# GUS Band

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The **GUS Band** is a world-famous[1][2][citation needed] [brass band](/source/Brass_band_(British_style)), based in [Kettering](/source/Kettering), [England](/source/England). Originally known as the **Munn and Felton Works Band**, it was formed by Fred Felton in 1933 in [Kettering](/source/Kettering), [England](/source/England).[3] Since then, the band has won many prizes and competitions over the years.[4][5]

## History

On 2 January 1933, the *[Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph](/source/Northamptonshire_Evening_Telegraph)* reported[3] the formation of the 'Munn and Felton Works Brass Band'. In that article, Mr Fred Felton, co-managing director of the firm, said: "We are out to make it the finest combination in the country, and to make it a contesting band of note throughout the country". Two years later the new band were champions of Great Britain.[6] Since then, under the names of Munn and Felton, GUS (Footwear), The GUS Band, Rigid Containers Group Band, Travelsphere Holidays Band and now the Virtuosi GUS Band,[4] the band has travelled Britain, Europe and America, appearing in concert halls, on television and radio,[7] and has released many records and CDs.[8]

## Major honours

The band's contesting successes include winning 1 World Championship, 6 British National Championships, 2 British Open Championships, and 15 Midlands Championship titles.[4][5][9]

World Champions: 1971 National Champions of Great Britain: 1935, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1966 British Open Winners: 1954, 1988 Midlands Regional Champions: 1946, 1947, 1957, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023 National Mineworkers Champions: 2013, 2017 All England International Masters Winners: 2015, 2016 Royal Trophy: 1935, 1954, 1955 National Quartet Champions: 1966, 1967, 1968 Dr Martin Wainstones Cup: 2023

## Musical directors

The following list of resident and guest conductors is compiled from past contest results.[4][5]

Dates Name 1933–1938 William Halliwell 1946–1975 Stanley Boddington MBE 1955–1960 Sir Harry Mortimer CBE 1975–1978 Geoffrey Brand 1978–1985 Dr Keith Wilkinson 1985–1987 John Berryman 1985–1989 Bramwell Tovey 1988 David Stowell 1989–1990 Robert Watson 1991–1998 John Berryman 1998–2000 Melvin White 2001 Frank Renton 2002 Brian Grant 2003 Russell Gray 2003 Major Peter Parkes 2004–2007 David Stowell 2007 Rob Wiffen OBE 2007–2008 Jeremy Wise 2008–2013 John Berryman 2013–2018 Adam Cooke 2018-2022 Chris Jeans 2022-present Dr David Thornton (Professional Conductor) 2023-present Christopher Bond (Resident Conductor and Musical Director)

## Partial discography

The band has released over 50 albums,[8] a selection of which are listed here:

- *Christmas Fantasia - The Music of Andrew Wainwright*
- *Freeh-Way*
- *A Mingled Chime*
- *Bandology*
- *British Bandstand*
- *Bandstand (volumes 1 to 10)*
- *Brass in Perspective*
- *Celebration Golden Jubilee*
- *European Journey*
- *In a Tribute to [Eric Ball](/source/Eric_Ball_(composer))*
- *Journeys in Brass*
- *Kings of Brass*
- *Rhapsody in Blue* - with [Don Lusher OBE](/source/Don_Lusher) Soloist
- *Travelling Light*
- *The World Champions Play Test Pieces for Brass*
- *English Landscapes*
- *Around the World in Eighty Minutes*

## References

1. ["World Rankings"](http://www.brassstats.com). *Brassstats.com*

1. ["World Rankings"](http://www.4barsrest.com/rankings/). *4barsrest.com*

1. ["1933 Northampton Evening Telegraph article"](http://www.thegusband.com/gallery/gallery.php?PhotoName=gallery_1933_evening_telegraph)

1. ["Brass Band Results Archive"](http://brassbandresults.co.uk/bands/virtuosi-gus-band/). *Brassbandresults.co.uk*

1. ["Contest Archives"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120229052234/http://www.4barsrest.com/results/). *4barsrest.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.4barsrest.com/results/) on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2012-02-29.

1. ["National Championships Results"](http://www.4barsrest.com/results/nationals_champ.asp). *Contest Archives*. 4barsrest.

1. ["Virtuosi GUS Band In The Studio"](https://archive.today/20130419203631/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/ListenToTheBand). *Listen to the Band*. BBC. Archived from [the original](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/ListenToTheBand) on April 19, 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2007.

1. ["GUS / Munn and Felton Discography"](http://www.ibew.org.uk/link07m.htm). *Recordings Archive*. The Internet Bandsman's Everything Within.

1. ["Roll of Honour"](http://www.kapitol.co.uk/download.php?id=7). *The National Finals Archive*. Kapitol Productions. Retrieved 17 February 2012.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.thegusband.com/)
- [Spotlight on GUS](http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2008/art866.asp)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [GUS Band](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUS_Band) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUS_Band?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.