Jaguar Land Rover Band wins at Bolsover

The Jaguar Land Rover Band takes home the silverware after being awarded first place at the Bolsover Festival of Brass.


The Bolsover Festival of Brass is the countries largest brass band entertainment festival in the UK. This music festival has around 40 bands and 1,400 musicians that take part. The highlight of the weekend being the entertainment contest for the championship section for which the band was awarded first place.


The bands electric opening was a tribute to all those connected with the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in New York. 'The Heroic Fanfare' (arranged by Chad Shoopman) was originally written for and performed at ground zero and was therefore a very appropriate start to the programme. 

Dave lea first recipient of the
Major Peter Parkes trophy 

The band then changed the mood with the theme music from the hit children's TV series 'Stingray' followed by an arrangement of the song made famous by Freddie Mercury from the group Queen call 'Who wants to live forever'. This week would have been his 65th birthday so the timing of this piece was also appropriate.      


The bands soloist for the day was solo Euphonium Ian Wright who gave an amazing performance of 'Carnival Cocktail'. This was followed with the bands finale entitled an 'American Tale'. In addition to the first place trophy, Musical Director Dave Lea was the first recipient of the Major Peter Parkes trophy for the winning conductor.