Contests

Contests

Founded in 1901, the Band was originally known as the 'The Oxted and District Prize Band', perhaps due to their prowess in competitions. However, the Band has been renamed several times since and certainly over the last 15 to 20 years had not contested, preferring to concentrate on performance concerts.

This was to change though on 18th October 2008 as, with a little trepidation, we set off early Saturday morning to travel to the Leas Hotel Folkestone to take part in the annual Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association Autumn Contest. Although musical director Martin Beaumont had carefully prepared the Band even he could not have foreseen the result.

We were drawn 4th but there seemed little time to warm up and rehearse before we were ushered 'on stage' to perform. The band were able to calm some of their nerves by warming into the hymn "Penlan", before we embarked upon our test piece "Laudate Dominum". All too soon the performance was over and the Band left stage and, whilst our playing seemed to be well received by the audience, who were very appreciative and supportive of all bands performing that morning, only the adjudicator knew just how well the Band had done.

With five bands to follow there was ample time to listen to the remaining competition before the lunch break. The standard of play throughout the morning had been high and with banter between and amongst bands over lunch doubts continued to increase on our ability. A mid table placing would have been sufficient to satisfy most band members, such belief seemingly confirmed as the first result was announced, for the hymn tune, won by Cobham Band. We knew they had played well but we could scarcely believe the remaining results as they were announced.

Test Piece winners………band 4……..Oxted band

Best Instrumentalist……..David Relf (Oxted Band Euphonium)

After an initial quite vocal celebration the full results were published and it became clear how close the whole competition had been. We had come second in the Hymn Tune, beaten by one point. In the Test piece nine points had separated all nine contestants but Oxted Band had won by two clear points.

In the words of adjudicator Roy Sparkes, Laudate Dominum was "a difficult piece played well".

We could not have asked more of ourselves.