'Essays' of technical and musical character to gain the qualification marks from judges Colin Hardy and David Hirst.
Edward Gregson's work proved a deceptively transparent ask of the fourteen contenders; each of its three sections requiring the mastery of contrasting styles and technical security - especially the central 'Soliloquy' with its tranquil echoes of Gilbert Vinter.
Fatal
As a result, by the time many gave a rousing 'Epigram' to close, qualification chances had long been lost, whilst others could not match execution to intent as nervousness and a litany of unforced errors proved fatal.
The judges gave concise pre-results remarks - noting the challenges and pitfalls encountered, although they didn't mention the surprisingly poor levels of intonation which must have undermined a number of accounts.
Red letter Essay
However, for Vernon Building Society Poynton, 'Essay' proved to be a red letter day; with victory sending them to the Finals for the first time since 2004 as they captured a first Area title since 1975.
"We're thrilled to have won such a hard fought contest," MD Neil Samuel told 4BR. "We put the hard work in to master the difficult basics - especially note lengths and tempos, and we were lucky to have such gifted players to pull off the difficult solos with ease."
He added: "The piece appears easy, but it isn't. The tempos dictate the need for accuracy and clear, non-aggressive articulation. That's what we aimed to achieve. I'm a very proud conductor, as we have continued to move in the right direction and are making massive steps forward with every contest."
Persuasive
Those steps also enabled Poynton to overcome an excellent number 1 draw marker from rivals Rainford.
Wed 19 Aug 2015
100 club - June/July Winners
June 2015 - 100 club draw:
1st Marilyn Tan
2nd. Mike Hunt
3rd Mrs Presswood
July 2015 - 100 club draw:
1st. Mr A Baldwin
2nd. Jilly Hazlewood
3rd. Alan Lawton
Tue 16 Jun 2015
100 club - May Winners
1st Mr Alan Baldwin (£12)
2nd Sam Simpson (£8)
3rd. Steven Atwell (£6)
Sat 30 May 2015
100 Club Returns
The 100 club has returned and runs from April 2015 to March 2016. The total prize fund is £312. The total monthly prize fund is £26. There are 3 prizes per month: 1st prize £12, 2nd prize £8, 3rd prize £6. The first draw to take place week ending 30 April 2015
April 2015 100 Club Winners
1st Mrs Davies
2nd Frank Needham
3rd Sam Simpson
Wed 05 Nov 2014
100 Club - October Winners
1st. Mr D Higginbottom
2nd. Dave Johnson
3rd. Mr G.M. Bull
4th. Jane Simpson
Mon 03 Nov 2014
Success at Wychavon Entertainment Contests
On Saturday 1st November the band took part in both the First and Championship Sections at Wychavon Entertainment Contest.
The band had much success coming away as winners in the First Section with the added bonus of a well deserved prize for the best Percussion. We also came a fantastic Second in the Championship Section, again winning the best Percussion Prize but also earning an invite to the Spring Festival in 2015.
The band opened with Dave Collins' Perpetuum, which he wrote specially for the band.
This was then followed by some fantastic Cornet Playing from James Yeadon with Arthur Kenny's arrangement of Rafael Mendez's Chiapanecas
The band were then fortunate enough to be able to play Hunting Wabbits by Gordon Goodwin and arranged by Robin Dewhurst. This is a fantastic piece for Brass band and features a wonderful swing section in the middle with improvised Trombone playing from one of our stars, Gareth Brown.
We then slowed things right down and featured Peter Cookson on Flugel and Jack Stone on Marimba with Alan Fernie's arrangement of George Harrison's My Guitar Gently Weeps.
To finish we again looked to Dave Collins for an inspired arrangement of Youngblood Brass Band's 'Brooklyn' again featuring our Principal Trombone, Garth Brown along with some fantastic stratospheric Trumpet Playing from Jay Sheppard.
What a way to finish the contesting year and to set us up for our Return to the Championship Section in 2015
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