Stape Silver Band. Est. 1884


Malton Band Contest 2nd November 2007


Each year in November the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association runs an Entertainment Contest held in Malton. This contest is our local contest and as such we are annual attendees. The format of the contest is a 20 minute entertainment programme which must include a Stand Up Solo and March.

The 2007 contest was no different to any other year for Stape Silver Band. Much deliberating over the pieces within the programme and their merits for entertainment value and who would volunteer for the solo or would our conductor nominate an individual.

Entertainment value is the most difficult part of assessing the programme as this is very much personal to the individual listening to the performance. Some people like the modern Film and TV arrangements which inject familiarity while others prefer the inclusion of a traditional brass band arrangement. Our programme as usual was varied and we hoped this hit the spot with the adjudicator Roy Roe.

The band took to the stage in a relaxed state of mind with determination to put up a good performance of a programme we had been practicing for weeks. Our first piece was the Magnificent Seven written by Elmer Bernstein and arranged by a brass band favourite Alan Fernie. This piece was a rousing start for the band and got the audience tapping their feet. Next into the stand up solo, this year played by Sharon Allanson, the bands Soprano Cornet player. The solo played was a traditional New Zealand air arranged by Geoff Richards and titled Pokarekare Ana. Sharon played well and put a real shine on the bands performance. The bands choice of mandatory march in the programme came next with the Lights of Europe by Harm Evans. A good quality march with two very different styles within the phrasing. An enjoyable piece for the band this, and continued to be in our programme for the Christmas Concert. The band then moved onto a slow piece and yet another Traditional New Zealand air arranged by Peter Graham and titled Hine e Hine. This piece shows off the bands quality of sound and all seemed to be going well. Finally we reached our concluding programme piece and all players were focused for finishing with a bang. Pirates of the Caribbean arranged by John Blanken. A topical piece of film music with the recent release of another pirate’s movie.

A good programme and sound performance had the band keeping its fingers crossed for the results. The competition at this contest is pretty strong and every band knows it’s all down to the man in the box.

The results were out and Stape managed to net the first prize and a few others to compliment it along the way. Full results were as follows:-
1st£200 and the Massers Challenge TrophyStape Silver Band185 Points
2nd£150 and the Bass Brewers TrophySouth Milford Brass184 Points
3rd£100Emley Brass183 Points
4thBarton Town182 Points
Best Soloist£20Stape Silver Band
Best March£20South Milford Brass
Best Basses in the March£20Stape Silver Band
Most Versatile Percussion£20Emley Brass
Best Basses OverallThe Andrew Popham Memorial TrophyEmley Brass
Best Euphonium£20 and The Ray Taylor CupSouth Milford Brass


The contest at Malton is always a really good day out and all ran to time. Our band was really pleased with this result and will be looking forward to defending our title in 2008.