Enfield goes back-to-back at States!

On a sunny, late-winter’s day in Gawler, Enfield Brass put up a first-class performance to take out the Open C Grade championship for the second year running.

The contest commenced with the parade of bands, in which the band maintained its position as top marching band, dropping only one point on inspection. The 200-metre-long parade proved difficult for all the bands, but Enfield again came out on top for drill. Phil Benger won best drum major.

On the stage, the band presented a challenging programme under the baton of Shayne Tarling, who was appointed as Musical Director in March. For the sacred item, Enfield gave a stirring performance of Evening Song, a setting of ‘The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended’ by Jan de Haan, which featured Chip Magin playing the cornet obbligato. The own-choice test piece followed… and test it did! For this section, the band played Edward Gregson’s The Plantagenets – a challenging work for any band! Sarah Tillman (cornet), Jason Chatterton (euphonium) and Melinda Gregor (horn) shone in their respective solos. A fine performance was completed with the stage march, Castell Caerfilli by T.J. Powell, which featured some slick semiquavers and dynamic contrast.

Enfield won every section and the C Grade championship with a total of 172 points. Shayne Tarling thanked the players for their hard work and dedication over the past three months as he claimed his first State Championship win as Musical Director. Adjudicator Ian Denbigh made special mention of how impressed he was that a C grade band had attempted The Plantagenets, which at one time had been an A grade test piece.

Most of the band after the onstage performance

Open C Grade Brass
Full results can be read on the SABA website.

Parade of Bands