Welcome to our ‘News Archive’ - this is where you can catch up on all the OLD news!!
There is suddenly lots of news -
Thanks to everyone who marched with the band on Remembrance Sunday, the Council have thanked us and booked us again for 2008! Matt has now recovered from carrying the bass drum and is looking out for someone else to carry it next year. Playing carols on November 17th at the German Market also went very well! Thanks to everyone who played! Has anyone played jingle bells enough yet?
The Christmas Concert is just two weeks away now. Please try and make it to band practice if you possibly can! The tickets are ready and Mandy has them! Sally has collected some really excellent raffle prizes. Special thanks to John Stayte Services for donating an Ipod. Waitrose and Marks and Spencer have also donated gift vouchers. A small group of players will be visiting The Spring Centre next weekend so that they can meet some of the kids that will be performing at the concert! Band practice and Training Band Practice on Friday December 7th will be at St Andrews Church.
The band practice on Monday 10th December will be the last practice before Christmas as there are a lot of carol playing engagements coming up! However, the Training Band will have 2 more practices on the 17th December and 21st December! Band practice will then start again on Monday January 7th. Keep January 4th free for a band curry night.
We have NEW CHAIRS! They are already in the bandroom and look great! Although personally I haven’t sat on them yet. They came from an organisation called Green Standards who recycle equipment from big companies to schools, charities and voluntary organisations. So big thanks to them!
Until next time, keep practicing!
Posters and tickets for the Christmas Concert will be arriving from the printers soon! I can’t say anymore about it without getting told off, so please come along and enjoy it in person! And bring Granny and Aunty Sue too!
The very talented young people in our band are always winning prizes -
February 2008
Firstly, the sad news. Joyce Whiting has decided to leave the band. Everyone in the band would like to send her their best wishes as she has been a real stalwart for many years now! Joyce has played baritone and percussion and been an invaluable help to the training band, accompanying many young soloists on the piano at competitions. She has been secretary and in 2002 was awarded Bands Person of the Year. Thanks go to you Joyce for all your help and support over the years!
On February 15th the band held their AGM at the band room. Minutes of that meeting will be posted in the bandroom as soon as Sally has typed them up. At this years AGM, the following awards were made:
Firstly, the sad news. Joyce Whiting has decided to leave the band. Everyone in the band would like to send her their best wishes as she has been a real stalwart for many years now! Joyce has played baritone and percussion and been an invaluable help to the training band, accompanying many young soloists on the piano at competitions. She has been secretary and in 2002 was awarded Bands Person of the Year. Thanks go to you Joyce for all your help and support over the years!
On February 15th the band held their AGM at the band room. Minutes of that meeting will be posted in the bandroom as soon as Sally has typed them up. At this years AGM, the following awards were made:
Bands Person of the Year went to Nicki Folland
Young Trainee of the Year went to Michael Tait
Most Improved Player of the Year went to Josh Cirtina
Young Trainee of the Year went to Michael Tait
Most Improved Player of the Year went to Josh Cirtina
The contest in Torquay is looming on the horizon. Nigel Seaman will be with us again this Monday, so if you are playing in the contest please try and make it to that rehearsal! On Monday March 3rd the band will be rehearsing in Leckhampton Baptist Church and the very last rehearsal will be on Thursday March 6th at the bandroom. Good Luck to everyone!! Just remember that big fat bloke!!
Thanks to Chris Tait for the very professional DVD he made of the training band playing in Coleford. If you haven’t had a copy yet, please shout!
The Training Band were awarded a Silver Standard Certificate for their performance at the GBBA Entertainments Contest on February 3rd. Well done to them! Their performance was really excellent. Training Band MD, Rob Folland was particularly pleased because everyone played in tune, followed dynamic markings and put a lot of energy into the music! Josh played his solo really well...keep an eye out for a picture of TWO ‘Jakes’ in the Echo this week!
