french open

does anyone know anything about the french open in June? I have been asked to help out Thoresby. Has anyone been before and is anyone else going?

cheers shaz

 

get in touch with David Horsfield ..he's adjudicated there several times..Kirklees Music..Brighouse..

 

Quite a few British Bands have taken part in the French Open Championships, one or two that spring to mind are:

Flowers Band
Swindon Pegasus Brass
Rogerstone Band
Youth Brass 2000

It may be worth contacting members of these bands for further information.

:wink:

 

cheers Brian........ just off to a rehersal with "sherwood Brass" big geoff's scratch band....... we are off to cyprus on wenesday! :wink:

 

Hi,

I went to the French Open with Boarshurst last year. I'd definately recommend it, if you were to put all the best bits of contesting together and then put it in a nice sunny place with good beer you'd have got the picture!!! :guiness
The other good thing is that although the competition is good it's not as tough as at home! Last year we came back with first in our section, best soloist overall and third (I think!) in the march contest!
The only downside is that it's the same weekend as whit friday this year which is why we aren't going again.

Nicola

 

We nearly went a couple of years ago coz its closer and cheaper, but it's in exam time, and most of the band have exams and stuff to do.

 

My band Rogerstone went last year and I can certainly recommend it as a brilliant weekend. As well as doing a march contest (only British bands) and the contest proper you also do a short concert somewhere in Amboise. I cam remember sitting in a roadside bar sipping a cold lager with Flowers in full flow about 50 yards away.......and it was really hot too. Amboise is a great place with stunning buildings as well as the Loire. I can also remember the whole of my band in a bar listening to Boarshurst and having a little banter......decent trombone if I remember rightly, did he play stardust (I'm really bad with names). It really was a great weekend where you got to have a contest, meet new people, have decent food and beer and get a sun tan. I can definately reommend it!!

I know Tongwynlais Temperance Band are going again this year so perhaps. Hope this helps!!

 

Totally off topic I know, but isnt "Temperance Band" an oxymoron?

 

That is a bit intellectual for this time of night!! Although, having said that, I would say that you are quite correct!! I wonder how many bands still have Temperance in their title?

 

thanks guys !............ loking forward to it now!! :wink:

 

Yep, he played Stardust, very good it was too!

 

Agree it was top class stuff! Highlight for us (Rogy) was singing along with you guys playing Hootenany and Instant Concert (Or was that an alcohol induced nightmare!!??) :lol:

By the way Ton are certainly not temperance by nature!!

 

Lockwood Brass from the North East are going.

 

might see you there then! :wink:

 

Would love to go and support them but got no passport at the moment. So world tour for me is off at the moment

 

I wish it had been an alcohol induced nightmare!! But sadly no! Luckily they no longer form part of our concert repetoire!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

I played at the second French Open a few yeas ago with the Norwest CO-OP Rochdale band. We came won the march contest, won the overall testpiece and concert contest and yet came second overall and Stuart Lingard won best soloist with a stunning performance of "Kim". Its a wonderful contest. Great hall to play in and the most striking thing is the enthusiasm of the audiance. I would love to go again! My band thought about it but as it falls on the Whit Friday weekend, we will be defending our Best Local and Best Saddleworth titles instead. AND I DONT KNOW ABOUT NOW BUT WHEN I PLAYED AT THE CONTEST IT WAS FREE WINE ALL WEEKEND! HOW GOOD IS THAT?

 

can't wait! we are off tomorrow and we are staying at a wine college!! :wink:

 

Oh, the wine college!! Miles out of town and wasn't that good either, I'd recommend going to one of the numerous restaurants/bistros in the town. Watch out for drunken football at one am the morning of the contest......oh no, that was us last year!

HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

 

whats an oxymoron?