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Backworth have just returned from their voyage down South to Skegness. This is the second time that the band has competed in this contest in the Third Section. The last time in 2006, under Colin Harris. This year, the band came 12th out of 16 bands. This is a very commendable position and the band should be proud of all they have achieve and the progress made through this test piece. The Three Miniatures has been a real test for this band - but not one we would have ever given up on. I think the standard of playing has drastically improved through the course of these last few months and, as quoted by both adjudicators, the band has a good sound with good soloists and played a commendable rendition of Philip Sparke’s piece. I would like to thank each and every player in the band for their hard work and determination to make this sound the best it could have, and also to the committee members for organising the weekend trip.
Our next big contest is the North of England Regional Contest on March 17th where we will play Philip Harper’s ‘Olympus’.
The band also played at the 150th memorial of the Hartley Colliery disaster in Earsdon Chruchyard on the 15th on January. The band played hymns for the service and the miners’ hymn ‘Gresford’ as the congregation processed outside, around the obelisk where the names of the 204 miners’ names were read out.

Happy belated New Year Everyone!
Our first ‘big’ event this year is the Butlins Mineworkers’ Contest in Butlins, Skegness this weekend (20th -23th Jan). We are having great fun pulling the ‘Three Miniatures’ test piece together. A lot of hard work has went in for players and committee members to organise the weekend and we hope to do ourselves justice in terms of results. This is Backworth’s 2nd time in the 3rd Section. The last in 2006. The weekend will be the first 3rd Section contest since then and everyone has enjoy the hard work and hope it will pay off the weekend.
MD

What a fantastic weekend! Saturday night could not have been better - and a fabulous audience helped the buzzing atmosphere. The band thought that the choir ‘Harmony’ were marvelous and thank them for joining us to raise money for St Mary’s Church in Whitley Bay. The church was packed for one of the best concerts the band has done in a long time. We hope to play there again in the near future!

Today, the band played at the Oxford Centre in Longbenton on one of the hottest band jobs this year. The ‘Age Takes Centre Stage Festival’ celebrated Older Peoples’ Day with an array of different activities to suit their theme: “Wish you were here…” The band’s presence in the centre brought life and enjoyment to the festival, with even a few requests and encores. We thank the ‘Age Takes Centre Stage Festival’ for their kind support and hospitality, and all those players who helped us out today.
MD

The test piece for Regionals next year has been announce and it is ‘Olympus’ by Philip Harper. It was composed this year therefore no recording are made as yet. The contest will be held on Saturday (afternoon) 17th March 2012.

The band now has a new Facebook page located here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Backworth-Colliery-Band/262176017148613
This is the page you can find our lots of information and updates as soon as they happen!
We hope you will support our page, thank-you.
MD

On Thursday we played to a packed audience at Dalston Parish Church, a venue that we have enjoyed travelling to and playing in for many years. I hope the audience enjoyed the concert as much as we did. The programme was chosen to show off the band’s extensive genres of playing. From ‘Radetsky March’ by Strauss right through to Micheal Buble’s ‘Haven’t Met You Yet’. It left the audience wanting more as we finished the night of with a brass band favourite ‘Floral Dance’. I take the time now to thank all the players who travelled there and played extremely well and, of course, to the hosts, Dalston Parish Church, for having us back another year. Let’s hope the relationship lasts into the distant future.
We only have a few more summer concerts before we start to look on to Christmas and Butlins in January where we join the 3rd Section and play Philip Sparke’s ‘Three Miniatures for Brass Band’. I’m sure we’ll have fun getting our teeth into that one.
MD

Even though the Summer is not over yet, I feel it is appropriate to say a few words for the band’s commitments to all the jobs so far.
A thankyou to everyone who has helped these past few jobs and those who selflessly gave their time to organise transport and instruments. As we all know, this year is a big year for us; next year could see the band stay at a level they have yet to have retained for more than one year in the 125 year history. In a year’s time, I yearn to see everyone proud of their achievements and hopefully we will stay up in the 3rd section.
The next job is on Sunday - Stephenson Railway Museum 12-3. We hope to see better weather than the last few days and hope to see many people support us.
MD

Yesterday, the band performed at the Easingwold Contest; an annual march contest for all levels of banding. We are pleased to announce that we received the award for Best 4th Section Band. The band were thrilled, as they now have achieved this title for 2 years in a row. Let’s just hope we can win another trophy next year, when the we are in the 3rd Section.
The adjudicator’s remarks commented on times of tuning and intonation issues and a sections with loose ensemble work, however the performance was stylistic and convincing. He went on to say the performace was “generally well blended and cohesive". Well done to all the band and the players who helped us out.
The next job is part of the Wallsend Festival, where the band will play outside the Forum.

This week saw the band playing at the prestigeous Alnwick Castle. The event was a garden party for local volenteers and carers. The band were speechless that they had the oppotunity to play for such a remarkable occasion and to have seen the Queen and Prince Phillip. Although the weather didn’t stay nice all day, the band still had fun playing for such a large crowd.
The band now look forward to a march contest in Easingwold this Saturday, where they hope for a pleasing result and more pleasant weather. The will play the march they played at the Whit Fridays last week; The Contestor.
MD