User:Dashman71
The Virtuosi GUS Band is a world-famous brass band, based in Northampton, England. Originally known as the Munn and Felton Works Band, it was formed by Fred Felton in 1933 in Kettering, England[1]. Since then, the band has won many prizes and competitions over the years[2][3].
History
[edit]On 2 January 1933, the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph reported[1] the formation of the Munn and Felton Works Brass Band. In that article, Mr Fred Felton, co-managing director of the firm, said: "We are out to make it the finest combination in the country, and to make it a contesting band of note throughout the country". Two years later the new band were champions of Great Britain[4]. Since then, under the names of Munn and Felton, GUS (Footwear), The GUS Band, Rigid Containers Group Band, Travelsphere Holidays Band and now the Virtuosi GUS Band[2], the band has travelled Britain, Europe and America, appearing in concert halls, on television and radio[5], and has released many records and CDs[6].
Major Honours
[edit]The band's contesting successes include winning 1 World Championship, 6 British National Championships, 2 British Open Championships, and 11 Midlands Championship titles [2][3][7].
| World Champions: | 1971 |
| National Champions of Great Britain: | 1935, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1966 |
| British Open Winners: | 1954, 1988 |
| Midlands Regional Champions: | 1946, 1947, 1957, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2011 |
| Royal Trophy: | 1935, 1954, 1955 |
| National Quartet Champions: | 1966, 1967, 1968 |
Musical Directors
[edit]The following list of resident and guest conductors is compiled from past contest results[2][3].
| Dates | Name |
| 1933 - 1938 | William Halliwell |
| 1946 - 1975 | Stanley Boddington MBE |
| 1955 - 1960 | Sir Harry Mortimer CBE |
| 1975 - 1978 | Geoffrey Brand |
| 1978 - 1985 | Dr Keith Wilkinson |
| 1985 - 1987 | John Berryman |
| 1985 - 1989 | Bramwell Tovey |
| 1988 | David Stowell |
| 1989 - 1990 | Robert Watson |
| 1991 - 1998 | John Berryman |
| 1998 - 2000 | Melvin White |
| 2001 | Frank Renton |
| 2002 | Brian Grant |
| 2003 | Russell Gray |
| 2003 | Major Peter Parkes |
| 2004 - 2007 | David Stowell |
| 2007 | Rob Wiffen OBE |
| 2007 - 2008 | Jeremy Wise |
| 2008 - present | John Berryman |
Notable Players
[edit]- Peter Collins - current principal cornet.
- Mark Giles - current principal euphonium.
- Alan Morrison - cornet.
- Bert Sullivan - euphonium.
- Brian Grant - cornet.
- Chris Jeans - trombone.
- David Read MBE - cornet.
- Gary Fountain - soprano.
- James Fountain - cornet.
- Jim Scott - cornet.
- John Berryman - cornet.
- John Cobley - horn.
- Trevor Groom - euphonium.
Partial Discography
[edit]The band has released over 50 albums[6], a selection of which are listed here:
- A Mingled Chime
- Bandology
- British Bandstand
- Bandstand (volumes 1 to 10)
- Brass in Perspective
- Celebration Golden Jubilee
- European Journey
- In a Tribute to Eric Ball
- Journeys in Brass
- Kings of Brass
- Rhapsody in Blue - with Don Lusher OBE Soloist
- Travelling Light
- The World Champions Play Test Pieces for Brass
Video Clips
[edit]- The Contestor by T. J. Powell
- Norwegian Dance No.2 by Edvard Grieg
- Malaguena
- Australasian March, played at the Whit Friday Marches at Dobcross in 1992
- Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin, played at Regents Park, London in 1997
- Spanish Dance by Andrew Wainwright, played at the Butlins Mineworkers Championships in 2010
- Rusalka's Song to the Moon, played by Thomas Fountain (aged 15) at the Butlins Mineworkers Championships in 2012
External Links
[edit]- Official website: http://www.thegusband.com/
- Spotlight on GUS: http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2008/art866.asp
References
[edit]- ^ a b "1933 Northampton Evening Telegraph article".
- ^ a b c d "Brass Band Results Archive".
- ^ a b c "Contest Archives". 4barsrest.
- ^ "National Championships Results". Contest Archives. 4barsrest.
- ^ "Virtuosi GUS Band In The Studio". Listen to the Band. BBC. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
- ^ a b "GUS / Munn and Felton Discography". Recordings Archive. The Internet Bandsman's Everything Within.
- ^ "Roll of Honour". The National Finals Archive. Kapitol Productions. Retrieved 17 February 2012.