Here is what the adjudicator, David Hirst MA, B.Ed(Hons), LTCL said:
Northern Festival March
Sensible tempo to open and you play well together. Take care with the intonation at [D]. Good style at [G]
Minnie the Moocher
Soloist has very good sound and demonstrates an excellent range. Accompaniments enhance the performance.
Double Chocolate Rumba
Good opening and you capture this style mostly well in tune and good rhythms. Good dynamic contrasts.
Ground Pavane
Good tempo and the music settles well. Some slight tuning problems but does not detract from the performance.
Hawaii 5-O
Good percussion to open and you play well together. Some odd blemishes on the inner parts, but generally well played.
Some photos and a VIDEO to come! Watch this space.
The Training Band were awarded a Silver Standard Certificate for their performance at the GBBA Entertainments Contest on February 3rd. Well done to them! Their performance was really excellent. Training Band MD, Rob Folland was particularly pleased because everyone played in tune, followed dynamic markings and put a lot of energy into the music! Josh played his solo really well...keep an eye out for a picture of TWO ‘Jakes’ in the Echo this week!
Here is what the adjudicator, David Hirst MA, B.Ed(Hons), LTCL said:
Northern Festival March
Sensible tempo to open and you play well together. Take care with the intonation at [D]. Good style at [G]
Minnie the Moocher
Soloist has very good sound and demonstrates an excellent range. Accompaniments enhance the performance.
Double Chocolate Rumba
Good opening and you capture this style mostly well in tune and good rhythms. Good dynamic contrasts.
Ground Pavane
Good tempo and the music settles well. Some slight tuning problems but does not detract from the performance.
Hawaii 5-
Some photos and a VIDEO to come! Watch this space.
August 2007
First of all the band would like to say a big THANKYOU to John and Cyndy Button who have been with the band since 2003 and who have unfortunately just left us. They have done an enormous amount of work for the band and we are sad to see them go but hopefully they will be helping us out sometime! As Musical Director, John has been 100% committed. His commitment and drive played a huge part in the excellent result we achieved in Torquay this year, 7th place! Cyndy has been librarian, webmaster and secretary during her time with the band. She has reorganised the library and designed our website, so she will be missed too! Both John and Cyndy have helped the training band out whenever they have been needed. So the band would like to thank them both for all their hard work. Hopefully we will be seeing them again soon!
Our new musical director will be Matthew Earl, ably assisted by Angie Shepherd who was kind enough to conduct us at St Mary’s Church in Lower Slaughter on 29th July.
Matthew and Hayley were married on 28th of July. Big congratulations to them both! There were a few last minute panics when Gloucestershire was simultaneously flooded and ran out of tap water but they made it and are currently on honeymoon in Kenya. Click here to see photos from the wedding – they really do make such a lovely couple!
Anyone interested in Tom’s trip to India take a look at Tom’s Blog
First of all the band would like to say a big THANKYOU to John and Cyndy Button who have been with the band since 2003 and who have unfortunately just left us. They have done an enormous amount of work for the band and we are sad to see them go but hopefully they will be helping us out sometime! As Musical Director, John has been 100% committed. His commitment and drive played a huge part in the excellent result we achieved in Torquay this year, 7th place! Cyndy has been librarian, webmaster and secretary during her time with the band. She has reorganised the library and designed our website, so she will be missed too! Both John and Cyndy have helped the training band out whenever they have been needed. So the band would like to thank them both for all their hard work. Hopefully we will be seeing them again soon!
Our new musical director will be Matthew Earl, ably assisted by Angie Shepherd who was kind enough to conduct us at St Mary’s Church in Lower Slaughter on 29th July.
Matthew and Hayley were married on 28th of July. Big congratulations to them both! There were a few last minute panics when Gloucestershire was simultaneously flooded and ran out of tap water but they made it and are currently on honeymoon in Kenya. Click here to see photos from the wedding – they really do make such a lovely couple!
Anyone interested in Tom’s trip to India take a look at Tom’s Blog
September 2007
September is a busy month for the band this year, with engagements most weekends. Tom, Chris and Josh will also be making a recording with the Gloucestershire Youth Brass Band.
