On Sunday 13th February the band made the journey up to Derby to take part in the North East Midlands Brass Band Association (NEMBBA) “area test piece” contest.
The contest provides an opportunity for bands to perform the test pieces they will compete with in their own area contests later in the year. With the band’s own area contest rapidly approaching in March, the NEMBBA contest provided an excellent opportunity for the band to showcase their interpretation of “Spectrum” live to an audience and adjudicator.
The band had had a two year long break from having last contested due to covid so there was excitement and nerves in equal measure as the event approached. Having only returned to full band rehearsals in September 2021 after an 18 month break, the band worked incredibly hard under the direction of MD Nigel Cooper to get back to performing at full strength ready for the day. Despite various covid-related hiccoughs and barriers, the band turned out in full on the day armed with negative lateral flow tests ready to perform.
It was a wonderful experience to be able to join the seventeen other competing bands, there were many great performances.
The band gave a strong performance of Spectrum with the adjudicator enjoying a “well shaped” interpretation – credit for this to our MD Nigel. The adjudicator’s comments also made many positive references to the band’s talented soloists and gave mention to the key driving force of Spectrum – the “great basses”.
The band are very pleased to announce they are the WINNERS of the 1st section at the NEMBBA contest and huge congratulations go to the principal cornet player Georgi for winning the soloist prize, a fantastic achievement.
The band now look forward to their area contest on the 19th March in Stevenage.
East of England Co op Band 
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