Our eleventh Festival, held in May at the John O’Gaunt Community Technology College, Hungerford, attracted seven bands from a wide area., who competed in friendly rivalry in front of Mike Kilroy, Phoenix Brass President, who was again returning as adjudicator.

The Entertainment Panel of Chris Buck, Lesley Froud, Ray Smith, Alan Williams, (all previous of judging the contest) and Chris House, (a brass player of long standing), found all the programs highly entertaining and leaving each them with a difficult decision.

  Chalgrove Band won The Collvett Workwear Challenge Trophy and £200 for the best entertaining band, with the Phoenix Cup and £200, for best band overall, won by AW Parker (Drybrook) Band, closely followed by Gloucester Excelsior Band and Tewkesbury Town Band.  Soprano cornet player, John Noall from Chalgrove Band won the soloist prize and collected £50 and the Friends of Phoenix Challenge Shield.

      Musicians from The Cricklade Band were awarded the Audrey Baldrey Memorial Trophy for the best hymn tune on the day, with Swindon School of Brass Youth Band winning The Tuesday Club Trophy for the best bass section.

      David Hayward, an accomplished player and conductor in his own right, compered the day.

      During the evening, musicians from Phoenix Brass were accompanied by players from The Cricklade Band and Aldbourne Band when they staged the Massed Bands Concert.   To the delight of the audience Mike Kilroy  performed four solo performances . (Click here for photographs of concert)

      Speaking afterwards. Musical Director, Mr David Watson, commented “Yet again, we have all had a most enjoyable day of brass band music, renewed friendships and made new friends from the seven bands that competed in friendly rivalry. The Festival has been most successful and I was again encouraged by the number of young players taking part this year’