Congratulations to our younger Downshire members on their recent Grading success, showing excellent resilience even in lockdown
Daniel Quinn received a Distinction in his Grade 8 Trombone, whilst Jonah Power achieved a Grade 5 Merit in cornet. Harrison Kirk also achieved his Grade 8 Piano with distinction with a whopping 96%.
Congratulations to all!
For those who are reluctant to ease their way out of Christmas 2020, there’s still a chance to enjoy our recent concert which featured an array of seasonal music for senior band and youth band. As ever, it was great to team up with Edward Craig and the wonderful Grosvenor Chorale, even if we had to resort to extreme technical means to perform together! Our full concert can be viewed on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/roRLcLaeUxg
Our concert was in support of three important charities. We are grateful to those people who have generously supported them already. Our fund-raising campaign will continue over the coming days and weeks for anyone who wishes to contribute.
Motor Neurone Disease Association
https://tinyurl.com/yb68gx3c
Community Rescue Service
www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/crsdownshirebrass
Christian Aid
https://tinyurl.com/yd6w3lzr
Thanks to everyone who has supported the band through the challenges of 2020. Best wishes for 2021.
We are delighted to announce that Downshire Brass will be moving to a new home as soon as restrictions allow the band to resume its rehearsals, hopefully in early 2021.
Downshire will be taking up residence at the BB Pavilion, Belvoir, in a space which will be for the band’s exclusive use.
The move is an important next chapter for the band, though Downshire will not be severing its important links with Malone Presbyterian Church and will continue to support key church services and events in the years ahead. Malone has been the band’s base for the last 30 years and was the home of Downshire’s precursor, the Reid Memorial Band, before the merger with the Hillsborough Silver Band in 1990.
Robert Mercer, Chairperson of the band, said, “Securing our own exclusive venue will give us a much improved rehearsal facility and environment for the youth and senior bands, allowing us to have all band equipment, including percussion, set up permanently. Downshire Brass is grateful to the BB at Belvoir and we look forward to developing our links with them. We are excited about our move and the band members cannot wait to have their first rehearsal at the Pavillion.”
On the 26th of September Downshire Brass Band were named First Section Champion Band at the Cory Band Online Championships, an online contest setup to showcase the talent of many brass bands from across the world. Downshire Brass submitted an audio-visual performance entitled “Tales of Yarn and Home” which showcased the band against a backdrop of beautiful rural and urban landscapes across Northern Ireland. The band performed original arrangements of “She Moved Through the Fair” with Flugel soloist Lauran Stewart, “A Ragged Hank of Yarn” and “I’ll Tell Me Ma” playing amongst the scenery. These had been specially composed by the band’s Musical Director, Michael Alcorn.
In addition to winning the 1st section overall, Downshire also gained awards for best percussion, best euphonium and baritone section and an award for the best soloist in Section One which went to Lauren Stewart for her performance in “She Moved Through the Fair”.
However, the success didn’t stop there. Over the last month Downshire Brass’ performance has reached national publicity with brief TV news segments on BBC Ulster and UTV and it was taken up by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. The band also received recognition in national and local news articles including BBC News, 4barsrest, Love Ballymena, Banbridge Leader, and the Newsletter. As the band, begins to reflect on the huge recognition and success that stemmed from winning the Cory Online Band championships, we can hope that future success is on the cards for Downshire Brass, even in these hard times.
To read the articles on the contest and Downshire’s success, please click the link below:
BBC news -https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-northern-ireland-54348036
4BarsRest - https://www.4barsrest.com/news/41836/report-results-2020-cory-online-championships
The winning Downshire Brass programme from the Cory Online band can be viewed here:
This is your chance to have a starring role in the finale of our online concert on 27th June...
We are looking for singers, crooners, Neil Diamond fans or those keen to support the NI Hospice to join us in a video montage performance of "Sweet Caroline".
Just complete the form at the end of this post and make a donation to the NI Hospice via our JustGiving page:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/downshire-brass
How it works
There are two options available - sing the entire piece along with the band and other participants, or join us in a chorus or two near the end.
In both cases we will send you a backing track and words. You just need to make a video of yourself or a small group singing and send it to us before midnight on 24 June.
To take part just complete the following Google form:
https://forms.gle/iKeDxhJvjiRgzFg5A
Downshire Brass is currently seeking a tenor horn, trombone and two cornet players to join our ambitious senior band as we prepare for the forthcoming contesting season and our trip to the Europeans in Lithuania in May 2020.
We are a thriving and friendly group of musicians with a range of high-profile concert engagements and competitions planned for 2020. The band rehearses on Mondays and Thursdays from 8.00pm - 10.00pm in Malone Presbyterian Church Halls, Lisburn Road, Belfast. If you are interested in taking up this opportunity or would like more information, then please contact Michael Alcorn (Musical Director) or Robert Mercer (Chairperson) via vacancies@downshirebrass.com or Robert on 07597 684148.
