April 2006
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AGM & Concert |
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Wednesday 5th April saw the
band return to Tewkesbury Town Hall for our Annual General Meeting. The
evening started with a wonderful concert by our Training Band.
Understrength due to holidays, the bands still sounded fantastic. They
opened with an impressive march by Ivor Hounder called Band Power. The
Beginner Band then showed their talents with a performance of the first
two movements of Dave Chapman's Toy Shop Suite - 1. The Soldier's March
and 2. The Music Box. The Intermediate Band then returned to a piece
that they played a few years ago when there were much fewer members,
Take It Fast! from Andre Wagnein's Take It Easy. The Beginner Band then
played Rainbow Rock before the Intermediate Band entertained the crowds
with the popular tune from the Wallace and Gromit films. They then
concluded the concert with a fine rendition of The Young Amadeus in
honour of this year's 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth.
During the concert we were
pleased to present three more certificate for members who had taken the
Associated Board of the Royal School of Music graded examinations in
performance. Lucy Windsor did very well to gain a merit in her very
first exam, taking grade one Bb Cornet. Her sister Grace also gained a
merit in her Grade Four Bb Cornet Exam. Finally, young Hannah Norman
gained a distinction in her grade one Euphonium exam. Well done to you
all.
The meeting then followed and
was full of positive comments despite the past year being a difficult
one for the band. The outcome of the comments is that the future
certainly looks strong for Tewkesbury Town Band. We welcome back on to
the band committee Dave Dron after many years and also Jenny Norman for
her first time! |
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A Walking Bass Line
There have been some changes
amongst the bass section this month. Unfortunately, we sadly had to say
goodbye to Eb Bass player Jonathan Allan who played his last performance
(for now!) at the contest in Torquay. Jonathan was a valuable member of
the band after joining in 1994. He gave over 11 years of service to the
band playing Euphonium, Bb Bass and Eb Bass as well as holding roles on
the committee and acting as band manager along with Peter Williams for
many years. We hope that Jonathan will return to the band in the future
when work commitments allow. Good luck Jonathan in everything you do and
thank you for being a part of our band. |
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| However, just as
Jonathan left, Betty Clarke has returned to the band on Bb Bass. Betty
left the band last year as she found it difficult to get to rehearsals.
After having a short break and organising some lifts with Nigel and
Mark, we are pleased that Betty is able to join us again. Welcome back!
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Flå
Musikkorps' visit takes shape
From the 1st to 4th June 2006, the Band
is playing host to the Flå Musikkorps, a Fourth Section band from the Trondheim
area of Norway. Flå Musikkorps comprises 30 members in a traditional British
brass band format. Their conductor is Steinar Mørkved, who also plays euphonium
with the Military Band of Trøndelag. They will be arriving in Tewkesbury at
approx. 3pm on 1st June where they will be staying at the Sleep Inn hotel. We
have been busy organising a schedule of events to keep them entertained during
their visit. |
| The evening of Thursday 1st June
will include a “Welcome” social event where the members of Tewkesbury Town Band
can meet their counterparts from Norway. Current thoughts for this are either a
barn dance in the Watson Hall or a skittles evening at the Queen’s Head.
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On Friday 2nd June the Flå
Musikkorps will be visiting Warwick Castle in the morning before travelling to
Stratford upon Avon in the afternoon. We are hoping to organize a venue in
Stratford where they will be able to perform a short concert and raise some
funds to mitigate the cost of their visit. That evening there will be a
rehearsal for the following day’s concert in Tewkesbury Abbey. |
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The planned itinerary for
Saturday 3rd June takes our Norwegian visitors to Gloucester for a
morning of sightseeing. The afternoon brings them back to Tewkesbury to
discover the delights of our wonderful town and abbey. As mentioned
earlier, Saturday evening sees Tewkesbury Town Band and its Training
Band take to the concert stage with our Norwegian visitors in Tewkesbury
Abbey. The concert will conclude with several massed band items, hence
the rehearsal on Friday evening. |
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On Sunday 4th June Flå Musikkorps
having been treated to several aspects of our countries history, will be treated
to the beauty of the Cotswold countryside. They will visit the picturesque
villages of Bourton on the Water and Lower Slaughter. In the afternoon they will
perform the final concert of their trip on The Green at Bourton on the Water.
