Santa brought early Christmas gifts for the members of Michelmersh Silver Band at the weekend in when they were awarded no less than four silver trophies at the annual Wessex Area Brass Band Association Championships in Bournemouth. Playing the challenging test piece Dances and Arias composed by Edward Gregson and competing in the First Section for the last time before promotion to the Championship Section, the band proved itself worthy of the hard-won promotion to the top flight of brass banding. Under the baton of Musical Director Melvin White who was awarded to Best Musical Interpretation trophy, their performance earned them the coveted First Section winner’s Trophy. The trombone and percussion sections carried off the silverware for Best Section of the Day in their respective categories, beating off strong competition from Championship section players. In the open march competition MIchelmersh were awarded the runners-up prize, losing out only to overall champions The Woodfalls Band.
These successes were hard won with a gruelling rehearsal schedule leading up to the contest and, after only the briefest of respites for celebrations, it was business as usual in the Band Hall on Monday as the band rehearses for its two highly popular Christmas Concerts in the Plaza Theatre next week.