๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ
โOver the last three years, we have benefited from the inspirational direction of both Dr. David Thornton and Christopher Bond. Having worked with Christopher on an extensive range of projects during this time, including two wins at the Dr. Martin Trust Contest and two successful Brass in Concert performances, now is the right time to collaborate with Christopher on a full-time basis. The band looks forward with excitement to extending his relationship with the band to the Regional Championships, Grand Shield, and what may follow.โ
โWe would like to place on record our sincere gratitude for everything that David has brought to our bandroom. His blend of training, experience and sheer musicianship has contributed hugely to the positive strides the band has made in the last few years.โ
โIt is the greatest honour to extend my relationship with GUS, and I am hugely looking forward to working with the band more regularly on the contest stage. The band are, and have been since I stepped into the bandroom for the first time in late 2022, the most talented, hard-working and kind team of people, and remain a complete joy to work with. We all feel a certain responsibility at GUS to fly the flag high for the history on which thecurrent band sits, and Iโm excited to see what this next chapter for the band may hold.โ
The GUS Band’s Annual Awards, 2026
Saturday 10th January 2026
Last Saturday evening, (10th January) the GUS Band held their annual award ceremony. This year for the first time, the awards were announced and presented at a special awards dinner held at the Northampton Saints cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. After a lovely meal, the band chairman David Elliot-Smith gave a few words expressing his gratitude to the players for the commitment shown over the past year and also a special thanks both to the players’ partners and families for their support and to the Northampton Town and Country Club for their continued support and provision of the bandroom for rehearsals.
Following this, the band’s Musical Director, Christopher Bond, announced the awards and prize winners. A new award for 100% Attendance at rehearsals was presented to Rhys Cave, (Flugel) who managed to achieve this even though he makes a 200 mile round trip for every rehearsal. Another new award, Section of the Year as chosen by the M.D. was awarded to the Tuba section, Jen McCausland, David Elliot-Smith, Mark Probert and Johnathan Cooke. The Bandperson of the Year, as voted for by the band for a person who goes above and beyond for the band was presented to Archie Batty, (Assistant Principal Cornet, van driver and uniform manager). A further new award, the Players’ Player of the Year, as voted for by the band was given to Jack Wilson, (Soprano Cornet). The award for Player of the Year, as chosen by the M.D. was awarded to James Screaton, (Principal Cornet) for his outstanding playing contribution to the band over the past year. A special Brass in Concert Award was given to Kirsty Woodhouse for all her help she gave in preparing for the Brass in Concert performance back in November and a presentation was made to Amy and George Bruce, (Third Cornet and Principal Euphonium) in recognition of the effort that they have made over the past year to attend rehearsals with a young family. Finally, three Long Service Awards were presented to Nigel Bramley, (Solo Cornet) Sally Bramley, (Cornet) and Simon Smith, (Horn) for amazingly clocking upย over 70 years as players in the band between them. Special thanks was also given to James Harris, (Bass Trombone) for organising such a terrific evening.
Regionals Workshop 2026
On Saturday, 10h January, 2026, the GUS Band presented another successful regionals workshop in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. Organised by The British Bandsman, the many delegates who attended from across the country including the Midlands, London, Southwest and Northeast Regions were given the opportunity to discuss and hear how the third and fourth section test pieces for 2026 could be rehearsed and performed. Questions were asked from the floor and the many challenges that these two works, Indian Summer by Eric Ball and Three Haworth Impressions by Gordon Langford, presented for the bands in these two sections were analysed with suggestions and examples provided on how bands can tackle them.ย We hope the attendees went away armed with new ideas and we wish all the third and fourth section bands all the very best in their area competitions this year.
Lower Sections Test Piece Workshop
A Happy New Year to all our supporters from the GUS Band. After a relaxing Christmas break for the band, it is straight into the New Year with a bang, or rather a test piece or two! This weekend on Saturday 10th January, in conjunction with the British Bandsman we are hosting a Lower Section Workshop for 3rd and 4th section bands at Eynsham Village Hall, near Witney, Oxfordshire. The band will be taken through the regional qualifying test pieces Indian Summer, (Eric Ball) and Three Haworth Impressions, (Gordon Langford) providing the chance for players and conductors to gain a greater insight into how to bring out key aspects of the music and enhance their area contest performances. Then, the following Saturday, (17th) the GUS Band is off to Pudsey, West Yorkshire, to perform a concert at the Civic Hall as part of the Leeds Best of Brass concert series. Details for these two appearances by the band plus all our upcoming concerts can be found on the Events page of this website.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
After a very busy and successful 2025, the GUS Band has finished its year with appearances at a wide variety of venues, entertaining the public with carols and Christmas music.ย From a spectacular Christmas concert at St Peter & St Paul, Kettering with the fantastic Belcanto and Masquerade choirs to a motorway service station, a shopping centre, a primary school and the Northampton & County Club, people have enjoyed the festive music performed by members of the band.