Sunday evening will see us say “Goodbye” to our visitors with a short concert
and barbeque social event at the Queen’s Head public house at Aston Cross. Flå
Musikkorps will then be boarding their coach to Stansted airport early on the
morning of Monday 5th June. |
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The above is a packed schedule
of events for both Bands but hopefully it will prove an enjoyable, if
hectic, long weekend. Please note the above dates in your diaries and
make every effort to help us entertain our Norwegian visitors in the
usual Tewkesbury fashion! We will provide more updates on the visit as
things are confirmed. Suggestions regarding coach companies to approach
for the organising of the travel for the Norwegians are welcomed. As are
any suggestions on places to take them for meals. |
April
| Wednesday 5th |
AGM - including Training Band Concert
[7pm] |
| Sunday 9th |
Palm Sunday Service, Tewkesbury Abbey
[9:15am] |
| Sunday 23rd |
Combined St George's Day & Civic
Parade, Tewkesbury [To be Confirmed] |
Copyright © 2001 Melbo Productions. All rights reserved.
Revised:
June 06, 2007
March 2006
Top Ten at Torquay
The Band is pleased to have come 10th
out of 27 bands in the West of England Area contest in Torquay on Sunday 19th
March 2006. The band competed in the Fourth Section playing the set test-piece 'Anglian
Dances' by Alan Fernie. Having encountered many player changes over the past 12
months, we are pleased that this has not unsettled the band and that we improved
on our result from last year. Congratulations to every member of the Band for a
great performance and there will be a fuller review of the weekend coming
shortly!
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A Proms Concert Soloist that isn't
called Steven?
It has become a tradition that
we invite a soloist to our Proms Concert in June, and as it happens, so
far they have gone by the name of Steven (first Sykes and then Mead).
This year we have decided to ask the world renowned trombonist, Nick "Steven"
Hudson, to be the guest soloist at our Summer Proms Concert in the Roses
Theatre, Tewkesbury on Saturday 17th June. We are looking forward to
working with another star of the brass band world. |
This year's Concert will also see
the Band link up with the baritone singer, Julian Bissell, to lead the
singing in the Proms favourites. Julian is a member of the Gemini Choir
with whom the Band performed at last years Broms Proms. We look forward
to renewing our acquaintance.
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International Brass Band Week
2006
The British Bandsman and Brass Band World
magazines, along with 4barsrest and
theMouthpiece websites, have joined forces to promote the
International
Brass Band Week 2006 with the aim of raising funds for
the Brass
Band Aid charity. The chosen week actually runs for ten
days (in order to cover two weekends) from 19th to 28th May.
Watch this space for possible
events involving the Band and its Training Band. |
Summer is approaching fast and the Training Band
will be busy!
During August 2005 the Training Band
ventured the long distance to Sidmouth for a weekend away camping and to link up
with Sidmouth Town Youth Band. Since such a good time was had by all, despite
some inclement weather for the raising of the tents, a further trip is in the
planning stages for the weekend of 11th to 13th August 2006. So if you fancy
accompanying us for a weekend of summer fun by the sea then pencil these dates
in your diary and watch out for further details.
The Training Band diary is already
looking busy with several confirmed summer fete engagements. Check the
Diary
page for more details.
Brasstastic! 2006
If you were lucky enough to attend
Brasstastic! 2005
then you will be excited to know that a date has been set for
Brasstastic! 2006; the
date is Friday 18th August 2006. Brasstastic! 2006 is an opportunity for young
brass players and percussionists to spend a day playing music together under the
guidance of SONAR Brass,
a quintet of brass stars from the UK, and
Steve Barnett
(freelance percussionist). Find out more and details of how to apply at
www.brasstastic.co.uk
Hopefully we will see you there!
New Uniforms coming soon
Whilst we were at Butlins in Skegness
the band members were measured up by R&J Handley for their new uniforms. For the
past 18 months we have been busily raising funds to pay for a new set of
uniforms to replace the ones that we have had since 1991. The money has now been
raised and the uniforms are currently being designed and ordered. The new
uniform will retain the Tewkesbury blue but will see the introduction of black
trousers/skirts and black trim on the jackets. So watch out this summer for a
stylish new look to Tewkesbury Town Band!
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GBBA Website launched
The Gloucestershire Brass Band Association has finally entered the 21st
Century with the introduction of it's website. If you want to discover
more about brass banding in Gloucestershire visit
www.gbbaonline.org
and watch it develop. |
March
| Wednesday 15th |
Workshop with Nigel Seaman 7:30pm -
9:30pm |
| Sunday 19th |
West of England Regional Contest,
Riviera Centre, Torquay - Test Piece: Anglian Dances by Alan Fernie |
Copyright © 2001 Melbo Productions. All rights reserved.
Revised:
June 06, 2007