Preparations are underway for our Christmas Concert at St Andrews Church in Montpellier on December 8th. The concert will raise funds for both The Spring Centre in Gloucester and the band. The Spring Centre works with disabled children, so please invite everyone you know so we can raise lots of money! There is nothing quite like a brass band for getting you into the mood for Christmas! Although who wants to look that far ahead when the sun has only just come out this year! Posters and tickets will be available as soon as the details have been finalised.
In other news, Sophie, Holly, Peter, Marcus, Gabby, Tom, Chris and Nicki all went to the Chepstow Town Band Summer School at the end of August and had an enjoyable three days and everyone was very pleased when Chris was presented with a trophy for the outstanding player of the week! Well done Chris!! We need to get some rounders practice in before we go back next year! A big thank you to everyone at Chepstow Town Band for making us so welcome and Martin Musto for recommending it.
September is a busy month for the band this year, with engagements most weekends. Tom, Chris and Josh will also be making a recording with the Gloucestershire Youth Brass Band.
Preparations are underway for our Christmas Concert at St Andrews Church in Montpellier on December 8th. The concert will raise funds for both The Spring Centre in Gloucester and the band. The Spring Centre works with disabled children, so please invite everyone you know so we can raise lots of money! There is nothing quite like a brass band for getting you into the mood for Christmas! Although who wants to look that far ahead when the sun has only just come out this year! Posters and tickets will be available as soon as the details have been finalised.
In other news, Sophie, Holly, Peter, Marcus, Gabby, Tom, Chris and Nicki all went to the Chepstow Town Band Summer School at the end of August and had an enjoyable three days and everyone was very pleased when Chris was presented with a trophy for the outstanding player of the week! Well done Chris!! We need to get some rounders practice in before we go back next year! A big thank you to everyone at Chepstow Town Band for making us so welcome and Martin Musto for recommending it.
The band is busy preparing for the GBBA Own Choice Contest on October 14th. Angie Shepherd was invited to conduct for the contest but has had to stand down because of work commitments. So a big thank you to Angie for all the work she has put in! And Good Luck to Matt Earl who will be taking us to the contest. Everyone is looking forward to competing. Our test piece will be the The Seasons by Philip Wilby. Good luck everyone! Big thank you’s go out to the Tait family, Andy and Lisa Miles and Adrian Jowett who are playing for us!
We would also like to welcome Hayley Earl to the band. She is playing Flugel Horn and perhaps didn’t fully realise what she would be taking on when she married Matt!
Another big welcome goes out to Lesley Fisher and Rod Shephard who have both been co-opted onto the committee. A big thank you to them and I can feel a committee page coming on! Watch this space.
Also this month a 10 piece band will be playing at RAF Innsworth. If this is news to you, then you aren’t needed to play and can have the evening off!
We will be looking for raffle prizes for our Christmas Concert on December 8th at St Andrews United Reform Church. This concert is raising money for the The Spring Centre in Gloucester and also for the band. Some of the children from the centre will be performing at the concert and we are looking forward to meeting them. Tickets will be available from band members, our chairman Mandy Keedwell or from the Spring Centre. If there are any left they will be available on the door.
We would also like to welcome Hayley Earl to the band. She is playing Flugel Horn and perhaps didn’t fully realise what she would be taking on when she married Matt!
Another big welcome goes out to Lesley Fisher and Rod Shephard who have both been co-
Also this month a 10 piece band will be playing at RAF Innsworth. If this is news to you, then you aren’t needed to play and can have the evening off!
We will be looking for raffle prizes for our Christmas Concert on December 8th at St Andrews United Reform Church. This concert is raising money for the The Spring Centre in Gloucester and also for the band. Some of the children from the centre will be performing at the concert and we are looking forward to meeting them. Tickets will be available from band members, our chairman Mandy Keedwell or from the Spring Centre. If there are any left they will be available on the door.
