Thrapston Town Band travelled to Bedworth Civic Hall on Sunday 15th March 2026 to compete in the Midlands Regional Brass Band Championships (Second Section), where the band placed 9th out of 13 competing bands.
The test piece for this year’s contest was 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Philip Harper, a colourful and technically demanding work inspired by Jules Verne’s classic adventure novel. The piece presented plenty of musical challenges, from atmospheric underwater textures to energetic passages depicting Captain Nemo’s famous submarine, the Nautilus.
The band was pleased with its performance and the result, particularly given the progress made in such a short period of time. Just three years ago, Thrapston Town Band celebrated winning the Midlands Fourth Section title, which marked the beginning of a rapid rise through the contesting ranks. The adjudicator’s notes were honest and constructive, and there was positive feedback to be proud of.
Since returning to the contest stage in 2020, the band has enjoyed a period of significant musical development, earning successive promotions and now establishing itself within the Second Section.
While contesting continues to play an important role in the band’s musical journey, attention now turns to an exciting programme of concerts, community performances and events planned for the coming year.
The band would also like to extend its sincere thanks to Musical Director, Nathan Waterman for his continued dedication, hard work and leadership in carefully preparing the band for everything it undertakes.
