GUS Band

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

GUS Band
Brass Band
Short name	GUS
Former name	G.U.S. (Footwear), G.U.S. (Kettering), Great Universal, GUS (Footwear), GUS Kettering, Munn & Felton Works, Munn & Felton's (Footwear), Munn & Felton's Works, Munn and Felton Works, Munn and Feltons, Munn and Felton's Works, Rigid Containers Group, Rigid Containers GUS, Travelsphere Holidays, Travelsphere Holidays GUS, Virtuosi GUS Band
Founded	1933 (92 years ago) (1933)
Location	Northampton, England
Principal conductor	Dr. David Thornton
Music director	Christopher Bond
Website	thegusband.com

History

On 2 January 1933, the 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
• Journeys in Brass
• Kings of Brass
• Rhapsody in Blue - with Don Lusher OBE Soloist
• Travelling Light
• The World Champions Play Test Pieces for Brass
• English Landscapes
• Around the World in Eighty Minutes