MEMBERS of St Sebastian Wokingham Band are celebrating winning the London and Southern Counties Championships.
Competing against 17 other bands, the Wokingham musicians fought off competition to come first in the second section.
But even more exciting for the group – and a new high for them – the musicians will enter the championships in Cheltenham in September, and next year will compete in the first section.
Never before in the band’s history have they been promoted to the first division, and the band is delighted.
Amy Wells, baritone player, said: “It’s been a big weekend for brass bands, and we’re all still quite in shock at St Sebastian’s.
“This is the first time ever that we’ve made it to the first section since the group was formed in 1931.”
Like football leagues, brass bands will move up and down within the divisions according to their performance.
Assessed over a three year period, competition points are added to each group’s total: St Sebastian Wokingham Band came sixth in 2022 and 2023, and first in 2024.
All the groups in the second section played the same piece: Triptych by Philip Sparke.
Having drawn the short straw to play first, traditionally regarded as a bad start, the group were astonished to win.
“No-one likes to go first,” said Amy, “there’s a long history of it coinciding with low marks.
“So there was much celebrating in the pub when the results finally came through at 9.30pm.
“We’re an ambitious group, but we’re very friendly too, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
“We were all laughing and joking just before we went into the competition, and happy afterwards while we waited for the judging.”
Conductor of St Sebastian band John Watts, said: “This is a really big thing, for us, and for Wokingham.
“I knew we were well prepared, and the band is currently full to capacity, but you play in the moment, and you never really know how you’ve done until the results come through.
“So it was a wonderful shock when we won.
“I’m really proud of everyone’s efforts – they’ve all worked very hard.
“They’re brilliant musicians, but they’re also really nice people too.”
The band is also delighted for a sister band, Reading Spring Gardens Band, who did very well.
A fourth section band, they also played first, but were delighted to be awarded second place in the Southern Counties Championships.
Rebecca Devaney, cornet player with Reading Spring Gardens Band, said: “We’re absolutely delighted, too.
“Our band hasn’t been to the national finals since 1959 – we only started competing again after the pandemic, and we’re really looking forward to the next competition.”
For more information, visit: www.wokinghambrassband.org www.readingband.com www.regional-contest.org.uk
