Aldbourne Band Retail Top 20 Status

Hot on the heels of a rousing performance at the British Open Finals in September, which saw the Aldbourne Band finish in the top 10 and for the first time ever, make it into the list of the top 20 brass bands in the UK and one of the top 30 bands in the world, Aldbourne have been busy preparing for the finals of the National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, which took place on Saturday 12th October.

With only a few weeks to put together a very difficult test piece, the band wanted to build on their success at the Open and ensure their place as one of the top bands in the world was secure in the face of some fierce competition. All the bands at the finals are great bands in their own right so it was never going to be easy!

Drawn to play number 11 out of 20, the band produced another fine performance on the day which was well received by the audience and drew some great comments from the adjudicators but ultimately, was not quite the interpretation they were looking for.

The band was eventually placed 14th but had some good company in the results table with the world-famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band and the very successful Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band both placed behind them.

Overall a very successful end to the contesting season for the band and the result was enough to see them retain their Top 20 status in the current ranking tables, rounding off nicely one of the most memorable years in the band’s history which saw the band qualify for both the British Open and National Championship Finals in the same year for the first time ever in their long history. The year is not over yet though and the band has a busy concert schedule over the coming months.