October 2007
The GBBA Own Choice Contest is over and after a bit of hanging around, the band played well under some very hot lights. The band achieved a very close fourth place and an encouraging adjudication. Kirk did very well playing percussion in his first ever contest with the well known percussionist Simone Rebello adjudicating! Thank you once again to all our guest players!
Our Bass Trombonist, Josh Cirtina won Musician of the Year at the Balcarras School Prizegiving. Well done Josh!
Christmas is approaching a little faster now and we are starting to prepare the music for our Christmas Concert which is raising money for The Spring Centre in Gloucester. There are rumours of a guest appearance from a very special gentleman! Tickets will be on sale soon!
The calendar has suddenly filled up with Christmas bookings so please take a look at the list and let Rob know which events you will be able to attend!
The GBBA Own Choice Contest is over and after a bit of hanging around, the band played well under some very hot lights. The band achieved a very close fourth place and an encouraging adjudication. Kirk did very well playing percussion in his first ever contest with the well known percussionist Simone Rebello adjudicating! Thank you once again to all our guest players!
Our Bass Trombonist, Josh Cirtina won Musician of the Year at the Balcarras School Prizegiving. Well done Josh!
Christmas is approaching a little faster now and we are starting to prepare the music for our Christmas Concert which is raising money for The Spring Centre in Gloucester. There are rumours of a guest appearance from a very special gentleman! Tickets will be on sale soon!
The calendar has suddenly filled up with Christmas bookings so please take a look at the list and let Rob know which events you will be able to attend!
Torquay 2007 - The Seasons - Spring Waltz
Talking of Torquay, the fourth section test piece is ‘Four Cities Symphony’ by Rodney Newton. Click on his name to find out more about him. The piece was commissioned for the 2008 Regional Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. ‘It has four movements played without a break. The first centres on two aspects of the city of London: its history and pageantry and its role as a busy modern metropolis. The second movement depicts Paris, its street cafes and boulevards and riverside walks, in the form of a romantic waltz.
The third movement is constructed around the Gregorian chants of the Lord's Prayer (Pater noster, qui es in caelis) and the Creed (Credo in unum Deum) in an evocation of the city of Rome. After a powerful climax, mysterious tramping footsteps are heard as the ghosts or a Roman legion march through the city by night. The vision fades and the pater noster is heard once again, before the movement is brought to a close with the ancient Ambrosian chant, Christus Vincit, Christus Regnet, Christus Imperat.
The final movement is an evocation of the city of Moscow, with its great historic buildings, its turbulent history and its fiery traditional music. At the outset a rather dour folk-like melody is heard which is transformed into a lively Cossack dance.’
Good luck to everyone marching on Sunday. Let’s put on a good show on this important occasion.
The third movement is constructed around the Gregorian chants of the Lord's Prayer (Pater noster, qui es in caelis) and the Creed (Credo in unum Deum) in an evocation of the city of Rome. After a powerful climax, mysterious tramping footsteps are heard as the ghosts or a Roman legion march through the city by night. The vision fades and the pater noster is heard once again, before the movement is brought to a close with the ancient Ambrosian chant, Christus Vincit, Christus Regnet, Christus Imperat.
The final movement is an evocation of the city of Moscow, with its great historic buildings, its turbulent history and its fiery traditional music. At the outset a rather dour folk-
Good luck to everyone marching on Sunday. Let’s put on a good show on this important occasion.
December 2007
The Christmas Concert was a great success! THANK YOU to absolutely everyone, particularly Matt and Hayley, Mandy, Rob, Sally and her family and the rest of the committee, Liz and everyone at The Spring Centre, Lesley and all the Fisher family, Phil and everyone at St Andrews, Lisa and Andy for coming to play for us and thanks everyone who was playing and had put so much effort into a great performance! Thanks also to everyone who came to support the concert. Special thanks have to go to Matt for making it so entertaining!!
