Kellswater Band top in World Championship Flute Contest

KELLSWATER Flute Band returned home from the North of Ireland Bands' Association Contest in Armagh with the premier award in flute band competitions, the Grade 1 World Championship Flute title.

Performing the set test piece “The Three-Cornered Hat” arranged for flutes by David Heaney, Kellswater were competing against five other top class flute bands in their section, all the bands giving impressive performances.

As well as the NIBA Cup 200 and two BBC Radio Ulster Broadcasts, Kellswater’s young piccolo player, Shannon Mc Kay won the Jim Stain Memorial Cup for the best piccolo in the section, an impressive accolade for such a technically demanding piece of music.

The special adjudicator’s award for the best overall performance of the day was also awarded to Kellswater by Mr. Donald Finlayson from Scotland.

Emails, facebook posts, texts and letters of congratulations have been received from bands and personnel within flute banding.

Kellswater Band was formed in 1947 and secured their first NIBA success in 1967 in the Grade 4 section, Grade 3 wins came in 1974, 1975 and 1980 but the band had to wait until 2003 and 2004 before success in the Grade 3 section returned, in 2007 The band went on to win the Grade 2 section.

Band chairman Sylvia Clyde whose father Jack Mc Kee was a founder member and still plays in the band, was delighted with the result and paid tribute to all members and conductors over the years who helped bring about the success.

The NIBA Annual Dinner Dance and distribution of prizes will be held in the Millbrook Lodge hotel Ballynahinch on Saturday, November 27 commencing at 6.30pm.

Prior to this Kellswater will be supporting Willie Drennan and Nae Goats Toe at a Concert in Ballee Community High School on Thursday, November 18 at 20.00 (doors open 19.30), tickets are 6 and can be purchased from Irons Bakery, Larne St, Ballymena and Sporting Occasions High St, Antrim or from any band member.

Kellswater will also be performing at the Newsletter’s Festival of Marching Bands in the Ulster Hall on Tuesday, November 23.

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