15 July 2005:

Fodens add English Championships to schedule

The British Open Champions will be a very busy contesting band next year as they confirm their participation at the English Championships.

The current British Open Champions, Foden's Richardson has confirmed that in addition to taking part in the 2006 All England Masters International Championships they will also be heading for Manchester later in the Summer to take part in the inaugural English Championships.

This is good news for the organisers, as Fodens will surely be seen as one of the draw cards for the event. They did not automatically qualify as winners of one of the six English regional Championships in 2005, but as one of the highest ranked bands in the World of Brass/4BR/Bandsman rankings.

Alan Wycherley said “It will be a very busy year for the band as they are committed to the RNCM Festival, Area contest, Cambridge International Contest and now the English Contest in Manchester along with Whit Friday and many concert engagements as well as several CD recordings and possible tours of Canada, Ireland and Sweden. We are looking forward to them all in what should be a very high profile year for the band.”

6 July 2005:

Fodens confirm entry to 2006 All England Masters International

Foden's Richardson Band have confirmed their entry to the 2006 All England Masters International Championship which takes place at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge on Sunday 28th May 2006. The organisers are delighted with this news.

Fodens who have been ever present at the Championship since 1990 have the most impressive record of all bands at Cambridge, having won the Championship five times, been runners-up twice and prize winners on seven other occasions.

It is expected that news of more high profile bands entering next years All England Masters International will be forthcoming in the near future.

4 July 2005:

Foden's Richardson Brass Band has had a very busy few weeks

On Friday 20th May 2005, the Band competed at the famous Whit Friday march contests held in and around the villages of Tameside and Saddleworth. Despite the threat of rain it turned out to be a fine evening, if a little cold later on, and Fodens managed to compete at 13 contests, gaining 8 first prizes, one third prize and also winning a deportment prize. The Band won the overall prize for the Tameside area and was the most successful band on the Whit Friday circuit beating bands such as Black Dyke and Brighouse & Rastrick.

The following Sunday (22nd May) Fodens Band travelled to Birmingham Symphony Hall to give a high profile concert under the musical directorship of their professional conductor Garry Cutt.

The All England Masters International Brass band Championship was held in Cambridge just one week later on 27th May. Fodens were awarded 3rd prize - the highest placed English Band and then went on to give the 2nd half performance of a Gala Concert in the evening lead again by Garry Cutt.

The Band have taken a few days rest but are now rehearsing for 2 CD recordings - one of which features their multi-talented euphonium player Glyn Williams - which will be released later this year.

Check out the Band's web site www.fodensband.co.uk for up to date news on the Band and also a list of forthcoming concerts.

Helen Fox

20 June 2005:

Cathedral Set To Explode In Evening Of Brassy Fireworks

On Wednesday 13 July, the roof of Lichfield Cathedral is set to be raised by a Bollywood Brass Extravaganza as part of the Lichfield Festival. British and Indian musical cultures come together when the hot horn section and funky drummers of the astounding Bollywood Brass Band get a full brass backing from current British Open champions Foden's Richard Band, one of England's best-known brass bands more...

11 March 2005:

Training Day with Stockport Schools' Brass Band

Two weeks ago seven members of the Foden's Richardson Band conducted a Coaching Day for Stockport Schools' Intermediate and Senior Brass Band. Coaches and band members worked extremely hard from 09:30 to 16:00. The Intermediate Band and Senior Band alternated between sectionals with Fodens and full band rehearsals. Stockport Schools' Brass Band had a very informative but enjoyable day and everyone involved learnt a lot. At the final rehearsal of the day the results of the day were obvious. The approach of Fodens band members was well received by all at Stockport Schools Band and they all felt they had greatly benefited from the day.

The coaches for the day were Bass – Toby Hobson; Euphoniums and Baritones – Glyn Williams; Horns – Martin Armstrong; Trombones – John Barber; Cornets – Mark Wilkinson; Flugels – Helen Fox.

Jane Simpson
Administrator
Stockport Schools' Brass Band

17 December 2004:

Professional Conductor

Foden's Richardson Band are pleased to end all speculation and are delighted to announce that Garry Cutt has accepted their invitation to take up the post of "Professional Conductor" with the band as from January 1st 2005.