The highlight of the concert came when Matt was called away to sort out a crisis at work. Santa magically appeared to takeover, displaying somewhat unexpected musical talent! Everything was going really well until Santa’s trousers started to descend. Hayley spotted the problem and the message was slowly passed along the band. Santa had to conduct one handed and it was hilarious! All the young people from the Spring Centre were VERY amused. Becky and Liz came up to help Santa turn the pages of the score! The band did very well to keep playing!!
Matt thankfully made it back after the raffle to finish the concert in style with Christmas Chimes by Roger Thorne. The raffle was a big success with Holly winning the star prize of an Ipod shuffle, donated by John Stayte Services.
The training band have one more practice on 21st December at 6.30pm before their Christmas Concert at Leckhampton Baptist Church.
For everyone else band practices have finished now until January 7th. Please don’t forget to come to all the remaining engagements! And have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The Christmas Concert was a great success! THANK YOU to absolutely everyone, particularly Matt and Hayley, Mandy, Rob, Sally and her family and the rest of the committee, Liz and everyone at The Spring Centre, Lesley and all the Fisher family, Phil and everyone at St Andrews, Lisa and Andy for coming to play for us and thanks everyone who was playing and had put so much effort into a great performance! Thanks also to everyone who came to support the concert. Special thanks have to go to Matt for making it so entertaining!!
The highlight of the concert came when Matt was called away to sort out a crisis at work. Santa magically appeared to takeover, displaying somewhat unexpected musical talent! Everything was going really well until Santa’s trousers started to descend. Hayley spotted the problem and the message was slowly passed along the band. Santa had to conduct one handed and it was hilarious! All the young people from the Spring Centre were VERY amused. Becky and Liz came up to help Santa turn the pages of the score! The band did very well to keep playing!!
Matt thankfully made it back after the raffle to finish the concert in style with Christmas Chimes by Roger Thorne. The raffle was a big success with Holly winning the star prize of an Ipod shuffle, donated by John Stayte Services.
The training band have one more practice on 21st December at 6.30pm before their Christmas Concert at Leckhampton Baptist Church.
For everyone else band practices have finished now until January 7th. Please don’t forget to come to all the remaining engagements! And have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Happy New Year to everyone! 2008 has arrived! Band practice starts again on Monday 7th January, so hopefully see you there!
Welcome to the Tait family who are coming to join us and it is great to have them! Hayley is also officially joining us although she has felt like a member of the band for quite a long time! Welcome Hayley! Any Front Row Cornet players or B flat Bass players out there, thinking about a new start in 2008 - come along!
It is time to start work on the test piece for Torquay so there will be some sectionals coming up and extra rehearsals as needed.
Welcome to the Tait family who are coming to join us and it is great to have them! Hayley is also officially joining us although she has felt like a member of the band for quite a long time! Welcome Hayley! Any Front Row Cornet players or B flat Bass players out there, thinking about a new start in 2008 -
It is time to start work on the test piece for Torquay so there will be some sectionals coming up and extra rehearsals as needed.
January 2008
THANKS TO SALLY AND MARGARET FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY PUT INTO THE SKITTLES NIGHT!
The Training Band are practicing hard for the GBBA Entertainments Contest on February 3rd. Their programme includes: Northern Festival March, Ground Pavane, Minnie the Moocher, Double Chocolate Rumba and Hawaii 5 O! Good Luck everyone!!
