Flute band's annual extravaganza
Sarah Saunderson • Published 2 Feb 2012 14:00
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Brookeborough Flute Band is hosting their annual "Musical Extravaganza" this Saturday evening, February 4, at 8pm in the Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown.
The event features Pride of The Birches Accordion Band, Shankill Road Defenders Melody Flute Band, Clogher and District Pipe Band, Alice Stubbs (Soloist), and Brookeborough Flute Band. There will be dancing afterwards to Sound Systems, and the Compere for the evening is Terence McKeague.
Pride of the Birches was formed in 1946 in the heartland of the Birches, Derrylileagh. The band is now based on the outskirts of Portadown, with members drawn from Portadown, Craigavon, Loughgall and the Birches. It has been successful in many competitions over the years; being all Ireland Champions in Melody and Grade 3 in the NIBA competitions on a number of occasions and also competing in Grade 2 winning the interpretation prize. The band will travel to Norway's National Day this May 2012 where it will be parading in the main event and playing at a large gala ball.The Shankill Road Defenders were formed in Beresford Street off the Shankill Road in Belfast in 1957 and participated in their first parade on Easter Tuesday 1958. The band has played at the unveiling of the Orange Institution's Memorial Obelisk at the Somme. In 2004 the band paraded in Toronto Canada with Brompton LOL No. 5.
The band have enjoyed success at various competitions the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, and have also had the privilege of entertaining the crowd at Windsor Park on a number of occasions.
Clogher and District Pipe Band was formed in 1928, and first paraded in July 1929. All down the years it has been a leader in Pipe Band circles, and entered the contest arena in 2010, finishing fourth in the Mid Ulster in Cookstown. In 2011 the band completed a full contest season finishing 6th in the European Championships in Belfast. They also reached the finals at the World Championships and finished 8th out of 54 bands. This year, 2012, the band aims to better last years results, and arrive home with even more silverware, reflecting all the hard work and practice put in over the winter months.
Alice Stubbs (also a member of Brookeborough Flute Band) is a talented young soloist, and is widely known throughout Fermanagh and further afield for her singing prowess. Watch out this year for her surprise piece, accompanied in duet by a mystery member of the band!
Terence McKeague is a well known and accomplished compere, he will keep the proceedings flowing, and introduce some humour along the way.
The host band, Brookeborough Flute, continue in top form under their conductor Ernie Dalton. The band has enjoyed a very busy and successful year during 2011, culminating in their performance at "The Festival of Marching Bands" in the Ulster Hall in November.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 02 Feb 12
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