Exmouth Contest 2007
Written by: David Baldwin
We all packed and were then on our way to Exmouth with our buckets and spades. This was the annual Entertainment Contest held every year in The Pavilion in Exmouth. There are also fringe concerts held in the gardens of the Pavilion all day. For the last eight years the weather has been fantastic but the clouds were about this year. When the bands started to play outside at 10:30, the clouds lifted and the crowds gathered, with well over a 1,000 people listening to the 14 bands playing through out the day, solely for the audience's enjoyment. We played outside at 15:15 to a now packed audience. We started with Florentiner March and then our star Flugel player Julie Bulgin played a solo, The Way We Were. As always this was played to the highest standard but when Julie finished, the audience applauded with great enthusiasm while Julie's knees still knocked!.
Phoenix then played Funiculi-Funicula Rhapsody arranged by American Michael J Garasi. This brought the cars to a standstill along the main road as this piece is full of gusto. The mood was then calmed down to the beautiful sounds of John Woods playing Myfanwy. Then swing time arrived as our Award Winning (but more of this later) Trombone Section playing a Trombone Trio called Dem Bones. This featured Dave Bulgin, Michelle Cleal and Caron Lisett. The crowd went wild with their playing. Then followed our last piece for the fringe concert outside, the Clog Dance. The length of the clapping from the audience after we played almost made my beer to go flat. This was a good rehearsal for our main event of the Concert when we were to play at 17:30, Phoenix being the penultimate band of the main contest. We played nearly the same programme of music inside with Julie Bulgin again wowing the knowledgeable audience in her second rendition of the day of, The Way We Were. Funiculi-Funicula was also a great hit as Phoenix are one of only a three bands in the country to have this music. Myfanwy was played again to calm the audience down before we went into the Gallop from William Tell.
Particular mention must go to our Principal Cornet Matt Read for his excellent playing of the very tricky Cornet Solo within William Tell. Well done Matt. When the results were awarded, Phoenix won the Best 2nd Section Band prize at the Contest, beating some very fine bands. Phoenix were also awarded the prize for the Best Trombone Section at the Contest. No mean feat as they beat 13 other bands including 1st and Championship Section bands and didn't play a specifically featured item. Overall we came 4th out of 14 bands; our best result to date at this Contest. A huge confidence boost for Paul Slator and all at Phoenix. The hard work does pay off, you know. A good family day was had by all in Exmouth which is well worth a visit if you haven't yet been to this Contest.
Released On 3rd Nov 2008