The main band are getting ready for Torquay. There are sectionals on 27th January and 10th February, speak to Matt if you would like any extra help. Nigel Seaman, principal tuba with the B.B.C. National Orchestra of Wales based in Cardiff, has been booked to come and give us some help -
The AGM will be held in the bandroom on February 15th at 7.00pm. Everyone from the band and training band are welcome to attend the AGM. If you would like to join or rejoin the committee then please put your name on the
1. Brunel Brass,
J. Winterflood, 7
185
2. Wincanton Silver,
B. Kelloway, 6
183
3. Totnes,
I. Wilkinson, 4,
182
4. Bream Silver,
H. Cole, 17,
181
5. Shanklin Town Brass (Iow),
M. Lewis, 20,
180
6. Weymouth Concert Brass,
A. Glynn, 11,
179
7. Chalford Academy Brass,
S. Tubb, 1,
178
8. Tewkesbury Town,
N. Morgan, 9,
177
9. New Forest Brass,
I. Luxford, 15,
176
10. Swindon Brass,
F. Cowley, 12,
175
11. Downton,
R. Wright, 13,
174
12. Spinnaker Brass,
D. Jones, 16,
173
13. Torrington Silver,
T. Hutchings, 14,
172
14. Bideford Town,
G. Taylor, 2,
171
15. Cheltenham Silver,
M. Earl, 18,
170
16. Porthleven Town
E. Ralph, 8,
169
17. Hatherleigh Silver,
R. Wonnacott, 5,
168
18. Marshfield, 10,
P. Cornford
167
19. Okehampton Excelsior Silver,
D. Law, 3,
166
20. Gosport Silver,
R. Sharp,19,
165
Bratton Silver, w
Jill , Adrian and Gabbie all enjoyed playing in their first ever contest - well done to them! Thanks once again Adrian Bodenham, Andy and Lisa Miles and to Chris Buckley for stepping in to play the glock at very short notice.
P.S. Listen out for Matt on Radio 2 in May!
P.S. Listen out for Matt on Radio 2 in May!
MARCH 2008
Band practice starts again on Friday 28th March. See you there! Matt will be focusing on getting the summer programme sorted out.
By now everyone who is interested has found the secret movie page so that is where I have put the videos of the training band at the GBBA Entertainment Contest.
Band practice starts again on Friday 28th March. See you there! Matt will be focusing on getting the summer programme sorted out.
By now everyone who is interested has found the secret movie page so that is where I have put the videos of the training band at the GBBA Entertainment Contest.
APRIL 2008
Well done to everyone who played at the Highnam Court Spring Fair on Saturday. It was a really enjoyable engagement. Marcus, Hayley and Mandy all played particularly well - performing solo’s to a sizeable audience!! Thanks to Angie on Percussion, Andy on Euphonium and not forgetting Adrian on B flat Bass - your help was greatly appreciated!! Not wanting to miss out anyone who should be congratulated - well done Amy and Carol for playing at your first outside engagements and well done Sophie on Solo Horn!! And finally - thanks to everyone (but me) for turning up on time.
Now a request - if you have pictures of your nearest and dearest that you wouldn’t mind sharing with the world! Literally!! Then please pass them on to me - for a new page!! And Sophie - I am still waiting!!
Tom and Chris competed with the Gloucestershire Youth Brass Band at the National Youth Brass Band Championships in Manchester recently - earning a silver certificate! Their best result yet!!
See you at the Lido on Saturday!
Now a request -
Tom and Chris competed with the Gloucestershire Youth Brass Band at the National Youth Brass Band Championships in Manchester recently -
See you at the Lido on Saturday!
Everyone in the band would like to say GOODBYE to Josh Cirtina and wish him well. We will all miss you but hopefully we will see you again sometime! Maybe conducting Black Dyke! Also welcome to Carol who has graduated from the training band into the main band!
There are lots and lots of engagements for this summer now, so please take a look at the engagements page. Our first engagement is at Highnam Court, bring a picnic with you and enjoy the day. There will be a lot going on. Everyone who is playing will need an entry ticket.
The committee have decided that this year the band will be supporting Sue Ryder Care.
There are lots and lots of engagements for this summer now, so please take a look at the engagements page. Our first engagement is at Highnam Court, bring a picnic with you and enjoy the day. There will be a lot going on. Everyone who is playing will need an entry ticket.
The committee have decided that this year the band will be supporting Sue Ryder Care.
MAY 2008
The band played at the Charlton Kings Festival on Sunday. It was a bit damp! Being in the tent next to the Battledown Brewery lifted everyone’s spirits but can’t be sure it improved our playing!
