The GUS Band achieved an emphatic win last weekend at the area qualifing contest and have been crowned Midlands Area Champion 2026.  Playing off the number one spot, it was a fantastic performance of Martin Ellerby’s Elgar Variations, which was reflected in the adjudicators’ remarks: Dr Robert Childs commented that it was “A fine performance – always musical” while Andrea Price wrote that the performance was “So musical as well as technically accomplished”.

In addition, Rhys Cave, the band’s fine flugel player was awarded Best Instrumentalist of the day for his beautiful playing and Christopher Bond, the band’s musical director and his first Midlands Area Championship with the band, was awarded the Winning Conductor’s trophy.   This was a fantastic achievement for the band, which was made even more special as it is also remarkably their 30th win at this qualifying contest.  GUS will now, along with Desford Colliery, (runners up) and Derwent Brass, (awarded third place) go on to represent the Midlands Area at the National Brass Band Finals at The Royal Albert Hall in London in October.

It’s the 1st March and signs of spring are appearing in gardens and the countryside here in Northamptonshire. The GUS Band also have a spring in their step as they look forward to a busy calendar over the next few months. First up will be the Midland Area Championships in Bedworth next weekend, (Sunday, 8th March) where the band will be defending its championship title. On this occasion the test piece will be Martin Ellerby’s Elgar Variations and the band has already given this music a run through at the highly enjoyable concert given by them last weekend at the Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell.

GUS will be walking onto the contest stage with two new exciting and highly experienced signings, Ailsa Russell and Ben Smith. Ailsa has joined the band on Solo Horn and her vast playing experience includes the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland and for the last few successful years, the Cory Band. As well as a renowned exponent of the tenor horn, she is also a respected youth educator both here and abroad. Ben has already had a short spell at GUS before leaving school and re-joins the band on Second Euphonium. A graduate of the Birmingham Conservatoire of Music, he has had spells at Grimethorpe Colliery and Hepworth Band and was the successful Musical Director of the Harborough Band. The GUS Band gives them both a big brass welcome!