Blog

Variety is the Spice of Life

If variety is the spice of life, I certainly have variety this coming Autumn/Winter with regard to the concerts and contests I have in my schedule so far! First up is my first time playing a full Concerto on Trumpet with the South East London Orchestra in September.  I will be playing the Haydn Concerto in Eb, which I’m sure everyone is familiar with, which makes my job that bit harder.  Also on the programme that afternoon is Weber’s Oberon…

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PDB – Go Ape

Pictures from Q2 work outing to GoApe in Trent Park uploaded to Flickr Check them out! http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmquinlan/ Thanks to Simon for taking some pictures from the ground! 🙂 http://goape.co.uk/days-out/trent-park Here is link to video I made on first time at GoApe http://vimeo.com/43483106

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RISE Global Volunteers Mount Kilimanjaro Climb – Please Support

Please support my good buddies Phil and Lisa who are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for RISE Global Volunteers to aid the great work for the children of Kibera. For more details of their trip and to follow their adventures, see their blog here at http://barleybensonkili.wordpress.com Click here to donate on their JustGiving Page!   Thanks Now!   Q  

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10k completed

On one of the hottest days of the year, I run my first ever 10k, the British 10k London.  Setting off at just before 8am on the tube to Victoria with buddy Dale to catch up with other friends (Yvonne, Matt and Lisa) at the starting line.  Never having done such an event before, I was a bit surprised at the chaos at the start, where  I understand, for other such events on entry you specify what time you think…

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Next Challenge – My first 10k

Next Sunday I take part in my first 10k run, The British 10k London run.  After this Sunday’s training run in the heat around Trent Park, I’d almost prefer to be back in the saddle.  Looking forward to finishing “reasonably significantly” under an hour! Let’s see…        

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London to Brighton Completed

On Sunday Morning, a 6:45am Dale, Phil and I departed Clapham Common to partake in the London to Brighton charity cycle ride in aid of the British Heart Foundation. I really enjoyed the day out, despite queues, punctures… mild rain, couple of hills, overall it was a great buzz.  I may have rediscovered my enjoyment of losing myself in my own thoughts on the open road on a bike.. 🙂 Here is a short video of the day!  

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London to Brighton 2013

Hi folks, I’m taking part in the London to Brighton Cycle this year, if you could spare a few bob and some time to donate. Raising money for the British Heart Foundation… I’ll probably need defibrillator when I reach Brighton… Donate here! https://www.justgiving.com/dmq/ Thanks!

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Reality Check?

Overall, a good day out yesterday at Masters, OK not the desired result, but you have to take the losses with same grace as victories. It is band contest after all, so many variables to try and control  and it is down to the judges decision in the end. We played more or less as well as we could and will take on board comments from judges as we prepare for nationals. Not hugely impressed with very negative live feed opinions from…

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On A Roll! Bring on the Masters!

It turns out the Regent Brass are on a roll.  2 contests in 2013, 2 first places… can we make it 3 in a row tomorrow at the Masters? This is my fifth time at the masters, having previously competed with Aveley & Newham (Chivalry 10th Place in 2003, Harrisons Dream 7th Place in 2004, Cloudcatcher Fells 11th Place in 2005,  Paganini Variations 19th Place 2006), this is my second time playing Championship level work by Eric Ball, A Kensington Concerto. Previously,…

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Success breeds success

… hopefully… Bit of a late posting on this topic really, but after many hours of practice, rehearsals, ups and downs, highs and lows in terms of morale, the day came, we waited our turn, went on stage and delivered a performance more or less to plan.  A short time later, Regent Brass were crowned 2013 London & Southern Counties Area Champions (Championship Section) by the judge, John Berryman. There was much rejoicing… 🙂 So what does this mean? For…

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