And listen out for Matt on Brass Britain on Radio 2! He hasn’t been on yet - 2 weeks to go
And listen out for Matt on Brass Britain on Radio 2! He hasn’t been on yet -
The Band played at the Little Vintage Show in Cambridge this weekend. It was very enjoyable, if a little bit windy. The chips warmed some of us up but the ice cream was also highly recommended by most members of the band. Thank you to Mandy for inviting us! Thanks to Adrian, Andy and Lisa for coming to help us, whilst Tom, Chris and Sophie were busy revising!
The band were very pleased to be invited to play at the re-opening of Sandford Parks Lido. Matt looked as though he had stepped right out of the 1930’s with his trilby hat and brown suit! It was a bit windy but there were plenty of people in the pool! A member of the band was spotted in her swimsuit rather than her band uniform! You know who you are!!!
JUNE 2008
Well done to Matt for surviving the Mountain Mayhem Challenge! His team came 332nd out of over 600!
Matt is supporting the Stroud and Swindon cycle team in the Mountain Mayhem 24 hour race next weekend. You can read the teams blog here and you can sponsor them here! They are raising money for Dogs for the Disabled.
Band practice on Friday 20th June and Monday 23rd June is particularly for those of us who are playing at Saul Junction on the 26th June. Although anyone who fancies a blow is welcome too!
Sales of raffle tickets got off to a reasonable start in the Abbey Park in Evesham today, whether that was down to Matt’s can can or the wonderful music the band were all making - who can say! Lets hope the band can play there again next year!
This year the band are supporting Sue Ryder Care and tickets for the Christmas Raffle are ready! The top prize is £100. Tickets will be on sale whenever the band is performing.
The band were made very welcome at the Guiting Power Songs of Praise in the Barrage Field and at Hardwicke Church last Friday. Hayley and Marcus both sounded particularly beautiful in their solos! There are more photos of recent events on their way.
If anyone in the band would like a CD of recent photos of the band - please speak to Lesley and she can provide you with a copy.
Is Matt on the cutting room floor? Brass Britain
Matt is supporting the Stroud and Swindon cycle team in the Mountain Mayhem 24 hour race next weekend. You can read the teams blog here and you can sponsor them here! They are raising money for Dogs for the Disabled.
Band practice on Friday 20th June and Monday 23rd June is particularly for those of us who are playing at Saul Junction on the 26th June. Although anyone who fancies a blow is welcome too!
Sales of raffle tickets got off to a reasonable start in the Abbey Park in Evesham today, whether that was down to Matt’s can can or the wonderful music the band were all making -
This year the band are supporting Sue Ryder Care and tickets for the Christmas Raffle are ready! The top prize is £100. Tickets will be on sale whenever the band is performing.
The band were made very welcome at the Guiting Power Songs of Praise in the Barrage Field and at Hardwicke Church last Friday. Hayley and Marcus both sounded particularly beautiful in their solos! There are more photos of recent events on their way.
If anyone in the band would like a CD of recent photos of the band -
Is Matt on the cutting room floor? Brass Britain
JULY 2008
The band played well at Highnam Court on Sunday, the audience were dodging the showers, but they were in high spirits! No-one who was there will forget the can-can!
Congratulations must go to Peter Raven who has recently achieved Grade 2 on the baritone. Hopefully we’ll see some more of him in the main band over the summer!
Congratulations must go to Peter Raven who has recently achieved Grade 2 on the baritone. Hopefully we’ll see some more of him in the main band over the summer!
Thank you to the small band of players who played at Saul Junction. No-one got blown away but it was a close call! Thanks also to The Charles Irving Trust for their very generous donation to the band.
The Montpellier Funday went well too, with Matt trying his hardest to recruit new members! Well done to Chris who played his first solo! Sales of raffle tickets went well, thanks to Lesley and Jill.
