US band in the open?

Any on- or off-topic things you want to discuss, remember though it's a family forum!
Post Reply
njh
Site Admin
Posts: 362
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2003 10:03 am
Location: Laurel, MD
Contact:

US band in the open?

Post by njh »

From OrlandoSentinal.com:

"The Brass Band of Central Florida has won the North American Brass
Band Alliance's national championship...

The band will represent North America in the British Open in September."

Is this true? I hope so...

-Nigel
Nigel Horne. Arranger, Clinician, Composer, Typesetter.
NJH Music, Laurel, MD. ICQ#20252325 twitter: @nigelhorne
njh@bandsman.co.uk https://www.bandsman.co.uk
traosb
Posts: 103
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 11:46 am
Location: Cornwall

Post by traosb »

Are they going to qualify through the Grand Shield like everyone else has to then?

I know it's a good international bonding type thing to invite bands across, but it seems very unfair to those of us who actually have to qualify... I just feel it makes a mockery of the qualification process, that's all. British Bands work their backsides off to try and qualify when all you really need to do if you want to play at the Open is emigrate and join a foreign band and wait for your invitation.

Only my opinion of course.
Tracey Osborne
1st horn
Mount Charles Band
njh
Site Admin
Posts: 362
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2003 10:03 am
Location: Laurel, MD
Contact:

Post by njh »

I believe that bands that play in the Open play by invitation rather than by winning the Grand Shield. Convention states that the winner is invitied which is why it's perceived (incorrectly) as a promotion for winning.

Someone else may (will) know more about this than me.
Nigel Horne. Arranger, Clinician, Composer, Typesetter.
NJH Music, Laurel, MD. ICQ#20252325 twitter: @nigelhorne
njh@bandsman.co.uk https://www.bandsman.co.uk
traosb
Posts: 103
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 11:46 am
Location: Cornwall

Post by traosb »

Fair comment.

But...

They can't have their cake and eat it (and still have it).

If the 4 are related, then just as bands who win the Grand Shield are invited to the Open, the Shield should receive the bands relegated from the Open.

If, however, the Open is completely independent, then relegated bands should have to requalify to the Grand Shield via the senior trophy and cup in order to stand a chance of invitation back into the Open.
Post Reply