So, as we all prepare to celebrate, it just remains for the GUS band to wish all their supporters and friends a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Love Beyond the Rose success at the Glasshouse
The GUS Band have just returned from an enjoyable and very successful weekend in Gateshead. After a hugely busy couple of weeks of rehearsals and preparation, the band travelled up to Newcastle ready to take part in the Brass in Concert Championships at the Glasshouse on the 15th November. Once again, GUS had been invited to compete in this prestigious competition and after a rehearsal on the day at the venue, the band walked on stage to present โLove Beyond the Roseโ, an original set devised and composed by the bandโs musical director, Christopher Bond. The theme was based on the 18th century French fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast” and the half-hour stage show included solos from James Screaton and Jack Wilson, plus a horn and baritone duet arrangement of “Hymne A L’Amour” from Rob Fleming and Sarah Lenton. James, dressed as Belleโs father, Maurice, gave a sublime performance of a beautiful new arrangement for cornet by Chris of “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose”. Jack, attired as Gaston, the boastful villager, amazed the audience with a new piece for soprano cornet called “Mirror, Mirror, I’m the Star”. Rhys Cave, the band’s flugel player, was the character Lumiere, the cursed maitre dโ and together with George Bruce, the band’s principal euphonium, portraying Cogsworth, the Beast’s butler, played solos in a further new arrangement of “Be Our Guest” from the film Beauty and the Beast.
The whole show was held together by the actor David Gilbrook who narrated and brought the story to life. The audience loved it and so did the adjudicators who placed us 4th overall. If you would like to see the performance, the bandโs performance can be viewed on the WobPlay website. However, even better, the GUS Band will be reprising their performance again this Sunday, (23rd November) at the Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton, as part of their live performance of the animation film the Snowman.
Bands United
The GUS Band are looking forward to their joint concert with the Brackley & District Band on Sunday 28th September.ย Brackley & District were awarded a fantastic sixth place at the Fourth Section National Brass Band Finals in Cheltenham last weekend, (14th September) and this combined concert promises to be a spectacular afternoon performance of brass music.ย The Brackley & District Band is conducted by GUS Bandโs very own Principal Bb Bass player, Mark Probert and so itโs only appropriate that the two bands join forces.ย Meanwhile, GUS has begun their own preparations for the Championship Section National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in October and will be performing the test piece, Symphony in Two Movements, (Edward Gregson) at this joint concert.ย If you would like to hear two brass bands both at the top of their game, then the Brass United Joint Concert at St. Peterโs Church, Brackley will be the one to attend!ย Kick off is at 3pm and tickets are available from TicketSource or by contacting Jacky on 07970583342.
A Summer Review
Cracking toast, Gromit!
And a cracking show, too!ย The techno trousers may have malfunctioned but there was nothing wrong with the two matinee live performances of Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers given by the GUS Band last weekend.
In the opulent grandeur of the Royal Theatre in Northampton, the band entertained the enthusiastic and appreciative audiences starting with a rousing opener of the main theme from Star Wars before launching into the film.ย ย The devious villain Feathers McGraw tried his best to dupe Wallace into helping him steal a jewel but Gromit saves the day and the film score composed by Julian Nott and cleverly arranged for brass band set the atmosphere and excitement perfectly.ย ย After the interval, the GUS Band presented their Wizard of Oz set as performed to great acclaim at last yearโs Brass in Concert.
The audience loved it and the whole show was a memorable occasion for all the family, for both Wallace and Gromit fans and brass band supporters alike. To quote Wallace, โallโs well that ends well, thatโs what I sayโ which summed up this memorable afternoon perfectly.
Nothing Wrong With This!
On Sunday June 29th the GUS Band will be putting on a very special performance at the Royal and Derngate theatre in Northampton.ย The band will be donning their techno trousers to accompany a showing of the film Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers with a live performance of the soundtrack.
First shown on TV in 1993, this hugely popular film from Nick Parkโs Aardman Animations was the second instalment for the loveable Wallace and his dog Gromit who find themselves entangled with a villainous penguin, Feathers McGraw.
Winning the Grand Prix at the World Festival of Animated Film, this will be a really exciting treat for all the family to come and watch.ย The show will also include the band performing their highly acclaimed Wizard of Oz set from last yearโs Brass in Concert Championships.
To join the GUS Band and Wallace and Gromit on their whirlwind adventure alongside a short concert of other family friendly tunes that everyone will love, tickets can be obtained from the Royal and Derngate, https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/ย ย To experienceย The Wrong Trousersย like never before there will be a matinee and early evening performance starting at 2:00pm and 5:00pm respectively. Perfect for all ages, this is a one-of-a-kind experience that you wonโt want to miss.
Join us at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton for an afternoon of music, laughter, and cinematic magic!
2025: See The GUS Band live!
Just what the doctor ordered
On the weekend of 7th September, the GUS Band travelled to Yarm in North Yorkshire, a picturesque market town situated on the banks of the River Tees. ย The Yarm School at the top of the Main Street was the venue for the Dr Martin contest, at which the band was to defend its win from last year.ย ย The contest, for champion section bands, requires each band to perform an own choice contest march, solo piece and a test piece.ย ย The GUS Band chose to play the march The President, (William German). James Screaton, the bandโs principal cornet performed a stunning rendition of the solo Concertpiece for Cornet, (James Curnow) and the bandโs performance was rounded off with the challenging tour de force and previous European Championship test piece From Ancient Times, (Jan Van der Roost). ย After a thorough examination, the adjudicator Leigh Baker pronounced the band super fit and well and awarded us Best March, Best Soloist and overall winner!ย ย Dropping only six points out of a total of 250, Leigh Baker ended his remarks with โA cracking show – a real statement of intent from a band on top, top formโ.