I wasn’t at Emmanuel Church Fete but I have heard that everyone played well. Thanks to Angie for playing Euphonium! Matt, apparently was keen to recruit the Vicar for the percussion section!
On Saturday evening the band played for the Charlton Park Residents Association and although at one point, the band were playing in the rain - the downpour never arrived! Thanks go to the very kind lady who held an umbrella over Adrian’s head!
Congratulations to Michael Tait for reaching Grade 5 on the cornet!
The Montpellier Funday went well too, with Matt trying his hardest to recruit new members! Well done to Chris who played his first solo! Sales of raffle tickets went well, thanks to Lesley and Jill.
I wasn’t at Emmanuel Church Fete but I have heard that everyone played well. Thanks to Angie for playing Euphonium! Matt, apparently was keen to recruit the Vicar for the percussion section!
On Saturday evening the band played for the Charlton Park Residents Association and although at one point, the band were playing in the rain -
Congratulations to Michael Tait for reaching Grade 5 on the cornet!
Please have a look at the Events Page as there are some more events on there - including the sponsored blow! There will be more information coming soon - it will be raising funds for the Band Tour in 2009!
AUGUST 2008
Firstly the band would like to welcome Anita who is playing front row cornet for us!
The band played in Stroud on the 24th August, big thanks go to Helen and Hadrian Walters for helping us out! On Saturday 30th August the band played at Leckhampton Court for their History Day. The sun was shining and it was an interesting event to attend.
Congratulations to Gabbie for getting a distinction at Grade 2 on Cornet and more congratulations to Sophie, Chris and Tom who all did really well in their exams! Tom is starting at Manchester University in September but he will be back to help out at Christmas!
Chris,Tom, Gabbie, Peter and Marcus all went to the Chepstow Summer School this year it was very enjoyable and thanks go to Chepstow Band for inviting us to join them again!
Commiserations go to Sheila who was presented with a wooden spoon by Matt! I am not sure I should announce to the world exactly why - ask anyone on the horn section and they’ll tell you what happened at Pittville Pump Room!!!
The band played in Stroud on the 24th August, big thanks go to Helen and Hadrian Walters for helping us out! On Saturday 30th August the band played at Leckhampton Court for their History Day. The sun was shining and it was an interesting event to attend.
Congratulations to Gabbie for getting a distinction at Grade 2 on Cornet and more congratulations to Sophie, Chris and Tom who all did really well in their exams! Tom is starting at Manchester University in September but he will be back to help out at Christmas!
Chris,Tom, Gabbie, Peter and Marcus all went to the Chepstow Summer School this year it was very enjoyable and thanks go to Chepstow Band for inviting us to join them again!
Commiserations go to Sheila who was presented with a wooden spoon by Matt! I am not sure I should announce to the world exactly why -
The band received some very good news last week - Hayley, our flugel player and Matt, our MD are expecting a baby!!!
Congratulations to Hayley and Matt!
As both Matt and Hayley will be a little less involved in the band for a while - the committee have decided to advertise for a new Musical Director! Please take a look at our vacancy page!
The band would also like to welcome Ioan Davies who has just started playing bass trombone for us - he is a graduate of the training band!
The band enjoyed playing at the Whitminster Inn a few weeks ago and can thoroughly recommend the Chinese restaurant there!
Our engagement at Pittville Park went well too - the band moved inside the Pump Rooms to keep out of the wind and potential rain - it was a treat to be playing inside! Chris Folland’s solo went down well with the audience and raffle ticket sales went well too! Raffle tickets are raising money for Sue Ryder Care and Cheltenham Silver Band!
As both Matt and Hayley will be a little less involved in the band for a while -
The band would also like to welcome Ioan Davies who has just started playing bass trombone for us -
The band enjoyed playing at the Whitminster Inn a few weeks ago and can thoroughly recommend the Chinese restaurant there!
Our engagement at Pittville Park went well too -
The ‘blowathon’ is all set to go ahead on September 6th - so please can all band members encourage everyone they know to sponsor them!