Thurrock Marching Brass Secure European Championship Slot

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thurrock_marching_brass_100x100The 2014 Drum Corps United Kingdom (www.dcuk.org.uk) Junior Class British Champions, Thurrock Marching Brass have received confirmation that they have successfully made it into the line-up against the best European Drum Corps at Junior level. This will see the local group competing head to head for the European Championship Title, held on Saturday 26 September 2015 at the Parkstad Limburg Stadium in Kerkrade, Holland.

This young and very talented group have been growing steadily since their re-launch in 2010 and are giving youngsters in the Thurrock and surrounding areas amazing performance opportunities that have spanned the UK and included TV and Documentary performances, local community events and competition, with a back to back undefeated season this year.

Thurrock Marching Brass are also extremely proud of their three performing arts teams, performing under the winter name of Thurrock Academy; who operate in addition to the marching band and who are very busy with their 2015 winter shows. They will travel the UK competing on the Winter Guard United Kingdom (www.wguk.org.uk) circuit starting in late January 2015. Many of these young performers are also members of the marching band and so our year round performance and achievement opportunities have now extended to the continent as a result of the DCE news.

Speaking of the news, Thurrock Marching Brass Chairman, Paul Morgan comments “As we enter our fifth year since re-launching on October 2010, some 21 years after the band closed its doors in 1989, the hard work of so many great people here at Thurrock Marching Brass has created a good and solid platform which allows the youngsters to enjoy the great experiences we offer them to flourish and grow. We have set new milestones each and every year with our winter performing arts teams and with the marching band, but this news marks the return to the European stage for Thurrock Marching Brass for the first time since 1988. I was a proud marching member at that time, and I know just how much our youngsters will enjoy and remember this experience for a long time to come.”

DCE Championships Stadium - Parkstad Limburg Stadium in Kerkrade - Netherlands

Adding to this, Corps Director, Ken Mansfield says “For the marching band to secure a second undefeated competitive season in a row was pretty special. To secure a spot in the 2015 European Championships gives us a special opportunity to take the great name of Thurrock onto the continent and compete against the best Junior Drum and Bugle Corps in Europe. For us the experience isn’t about winning, it’s about the journey to the final destination and involves the many fun filled times that we will have along the way. With our performing arts teams in full flow for the winter season and looking fantastic right now, this news just adds to the excitement for a 2015 season that sees us attempt to defend our DCUK Championship title as well. What amazes me though isn’t the successes and performances that these youngsters achieve, but the fact that our average age is just a little over 11 years. To take youngsters that have had no experiences at all in the marching and performing arts arena and to develop them into incredible performers gives myself, all my staff and the many supporters and helpers we have, so much pleasure and joy. I don’t know how the 2015 season will end up in terms of results, but I do know that whatever happens, we are going to have a lot of fun together and long may that continue.”

Thurrock Marching Brass are pleased to announce that they will be holding an open day at William Edwards School & Sports College, Stifford Clays Road, Stifford Clays, Thurrock, Essex, RM16 3NJ (the home of Thurrock Marching Brass) on the evening of Monday 19 January 2015 which is open to anyone who would like to come along and see what we are all about. Our primary age range falls between 8 and 16 years but we do cater for youngsters as low as 5 and older than 16 so if you would like to come along we would be delighted to see you. The open evening will also feature a bring-a-friend for existing members too and will commence at 7pm and conclude at 8.30pm. Absolutely no experience is necessary and so if you would like to learn how to play a drum, a brass instrument, a tuned percussion instrument or are interested in dance or performing and would like the opportunity to showcase your talents across the UK and now in Europe then why not come along and say hi. Thurrock Marching Brass offer a free four weeks trial period to all newcomers.

Thurrock Marching Brass is proud to perform as much as they can within the community and you can keep up to date with all their engagements on our website below or by following them on Facebook.
info [at] thurrockmarchingbrass [dot] org
www.thurrockmarchingbrass.org
www.facebook.com/thurrockmarchingbrass
Twitter @thurrockMB

Posted by on Tuesday, December 16th, 2014. Filed under Drum Corps Europe, FrontPage Feature.