Alan Wycherley - Chairman

28 September 2004:

Foden's Receive Bonus From Sponsors

Winning the prestigious brass band Open Championship has not only earned Foden's Richardson Band national acclaim, but also a £5,000 bonus from sponsors Don and Roy Richardson, the successful Midland-based property developers.
And at a civic reception to welcome the band back from their success, the brothers announced that if the band won the Open Championship again next year, that reward would be doubled.
Roy told the guests at the event held in Congleton Town Hall that everyone must be proud of the band and its achievements. "They put in a lot of effort and deserved the win, and now they have something to practice even harder for," he said.
He explained that he and his brother, who hadn't a penny to rub together when they left school at 14, were now successful businessmen and felt that by supporting the band they were putting something back into the community.
Don read a letter from the band's professional conductor, Bramwell Tovey, congratulating the band and describing the win as equivalent to winning the Wimbleden title, the Ashes or the World Cup. "Foden's Richardson Band is now the premier band in the land," he wrote.
The Mayor, Councillor Neville Price, explained that the reception was organised even before the band's win. "I knew they would do well and had every faith in them," he said.
The band's name was synonymous with Sandbach but now he wanted the whole of the Borough to be proud of them, to welcome them into their midst and offer its support.
He thanked the Richardson brothers for helping the band to get where they are. "With more support the band will go from strength to strength," he added, and, looking at the two brothers he commented: "I think you can write that cheque now!"
Members of the band, who had toured the Borough in an open-top double deck bus before arriving at the Town Hall, played for the guests who included band officials and patrons, town Mayors and Chairman of Congleton, Sandbach and Alsager, and local authority representatives.
Also present were two musicians who played with the band when it last won the Open in 1964 at Belle Vue. Jimmy Charles, from Wheelock, was a member of the band until 1997 and has played with it on occasions since then, and Alex English of Church Lawton, was principal trombonist and carried on until the seventies. Both were employed at Fodens.

19 June 2004:

"Foden's Future is Secure!"

"In response to the article of the 17th of June quoted on 4Bars Rest "Foden's home in Peril", the Foden's Richardson Band are pleased to make the following statement:

The band are pleased to announce that they have entered into an association with South East Cheshire Enterprises Limited, who are a working partnership between Congleton Chamber of Commerce and the Congleton Borough Coucil, for the development of the Saxon Centre Project. This project is part of the Sandbach market town initiative and will secure the band's long term future in the heart of Sandbach.

The flagship project within this initiative is a multi-purpose building comprising of business creations units, business incubator space, a learning centre, an enterprise centre and a multiple use concert & multimedia facility.

The centrepiece of this muli-million pound project is the development of a modern, custom built band centre which will comprise of rehearsal facility, concert hall performance area for up to 500, all supported by a commercial enterprise based around the band's history, world class reputation and excellence in performance.

This exciting development for the band forms the basis of the band's ongoing business programme and their local and youth band development programmes.

Responding directly to the 4 Bars Rest article, band Chairman Colin Short said, "Clearly the article recently released on 4 Bars Rest was inaccurate. The band administration have been working tirelessly over the last several months in negotiating and securing our place in this important venture for the Foden's Richardson Band. It would have been our intention to announce this at a more appropriate time, when things were a little more advanced than they are at this stage. However, as there is an appetite for news, I considered it important to set the record straight at this time and to quash any unfounded rumours about the band's future".

Commenting further on the development itself, Colin added, "The Saxon Centre will provide the band with a secure base in the long term and represents and important way forward for banding in the modern age. This centre, with the continued support of our sponsors, Richardson Developments Ltd, puts the band in a very enviable and secure position going forward."

10 May 2004:

Richardson Award for Composition

The Foden's Richardson band are pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Richardson Award for Competition.

After receiving overwhelming support from composer and arrangers from all over Europe, the band's original competition timetable was extended to ensure each entry was given full time and consideration.

The objective of the Richardson Award was to encourage new and established composers and arrangers to arrange new concert repertoire that would be accessible to all listeners.