The Band were thrilled to take part in the live performances of "Soda and Champ" in Belfast City Centre with The Big Belfast Choir Imitating the Dog and composer, James Hamilton Music. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone and definitely something different for our band! Congratulations to James and the entire creative and technical team on a great show!
Here's a link to our first live showing earlier today!
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10162624722005573&id=662920572
Downshire Youth and Junior Bands have a number of spaces available from September 2019 for aspiring young brass players! We have opportunities in our junior band for young beginner players and in our youth band for players of grade 3 standard and above. There will also be a beginners class starting in late September for those starting out to learn a brass instrument. This will lead directly into the Youth Band.
For any new players, we are holding an open evening on Thursday 26th September at 7pm (Malone Presbyterian Church), so please come along with your instrument and meet players from the senior and youth bands. Downshire is also able to provide instruments to new members and can arrange tuition to anyone who is interested in one-to-one classes.
Youth and beginner bands meet from 6.30pm - 7.45pm on Monday evenings at Malone Presbyterian Church. There are currently more than 40 young people involved in our Youth Programme and opportunities for youth and junior band players to progress through to our senior band, Downshire Brass.
Please get in touch via this link if you want to find out more about participating in any of these youth groups.
14 Members of Downshire's Senior and Youth Bands made the trek to Armagh this week to take part in Armagh Old Boys Brass Band Summer School
With around 5-6 hours of playing each day it is reckoned that they covered around a year's worth of youth band rehearsals in a week!
The Sterling Band (less experienced players) prepared 14 pieces from scratch and Sovereign Band prepared around 10 - a phenomenal achievement for both groups.
The week was brought to a close with a rousing finale concert in 1st Armagh Presbyterian Church where both bands got to showcase the results of their hard work.
It is safe to say that everyone who attended the course had a brilliant time and new friendships have been made.
Congratulations to our own Daniel Quinn who was awarded the Sovereign Band Trombone prize and Louise Crowther who took home the Sterling Band Tenor Horn prize.
Special thanks to all of the tutors from Foden's Band and also to the Stevenson family whose enormous efforts make the summer school possible. We can't wait to return next year.
Four key positions have become available in the band, available from September 2019:
Front-row cornet (x2)
Tenor Trombone
Bass Eb or Bb
These are key roles in the band and we are looking for talented, enthusiastic individuals who can rise to the challenge of performing with one of Northern Ireland’s top bands.
2019/20 will be a busy year, with high-profile concerts, contests and a trip to Lithuania in May 2020 to represent Northern Ireland at the European Brass Band championships.
The band will also be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year, with some very special events in the pipeline.
Downshire Brass rehearses on Monday and Thursday from 8pm - 10pm at Malone Presbyterian Church Halls which is easily accessible to all parts of the city as well as many parts of Northern Ireland.
Confidential enquiries can be made to Musical Director, Michael Alcorn on 07515 650597 or Band Chair, Robert Mercer on 07597 684148.
Downshire is teaming up with the Dutch company LefreQue on Thursday 18th April in a workshop which is open to other brass bands and players. This is your chance to try out the unique LefreQue sound bridge on your instrument and to hear the positive impact that it has on your tone. Our very own solo euphonium player, Jonny Sproule is a LeFreQue Artist and will be on hand that evening along with Staff from LefreQue who will be helping with the demonstration.
Much of the evening will be focused on playing passages from the amazing test piece ‘Fraternity’ by Thierry Deleruyelle.
The rehearsal will take place at St Nicholas Church Hall, Lisburn Road from 8pm - 10pm.
Please get in touch by emailing on info@downshirebrass.com if you are interested in coming along.
Downshire Brass is seeking to recruit a cornet and trombone player to join the band. Our championship section band offers a good mix of contest, concert, and recording work and welcomes players who are estabished or up-and-coming. We enjoy excellent attendance at rehearsals and have a steady schedule of events lined up over the next year. The band is currently the NIBA Champions and over the next twelve months we will be gearing up towards our participation in the 2020 Euros in Palanga, Lithuania.
The band rehearses on Mondays and Thursdays from 8.00pm - 10.00pm in Malone Presbyterian Church Halls, Lisburn Road, Belfast. If you are interested in joining this ambitious group or would like more information, then please contact Michael Alcorn (Musical Director) or Robert Mercer (Chairperson) via vacancies@downshirebrass.com or Robert on 07597 684148.
The Brass Band League Solos and Ensembles contest brought a number of successes for our young players in Downshire Youth Band.
Seventeen players from the band took part in the competition on 16th February 2019 in the 10 & Under, 12 & Under and 15 & Under classes and each one of them played extremely well in their chosen pieces. Stand-out performances by James Campbell (cornet) secured a second prize in the 10 & under section, and 1st and 2nd prizes in the 12 & under section went to Harrison Kirk (cornet) and Daniel Quinn (trombone).
At the end of the youth sections the competition Adjudicator, Les Neish, announced that the award for the most promising player would go to 9 year-old Holly Wilson from Downshire Youth Band. Holly has only been playing for 4 1/2 months and she’s already shaping up to be a ‘chip off the old block’…
Well done to all of the other participants and prizewinners!
