Report: IMBA 2007 Championships

Arklow, County Wicklow in the Irish Republic was the setting for the 2007 IMBA Championships, which saw 7 bands in two classes of competition. Festivities had got of to a great start on the Saturday night with a number of bands parading through the town and performing their shows in the town centre.

Written by Andy Hewlett

The venue for the contest was the local Gallic Football club which provided a good marching surface as well as a high stand from which a large crowd got an excellent view of the days proceedings.

Boyle Marching Band were the first band on the field in a traditional style red and black uniforms, with an equally traditional sound as the entered the arena playing the Irish Rover on accordions and tin whistles. A large guard in Irish Dancer style costumes added to a lovely Irish feel as Boyle entertained the crowed with The Entertainer, Rocking all over the World, I Only Want to be With You, A Beatles Medley and Flashdance.

Tallaght Festival Band are former Irish Champions who are now rebuilding with younger members. A much more progressive show saw the band in modern style blue and white uniforms and white shakos, presenting a show of James Bond, complete with scenery and 007 style colour guard. A wind section of Brass and Woodwinds and a modern style battery, but no pit, produced a well balanced show, and I was particularly impressed with a young but solid trumpet section that should develop well over the next few years.

Local favourites Inbhear Mor Marchers were the final Division 2 band of the day, and entered the field to rapturous applause. Another former top band in the process of rebuilding, Inbhear Mor (the Gallic name for Arklow) are also a progressive unit again featuring a Colour Guard, Brass and Woodwinds, a modern style battery and a small pit.

Presenting a show of 'Carmen', Inbhear Mor demonstrated good use of the field with effective staging, giving their strong woodwind section opportunity to shine through. The final piece worked particularly well, with a guard member playing the role of Carman before she is stabbed by her jealous lover (one of the trumpets) in a dramatic finale. Great stuff from a band that has tremendous potential for the future. I look forward to seeing them again when the become the first Irish group to perform at DCE finals in a few weeks time.

After a short break it was the turn of the Division 1 bands who were all progressive style units, with brass and woodwinds, and colour guards.

Tallaght Youth Band entered the field looking big and impressive in their blue and white uniforms with white pith helmets. But it was the guards that stood out in bright luminous pink and yellow costumes and pink wigs. Presenting a show of the rock opera Tommy, the show began with a flute solo playing the familiar tones of Pinball Wizard, before handing over to trumpet and trombone solos.

A well tuned and controlled wind section continued to produce a good sound, with the trombone section looking strong. An absence of lower bass made the ensemble slightly top heavy, but didn't detract from a well balanced show. The drum solo demonstrated that sections skills with a solid bass drum line handling the running passages well. The finale piece saw two large silver balls crash into each other, with the guard on psychedelic flags capturing the mood of the show perfectly.

In my opinion Phoenix produced the most progressive show of the day, featuring a marimba and timps in their pit as well as a large number of young accessory players, who began the show playing wobble boards to great effect. In smart grey and purple uniforms, Phoenix made great use the field, with a strong colour guard adding to an impressive visual performance.

Their show was entitled "The Perfect Storm â?? A journey from Dark to Light" and this came through well as the earlier sinister feel gave way to a happier, lighter mood. The show concluded with a huge black flag being carried across the entire band and a guard soloist running of with a white flag. I understand that as well as their IMBA commitments, Phoenix plan to compete in England next season, where they should prove very popular.

A change of direction next as Clondalkin Youth Band took the field in crisp white tops, green trousers and white shakos. Conducted by one of Irelands most experienced percussionists Neal Christopher, Clondalkin got underway with a strong percussion intro into New World Symphony. A large wind section of around 50 members were well controlled, and did a nice production of Jupiter, whilst the guard performed on pink flags.

A finale of Farandole worked well, and despite having no pit section, the battery percussion worked to good effect, in a show that was markedly different from anything we had seen previously.

With the Mullingar Town Band sadly unable to attend, Banna Chluain Meala (Clonmel Band) were the last band of the day. Again looking big and impressive with over 50 Brass and Woodwinds, and in their familiar blue and black uniforms with black slouch hats, Banna Chluain Meala took the field with an air of confidence.

Presenting a show of the musical Wicked, Banna Chluain Meala produced an all round entertaining show featuring a very strong trumpet line who handled difficult parts with ease. Role players were a constant theme, particularly from the guard, who as well as demonstrating good flag techniques, produced some of the best dancers I have ever seen, and that includes DCI! For the finale piece the wind section put on masks, whilst the guard produced white smoke from their flags to great effect.

The only thing that detracted slightly from the show from my point of view was that Banna Chluain Meala use concert instruments, which meant at times the full ensemble sound was diminished. However I understand that this is due to their commitment to concert work, and I look forward to seeing them in this idiom at some stage in the future.


So the contest was over and all the bands came back onto the field for the results:

1. Banna Chluain Meala
2. Phoenix
3. Tallaght Youth Band
4. Clondalkin Youth Band

1. Inbhear Mor Marchers
2. Tallaght Youth Band
3. Boyle Marching Band

So a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and I was so pleased to see the standard in Ireland improving once more. Congratulations to both the IMBA and Inbhear Mor Marchers on a very well run contest, and a particular mention for event organisers Oisin Molloy and Mary Kirwin for all their hard work. I look forward to seeing some of these bands appearing in European competition next year, and hope to be back in Ireland in the very near future.