We are delighted to announce that following a thorough review by the organising committee and members of the Foden's Richardson band, that two winners have been selected in the categories of best original composition and best arrangement. These two pieces will be featured in Foden's concerts over the next 12 months.

Winners of both sections will receive £1,000.00.

The first prize for composition has been awarded to Frode Rydland from Norway for his energetic and exciting concert opener, "Hey Hey".

The first prize for arrangement has been awarded to Alan Morrison for a simply breathtaking arrangement of "Somewhere over the Rainbow".

Congratulations to both Frode and Alan on two very fine submissions.

Finally, the Foden's Richardson Band would like to thank all entrants, finalist and the two eventual prize winners in this inaugural Foden's Richarson Award for Composition. We encourage all those who entered pieces to check for the launch of the next competition and would also invite other composers and arrangers to submit entries. Please check the band's website for further details.

6 April 2004:

Musical Director

Foden's Richardson Band announced today, that they have parted company with Musical Director Thomas Wyss. Commenting on the news, band secretary Pete Coulson said, "The band had decided that the time was appropriate to make a change in the Musical Director's position with immediate effect. We would like to thank Tom publicly for the fine work he has done with the band over the last 8 monhts, in particular the band's successful trip to Chicago in November where he directed them to the inagural US Brass Band Champion title."

At present, the band have not appointed a replacement musical director to take over, as they are consulting with Principal Conductor Bram Tovey concerning potential replacements. However, the band are delighted to announce that Richard Evans will take over as musical director for the majority of the band's busy concert schedule for the remainder of the 2004 concert season

1 February 2004:

Richardson Award

The Foden's Richardson Band are now pleased to announce the Final stage of its Composer/Arranger Competition "The Richardson Award".

It is the band's intention to perform all the final 11 pieces at a concert to be held at the Royal Northern College of Music sometime in April, hopefully under the baton of the band's principal conductor Mr Bramwell Tovey.

The job of putting all this together is now in the very capable hands of Philip Biggs, the band's new Commercial Manager.

After the overwhelming interest in the competition the band feel very strongly that time should be taken to co-ordinate the availability of :

The college facility, Mr Tovey, the adjudicators and the band themselves, so as to finish off the project with as much thought that went into each and every one of the 122 entries.

The final 11 entries are (In alphabetical order) :
E N (paradoxically) Sachi Uchida
Gambit Simon Kerwin
Hey Hey Frode Ryland
Modal Sketches Naomi Cornish
Remember Leigh Baker
Stagebury Hill Richard Taylor
Suite Number 1 Philip Harper
AND
Clash of the Titans Roger Thorne
Don Pasquale Peter Roberts
God Bless the Child A G Bartelds
Somewhere Over the Rainbow Alan Morrison

Please could all the above Composer/Arrangers contact Alan Wycherley at prufung2@aol.com or in writing to give their permission for their entries to be performed at the Final Gala Concert, details of which will be announced as soon as possible.

Alan Wycherley

11 January 2004:

Commercial Manager

The Foden's Richardson band is delighted to announce the appointment of Philip Biggs as Commercial Manager. This is a new position which the band has created. Band Chairman Colin Short said "it is vital in todays world that the business affairs of the band are run in a progressive and professional manner and Philips appointment would further strengthen the Foden's Richardson Band organistaion". Philip said that he was delighted when he was approached by Fodens, having worked with the band on a number of occasions in the last three to four years, and now looked forward to an ever closer relationship with them. Philip will commence work with Fodens with immediate effect.

4 December 2003:

Richardson Award

Two entries have been "excluded" from the final 23 as they have been performed in public before July 2003. The pieces are "Gregoritas" and "It's Not Unusual" both by Phil Lawrence.

Alan Wycherley

3 December 2003:

Richardson Award

The Foden's Richardson Band are now pleased to announce they have narrowed the Richardson Award entries down to 23 from an astounding starting number of 112.

Award co-ordinater Alan Wycherley was quoted today "It has been a far bigger success than any of us could have imagined, we are now going to rehearse the 23 pieces further and announce a final 8 or 10 by the end of the year, of these the winning composition and the winning arrangement will each receive £1000."

