11:11am Monday 10th September 2012
By Matthew Taylor
FODEN’S Band was crowned the 2012 British Open Champions at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.
The contest is considered the most prestigious brass band contests in the world, involving 17 of the best brass bands in Great Britain.
Fodens, of Sandbach, competed alongside other famous bands such as Black Dyke, Cory and Grimethorpe, who all pitted their wits against a challenging new composition – Electra - by Dr Martin Ellerby.
Adjudicators hailed Foden’s performance on September 1 as ‘fabulous’ and ‘superb’.
Stellar performances from all the principal players - Mark Wilkinson, Lesley Howie, Richard Poole, John Barber, Stewart Baglin, Helen Williams and Glyn Williams - put the icing on a fantastic team effort and one which secured the title for Sandbach.
The performance was directed by the bands conductor Allan Withington.
The win sees Foden’s claim the famous shield for the 10th time in their history – three victories coming in the last 9 years.
Allan Withington, who has been Foden’s professional conductor since January, has won the nationals several times but had never won the Open until now.
Additional bonuses of the day belonged to Glyn Williams, who again picked up the Geoff Whitham Award as the ‘Best Euphonium’ Player.
Mark Bousie, who sits next to Glyn, was honoured for his services to the banding movement with the coveted Mortimer Medal.
Foden’s will now attempt to do ‘the double’, by winning the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in October.
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