Sunshine Brass Band of Tampa Bay

Yesterday, the members of the Sunshine Brass Band started arriving
at the Hotel Louisville Downtown in preparation for the annual contest put on by the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA). See, they're welcoming us already!

The first day (Friday), as some of you may already know, is the Solo & Ensemble competition. At any given time there are two performances going on, so it simply isn't possible to hear more than half of what's going on! The first order of business is to get to the Registration Desk, get a program and start planning which performers to watch and which to skip.

Don't forget to check for clinics and other presentations. There was one clinician workshop last year that I wasn't aware of until it was too late! I'm not going to let it get away this time (if there is another one!).

Another area I'm looking forward to is the Vendor Exhibit area, which opens at noon and goes to 5pm, and again all day Saturday (9am-5pm). I nearly bought myself a piccolo trumpet last year, but again, wrestled with the notion until somebody else bought it. I can't wait to see if another one is for sale!

Take some cash with you too, to buy the T-shirt, bags, and Audio CD of the other bands!

Due to contest rules, I can't tell you when we are scheduled to play, but I can tell you we have put in some extra rehearsal time to prepare, culminating with one more session tonight in the hotel!

I look forward to meeting our friends and competitors today and tomorrow!

Yours in brass,

Tim Jones, 2nd Cornet

Sunshine Brass Band.