Angie Shepherd
Angie Shepherd began her play playing career with Cheltenham Silver Band when she was 8 years old and has now had close ties with for over 25 years. Encouraged by her Uncle, who had played tuba in the band since the 60’s, she chose to play Euphonium. However, being a little on the short side, she had to settle for Baritone before progressing to Euph when she was a little taller!
After a long spell playing for CSB, Angie spread her wings. After a 6 month signing for Langley Band she joined Lydbrook Band in the Forest of Dean, enjoying 6 years playing in the 1st and Championship sections. Angie then returned to CSB initially in a playing capacity, but then took up the baton as MD. During this time she also became involved in the training of young players joining the band, encouraging them to take part in music festivals and solo competitions with some considerable success.
Since then Angie has had links with a number of other bands including Tewkesbury, Gloucester Excelsior, Lydney and Cinderford. She has continued to conduct and play, expanding her skills to join the percussion section of Lydbrook band playing Timpani at the Area Contest at Torquay and at various concerts.
Angie has received playing tuition from a number of excellent musicians, including Lyndon Baglin, Dennis Masters, Robert Childs, Steve Sykes and Nigel Seaman, but she is the first to admit that the formal training she has received in conducting is limited. However, she does feel that her experience of playing under the baton of a number of world class conductors has given her practical experience and understanding of skills and techniques to assist in bringing the best out of players of all abilities.
Because of her early links to Cheltenham Silver, and memories she has of her Uncle’s passion for keeping the band alive through many difficult periods, Angie feels a close association and love for the Band. She has a powerful and sometimes almost obsessive passion for music and its metamorphic ability to represent differing emotions, to influence mood, to tell wordless stories and to touch and bring together different cultures, ages and social groups.
‘Music is a powerful tool, but it is also a beautiful art form. It can focus the mind and be a source of strength and entertainment, but at the same time it can be an outlet for feelings and a diversion from daily life….when a musician really gets inside a piece of music you witness a performance that is completely different from that of a person who is just playing the notes on the page – the musician who takes time to interpret the music and give it colour and tone is putting something of themselves into the music – they personalise it and bring it to life.’
Angie is looking forward to taking up the post of MD in January and she hopes to build upon the successes CSB have had with Matt Earl. She would like to encourage the younger players in the band to take centre stage more often, as well as helping the band to move forward and develop as a strong team.
After a long spell playing for CSB, Angie spread her wings. After a 6 month signing for Langley Band she joined Lydbrook Band in the Forest of Dean, enjoying 6 years playing in the 1st and Championship sections. Angie then returned to CSB initially in a playing capacity, but then took up the baton as MD. During this time she also became involved in the training of young players joining the band, encouraging them to take part in music festivals and solo competitions with some considerable success.
Since then Angie has had links with a number of other bands including Tewkesbury, Gloucester Excelsior, Lydney and Cinderford. She has continued to conduct and play, expanding her skills to join the percussion section of Lydbrook band playing Timpani at the Area Contest at Torquay and at various concerts.
Angie has received playing tuition from a number of excellent musicians, including Lyndon Baglin, Dennis Masters, Robert Childs, Steve Sykes and Nigel Seaman, but she is the first to admit that the formal training she has received in conducting is limited. However, she does feel that her experience of playing under the baton of a number of world class conductors has given her practical experience and understanding of skills and techniques to assist in bringing the best out of players of all abilities.
Because of her early links to Cheltenham Silver, and memories she has of her Uncle’s passion for keeping the band alive through many difficult periods, Angie feels a close association and love for the Band. She has a powerful and sometimes almost obsessive passion for music and its metamorphic ability to represent differing emotions, to influence mood, to tell wordless stories and to touch and bring together different cultures, ages and social groups.
‘Music is a powerful tool, but it is also a beautiful art form. It can focus the mind and be a source of strength and entertainment, but at the same time it can be an outlet for feelings and a diversion from daily life….when a musician really gets inside a piece of music you witness a performance that is completely different from that of a person who is just playing the notes on the page – the musician who takes time to interpret the music and give it colour and tone is putting something of themselves into the music – they personalise it and bring it to life.’
Angie is looking forward to taking up the post of MD in January and she hopes to build upon the successes CSB have had with Matt Earl. She would like to encourage the younger players in the band to take centre stage more often, as well as helping the band to move forward and develop as a strong team.
