More competition glory for Young Conquerors

The Championships, held in the Market Theatre, Armagh on October 2, featured a section of seven of the best bands in the land and the Conquerors were delighted to finish in the top three just behind representatives from Ballygowan and Ballylone respectively.

The test piece for what is referred to officially as the “World Championship” was “Academic Festival Overture” (Brahms) arranged by Ulster Orchestra member and conductor Philip Walton.

Adjudicator Sandy Hay, a flautist and music teacher from Scotland, was impressed by the overall performance of all competitors, saying he was looking for an overall orchestral sound which the top bands did indeed provide.

For gaining third prize, the band receive an invitation to record a concert for the BBC Radio Ulster “Strike Up The Band” series for 2013, as well as a cash prize and certificate. The band owe a large part of their success to the commitment, hard work and determination of conductor Richard Douglas.

Douglas helped the Conquerors make history by winning the Scottish Open Flute Band Championship for the first time ever earlier in the year, beating some of the best representatives from Ireland and Scotland.

The band followed up their triumph by once again filling the Braid Arts Centre for their forth annual concert as well as recording and releasing their critically-acclaimed debut CD “Sheep May Safely Graze”.

The increasing popularity of the Conquerors after their phenomenal year will be showcased in their soon-to-be live website, which will contain information detailing the history of the band as well as archive photographs, video clips of the band performing and its current activities.

The band’s next main event will be participating in the Senior Grade at the Flute Band Association Championships next February in Lisburn.

As always, the band is delighted to welcome flute and percussion players to join them each Thursday night at 8pm for practice in the band room at Fountain Place.

If you wish to order a copy of the band’s debut CD “Sheep May Safely Graze”, contact band chairman Noel Crabbe on 028 2564 2585 or 07743 018455.