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 The World Music Contest 2009 - Kerkrade, Netherlands The WMC are effectively the “Olympics” of bands and attract ten of thousands of musicians from around the globe every four years. Kerkrade holds the focus of the world of brass and wind bands for 5 weeks as the worlds top musicians go head to head. To qualify for the WMC you must either have held a National title in your home country in the past 18 months or have been awarded a Gold in the previous Championships. Fortunately, in 2005 the band was awarded a Gold and a Silver medal in the two contests it took part in – this allowed us entry.
The Legion are a rare breed in this contest in the sense that we are and always have been predominately a youth orientated organistation and also we are the only band in the marching competition from the United Kingdom. Most of the opposition is in fact Dutch and German bands with others coming as far as Thailand, Canada and the USA to compete.
This is the bands fifth time competing at these Championships the first being in 1993. A list of their results below:
1993 – 2 Silver’s
1997 – 2 Gold’s
2001 – 2 Gold’s
2005 – 1 Gold & 1 Silver
As a result, the band is the most successful traditional marching band from the UK to have competed at the Championships.
Thursday 23rd July
The the band loaded up and said goodbye to Romford and the UK for four days hoping to achieve their goals of winning Gold Medals for Great Britain. They headed off to Dover where they boarded the midnight Ferry. While the younger members of the band hit the arcades and food hall the older members of the band headed to the bar to celebrate three of the members Birthdays.
Friday 24th July
We arrived in Kerkrade at our accommodation at Campus Kerkrade at about 7am; arriving slightly earlier than scheduled. The band made the most of their time asleep on the coach before the busy weekend ahead. Friday saw the band doing its final run through of their Marching routine and music. There was a very tight schedule to rehearse as also staying in the complex was a band from Thailand and Spain.
The evening was used to get all the kit cleaned boots spit and polished and brasses gleaming. The Brits had arrived and the other bands were all very complimentary on our rehearsals.. Once the kit had been inspected some of the older members opted for a few quiet drinks in a local bar while other members had an early night after playing some football.
Saturday 25th July
Following an 8am reveille, breakfast and shower, we had our final run through the music for the March around competition. The band were then off to the Parkstad Stadium in Kerkrade. On arriving at the stadium the band was greeted by some of the parent supporters that had made the trip all waving England Flags! This although made us very proud also made us realise that this was it. We were really here and months of hard work was about to be put to the test.
Marching Contest (World Division)
The band marched onto the arena at 1400. The band had to march a set route in the arena performing traditional and crown counter marches and wheels whilst playing our chosen march which the band has certainly learned to love to hate, The Tenth Regiment March/Death & Glory. Once the band arrived at the start point it seemed forever until the announcer said please commence the march. Drum Major Sam Jepson, aged 18, gave the word of command and the band was off. The instruments were gleaming in the sunlight and the black and gold uniforms with the white pith helmets looked stunning in the afternoon sun.
Once off the arena the band had to wait another two hours before they found out their result. It was a tense time once the awards began. Wating and waiting as they went through the other bands awards. Then came moment we had all been waiting for and the words we had wanted to hear, 80.61 points, Gold medal. The band were ecstatic and clearly showed this when the result was read out. Our diploma was collected by Drum Major Sam Jepson from the staging in the centre of the arena. The parents were going as mad as the band, waving their flags and shouting out with cheers.
Saturday night was time for some controlled celebrations bearing in mind that On the Sunday we would be performing our marching show which had taken a lot of rehearsal and planning on the lead up to these Championships.
Sunday 26th July
Sunday morning saw the band up at 8am and straight out onto the rehearsal field for the traditional two run through prior to the competition. The run through went really well and the band although very nervous were feeling quietly confident that the performance would go really well. It was then time for breakfast. Everyone took the opportunity to fuel themselves for the day.
Show Contest (World Division Showband Class)
At 13.54 the band entered the arena to the sound of all the parents and supporters screaming and shouting their support for the band. Red, white and blue was being waved excitedly. This was the moment that the band really stood tall with pride and patriotism. We were here representing our country and the adrenaline was in overdrive.
Following the long march to our starting positions the band then had to stand at attention for nearly 5 minutes. The reason behind this was that one of the judges was stuck up right at the back of the main stand and had yet to make his way down!
It had been decided that this performance would be dedicated in memory of Kirk Redpath, who was killed in Iraq in August 2007. This was backed up by our drum section, who are now using their brand new set of Premier 97s drums, which are named the “Kirk Repath Set” and are labelled with Kirk’s name. During the routine the drum section performed another stunning drum display entitled KIRKEO, written by Bob Armstrong. The band played the military march, Quis Seperabit – in particular in memoriam for Cpl Redpath, as it was this particular march which we premiered on Remembrance Day following his passing.
Afterwards, the band played a haunting rendition of The Gael from The Last of The Mohicans, then the upbeat and swinging Sir John Moore Concert March followed by Kirkeo (drum piece) and the Riverdance Finale. The routine went fantastically and the band could not contain their excitement on exiting the arena, the cheers went up and the emotion of the whole thing clearly got to some of the band members, Mr Yeoman included!
On leaving the arena the Dutch announcer proclaimed that had there been an award for the best Drum Major Sam would have won it - they said he was the best drum Major they had seen in WMC 2009. A short while later came the nail biting awards ceremony again. Bearing in mind we were had missed out on a Gold by 0.16 points for the show fours years previously; this was something we really wanted to avoid this time. Our wishes and hopes were granted and the band was awarded 81.08 for the show, Gold medal! The place erupted not just the band but the entire audience, the applause was immense. We had done it, two Gold medals in the top division in the Worlds biggest music competition!
The band then left the stadium for the medals parade in the city centre culminating in a concert in the town square outside the town hall. This is normally followed by three representatives of the band attending a reception with the Mayor, but this year it was very different, for the first time ever the Mayor insisted that the entire band and supporters attend. This was received very well and the band was sipping Champagne at the end of a very good day! The feedback from the dignitaries was fantastic, everyone commenting on how good our show was. Sam was now being talked about as the Miracle Drum Major, a title he has taken to like a Duck to water!!
Back at dinner more Champagne was served and various toasts made, none more important than remembering the founder and leader of the Band for 40 years the late Peter Richardson B.E.M. Without whom the band would not have existed! Sunday night saw the band and supporters take over a local bar for their celebrations. A total of 125 of us celebrated together into the early hours of Monday.
Monday 27th July
After a well earned sleep, the band headed off to Valkenberg where the band took in tobogganing and lunch we were back on the coach and on our way home to good old Blighty. A memorable weekend and another huge achievement in the bands history, which is now being rewarded with a month off! Happy days..
Comments: 1 | posted by Iain in Band Shows on Wednesday 05 August 2009 - 14:07:40 
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