NEBB Wins 1st Place in the 2006 NABBA Honors Division!

On Saturday April 1st, 2006 the New England Brass Band competed at the 24th North American Brass Band Championships held on the campus of Indiana Unviersity Southeast in New Albany, Indiana (across the river from Louisville, Kentucky). Sponsored by the North American Brass Band Association, this year's contest was the fourth time the NEBB had particpated. In 2004, the NEBB took first place in the "Challenge" section at NABBA XXII. This year, the band decided to move up to the "Honors" section which meant being in a more competitive section and having to play significantly more difficult music. The test piece for the Honors section this year was Gilbert Vinter's "Spectrum" and we played Philip Sparke's "The Year of the Dragon" to fill out our contest program.
At the awards ceremony after the contest, we were thrilled to have our band announced as the winner of the Honors section. Running up to the stage to accept the trophy and banner (see our photo gallery) was an unforgettable moment - looking out at our band members who were standing and cheering I could only think what a privilege it is to work each week with such a talented and committed group of people. Brass banding, to me, represents the best of the amateur music world. Players getting together not for money but simply to make music together. The NABBA contest is a special way for us to interact with people in other bands from around the country and to spend more time with our own band members as we eat meals, travel and play together. Our hosts at Indiana University Southeast organized an excellent weekend which included a solo and small ensemble contest as well. NEBB Eflat bass player Mark Fabulich won third place in the Adult Low Instrument Slow Melody solo contest and the band's flugelhorn player, Kevin Maloney, won third place in the Adult High Instrument Slow Melody solo contest. In all it was a special weekend for all of us in the New England Brass Band and one which found the band growing musically and inter-personally.

- Doug Yeo

Our 2006 NABBA Judges comments:
Kevin Norbury:
Spectrum: A very good band.  Exciting performance - very well done!

James Anderson:
Spectrum: A fine rendition of this classic band test piece.  My congratulations.
Year of the Dragon: An outstanding performance.  Exciting rhythmically, sonorous in the more reflective sections. The precision of this band is truly memorable. Thank you for such a tremendous work.

Brian Bowen:
Spectrum: Fine performance.  Had light and shade - very clean. This band is impressive!  Thank You! Year of the Dragon: Excellent - styles all taken in the band's stride. Trombone soloist made the 2nd movement sound easy. Well done, whole BAND!

Read Linda Yeo’s review of the 2006 Honor’s Division Competition as written for 4BarsRest.com