Harrison Kirk (winner of the 12 & Under class) & Holly Wilson (winner of the John Patton Shield)
The Brass Band League Solos and Ensembles contest brought a number of successes for our young players in Downshire Youth Band.
Seventeen players from the band took part in the competition on 16th February 2019 in the 10 & Under, 12 & Under and 15 & Under classes and each one of them played extremely well in their chosen pieces. Stand-out performances by James Campbell (cornet) secured a second prize in the 10 & under section, and 1st and 2nd prizes in the 12 & under section went to Harrison Kirk (cornet) and Daniel Quinn (trombone).
At the end of the youth sections the competition Adjudicator, Les Neish, announced that the award for the most promising player would go to 9 year-old Holly Wilson from Downshire Youth Band. Holly has only been playing for 4 1/2 months and she’s already shaping up to be a ‘chip off the old block’…
Well done to all of the other participants and prizewinners!
Harrison Kirk (winner of the 12 & Under class) & Holly Wilson (winner of the John Patton Shield)
Malone Presbyterian Church Halls were the location for Downshire's annual summer concert on 25th June 2018 featuring our Junior, Youth and Senior Bands.
The three bands performed an entertaining programme of 14 pieces including four new arrangements by Roger Doherty for the Junior Band and works new to the Youth Band including "Prismatic Light" and a selection of pieces from the movie "Happy Feet".
The senior bands pieces included the trombone trio "Blue Moon", "Penny Lane" and the "Music from the Incredibles". The performances offered by the junior and youth bands in particular were outstanding and our youth team have been overwhelmed by the positive and encouraging comments from parents and other audience members alike. Our Chairperson, Paul Kirk thanked Downshire’s enthusiastic youth team for giving of their time freely throughout the year and also thanked parents for their support in sending their children to band each Monday night. He commented on how the junior and youth groups had developed rapidly over the course of the year and that they were a credit to the local brass music scene.
A highlight of this annual event is the award of trophies to young players in the junior and youth bands. With such a strong level of performance and commitment from our young musicians, it is always a challenge to identify the recipients. After much deliberation, it was agreed that the Sam Doherty Cup for Musical Endeavour should go to Jonathan Gillespie and the Doreen Alcorn Cup for Outstanding Musical Contribution should be awarded to Harrison Kirk. Congratulations both!
Downshire Brass will now be taking a break for a few weeks before launching into the rest of our summer concert and engagements then onwards to the forthcoming contest season.
Malone Presbyterian Church Halls were the location for Downshire's annual summer concert on 25th June 2018 featuring our Junior, Youth and Senior Bands.
The three bands performed an entertaining programme of 14 pieces including four new arrangements by Roger Doherty for the Junior Band and works new to the Youth Band including "Prismatic Light" and a selection of pieces from the movie "Happy Feet".
The senior bands pieces included the trombone trio "Blue Moon", "Penny Lane" and the "Music from the Incredibles". The performances offered by the junior and youth bands in particular were outstanding and our youth team have been overwhelmed by the positive and encouraging comments from parents and other audience members alike. Our Chairperson, Paul Kirk thanked Downshire’s enthusiastic youth team for giving of their time freely throughout the year and also thanked parents for their support in sending their children to band each Monday night. He commented on how the junior and youth groups had developed rapidly over the course of the year and that they were a credit to the local brass music scene.
A highlight of this annual event is the award of trophies to young players in the junior and youth bands. With such a strong level of performance and commitment from our young musicians, it is always a challenge to identify the recipients. After much deliberation, it was agreed that the Sam Doherty Cup for Musical Endeavour should go to Jonathan Gillespie and the Doreen Alcorn Cup for Outstanding Musical Contribution should be awarded to Harrison Kirk. Congratulations both!
Downshire Brass will now be taking a break for a few weeks before launching into the rest of our summer concert and engagements then onwards to the forthcoming contest season.
Congratulations to some younger members of the senior band - Tom Alcorn and Ellen Mullan for their super results in recent performance diplomas and to Peter Alcorn for his grade 8 distinction on trombone.
Congratulations to some younger members of the senior band - Tom Alcorn and Ellen Mullan for their super results in recent performance diplomas and to Peter Alcorn his grade 8 distinction on trombone.
On the morning of Wednesday 21st March, 5 members of Downshire Brass arrived at the MAC, Belfast to begin rehearsals for two performances of Gary Clarke’s award winning dance theatre show COAL which looks back at the realities of life at the coal face during the 1980s.
The quintet shared the stage with professional dancers and four women from the local community - it was an opportunity to do something very different that none of the band members or women had experienced before. Rehearsals were intense and performances emotionally charged, receiving a standing ovation on Thursday.
All five members of Downshire thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would like to say a huge thank you to all the cast and crew of COAL for making them feel so welcome and especially to Steven Roberts, Musical Director for his guidance and encouragement over the two days.
Wishing every success to Gary and the rest of the COAL team for their final performances in Brighton before heading oversees later in the year.