Listed alphabetically are the 23 entries :

The band would like to thank everyone for the obvious time taken to produce such high quality entries, and intend to announce the final 8 or 10 as soon as possible.

Alan Wycherley

8 August 2003:

Foden's Richardson Band announce that due to the unprecedented interest in the inaugural Richardson Award , the date for announcing the winners has to be delayed. Award coordinator Alan Wycherley stated:

"We have received over 100 entries, something that I nor the band expected. I stated when instigating the award that ALL entries would be played in their entirety by the band, and the band would then choose the winners. With over 100 new pieces to play, this puts the band under tremendous pressure to come up with a winner before September as originally forecast, especially due to certain changes within the organisation. The band are currently on a short summer break, and return to 4 contests, 2 recordings and a week in the United States in addition to 14 concerts, all in the next 3 months. Therefore to do justice to the people who have obviously spent a lot of time over their entries we need to allow ourselves more time to play and review all the entries. The announcement of the winners will be made as soon as possible"

Alan Wycherley

4 August 2003:

Foden's Richardson are delighted to announce they have accepted an invitation to compete in the inaugural US Open Brass Band Championships to be held in Chicago on the 8th of November 2003. With the obvious high cost involved in such a venture, discussions are under way to organise several concerts, workshops and even a possible recording whilst the band are in the United States. Several of the band's more outgoing players are also putting together their party piece for a new and very exciting part of the competition, the "Buskers Award" where members of all competing bands can get up and do almost anything between performances. The judge is an anonymous member of the audience, and the prize…"a hat full of change".

Whilst it is tempting to see this as a "jolly", a lot of hard work, planning and coordination is in front of the band, much of which is underway now. The band aim to represent Great Britain in the professional manner that is expected of any of our countries top bands.

Alan Wycherley

28 July 2003:

Foden's Richardson Band have pleasure in announcing the appointment of Thomas Wyss as its new Musical Director with immediate effect. Chairman, Colin Short states "After the departure of Russell Gray the band asked me to find an experienced conductor who could bring enthusiasm to the bandroom and through my conversations with Thomas, I am confident that I've found the right person. As an ex -player in the band under Howard Snell, Thomas, an admired professional, will have an understanding of the unique attitude and culture that exists in our bandroom and will bring with him the hard work ethos that has made the band so successful."

Thomas will be conducting the band at this year's British Open as his first contest engagement and will share the conducting responsibilities the following day at Symphony Hall with the band's Professional Conductor Bram Tovey.

23 July 2003:

Fodens Richardson Band today confirmed that they have ended their 18 month association with Musical Director, Russell Gray. Commenting on the news band Chairman, Colin Short said, "I can confirm that we have ended our association with Russell Gray with immediate effect. Naturally this was a difficult decision for the organisation to make. We would like to take the opportunity to thank Russell for his tremendous contribution to the band's continued success during his 18 month tenure and to helping maintain our position as one of the worlds leading bands. Russell crafted some fine performances as musical director of the band and we wish him good luck in his future career".

As yet the band has not secured the services of a replacement musical director and will be advising the appointment of a successor in due course.

Richardson Award for Composition!

Following the launch of the inaugural Foden's Richardson Award for composition and arrangement, the band are delighted to announce that interest so far in the award has been tremendous. With just under two weeks to go until the closing date on the 4th July, more than 50 of both original works and arrangements have been received so far and the band have already started the long process of reviewing them.

Commenting on the competition, Richardson Award Administrator Alan Wycherley said, "I'm absolutely delighted with the interest shown so far for this new and exciting competition. The standard of entries submitted so far has been very high and the band are looking forward to working through all the submissions and to ultimately choosing two winners to receive the £1000 cash prize for each category. Despite the overwhelming interest already displayed, I would encourage any composer or arranger to make their submissions, as there is still time before the closing date of the 4th of July".

Details of the Richardson Award and a copy of the rules are available here , or alternatively on email or in writing from Alan Wycherley at:

Mr A Wycherley
19 Peveril Mews
Newtown
Disley
Cheshire
SK12 2RN
email: prufung2@aol.com

Important Announcement

Fodens Band today announced that their long search for a high quality business sponsor has ended more...