Category: Concert
0 BLB Christmas Concert Friday 15th December 7pm
Blewbury Learner Band Christmas Concert is on Friday 15th December 7pm in the Melland Room, Boham’s Road, Blewbury OX11 9HF.
Come and listen to BLB play a selection of music including marches, pop tunes, Christmas songs and carols. Tickets £2 (adults), 50p (children) available on the door which includes a glass of wine or fruit juice.
0 Village Concert Wednesday 20th December
Come and hear BBB performing at the village concert at Blewbury church. The concert starts at 8pm and will feature the band along with other ‘turns’. There will be plenty of carols for you to enjoy.
0 BBB Party Night Concert Saturday 18th November 2017
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Blewbury Brass Band is currently preparing for its annual winter concert, this year with a ‘Party!’ theme. The concert, to be held at Chilton Village Hall at 7:30pm on Saturday 18th November, promises to be a real treat featuring our Main Band, our Learner Band and our senior players from Blewbury Youth Brass.
Musical Director, Ian Barlow, said, ‘The band has been working hard on new pieces for the concert. We are including old favourites such as Manilow Magic and Macarthur Park as well as playing some more traditional brass band music, with every piece cleverly linked to the theme. We will be featuring our trombone section and even including a piece from our recent successful tour to Germany with Blewbury Youth Brass’.
Wine, soft drinks and party nibbles will be available during the interval. Tickets are available now from band members or can be purchased on the door priced £8 (adults), £6 (seniors) and £1 (children).
0 BBB Teatime Concert with Hagbourne Choir Sunday 1st October 4pm
Come along and listen to Blewbury Brass Band and Hagbourne Choir whilst enjoying tea and homemade cake!
The band and choir will be performing in the Village Hall on Sunday 1st October at 4pm. Come and listen to a selection from our summer programme and enjoy some great tunes performed by the choir.
0 Blewbury Brass Band blows audiences away at Upton fete.
BBB returned from their Summer break with a bang at Upton Village Fete. Lead by guest-conductor Richard Powell, the band performed some of their favourite pieces from this summer’s programme. We heard the lovely tenor horn solo ‘Demelza’ from Alice, were treated to ‘Moon river’ and ‘Solitaire’ from Bruce, and Grace performed an exciting rendition of ‘The Acrobat’.
We welcomed back past players Katherine and Martin, and were also joined by our friends Amanda, Megan and Katie. This afternoon’s performance was also the first time our percussionist, Michael joined the main band ensemble. He did an excellent job of keeping us in-line and in-time. Well done Michael!
Thank you to the organisers for providing the band with tea, coffee and cake in the interval.
We hope you enjoyed this afternoon as much as we did. See you again next year!
0 BYB Tour Ends with Sell-out Concert at Didcot Civic Hall
Blewbury Youth Brass played to a bumper audience last night as a finale to their successful Germany tour. In addition to family and friends, we were joined by Mrs Jackie Billington, Major of Didcot, and representatives from the ODBBA, Abbey Brass, Abingdon Town Band, Yarnton Band, Cholsey Silver Band and Wantage Silver Band. In addition, several current and past members of Blewbury Brass Band came along to show their support to our young players.
The band rose to the occasion and put in a great performance. Musical Director, Judith Atkins, said, ‘This was our best performance to date. Our soloists excelled themselves and the band sounded superb and filled the hall. It was great to have such an enthusiastic and appreciative audience’. Highlights included a rousing rendition of Harold L Walters’ ‘Hootenanny’, a very enthusiastic ‘Slaidburn’, and a fine playing of ‘Praise my Soul’, which demonstrated the band’s ability to play with great control and a wide dynamic range.
Tour Leader, Ian Barlow, explained, ‘This is the first tour the band has undertaken. Our players enjoyed not only the opportunity to perform in some beautiful venues but also to experience some interesting excursions and a taste of German culture. It was a pleasure to take away such a well-mannered and polite group of young people’.
At the end of the evening, Band Ambassador, Rachel Waterman, thanked the staff for their efforts in planning and organising the tour and Ian Barlow was presented with a band photograph in recognition of his work as tour leader.
A selection of photographs was on display in the foyer and the children were encouraged to add their own entries to this. The Mayor of Didcot awarded a small prize (a box of Lindt Chocolates!) to David Carvalho for his print of the cable car ride to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
The band will now be having a rest for a few weeks, but will get together again to take part in the ODBBA Entertainment Contest in October. Plans are afoot to continue activities throughout the coming year. Please visit our website and Facebook page to see details as they are released.
Thanks to everyone involved for a great tour and a wonderful concert.
(Photos kindly provided by the Waterman family.)
0 Blewbury Youth Brass End of Tour Concert
Blewbury Youth Brass will be concluding its tour to Boppard, Germany with a concert at Didcot Civic Hall on Wednesday 30th August, 7:30pm at Didcot Civic Hall, Britwell Road Didcot.
The concert will be a celebration of our tour and will give supporters the opportunity to come and hear the band. We will be playing an exciting programme of traditional brass band music including hymns, marches, pop tunes, show tunes and medleys. We will also be featuring our brilliant soloists.
Tickets are now available to order Adults £8, Seniors £6, children £1. Please contact Judith Atkins md-learnerband@blewburybrassband.org.uk for details. Tickets will also be available on the door.
2 Blewbury Youth Brass’ Grand Tour!
Blewbury Youth Brass returned last Friday 25th August, following its successful tour of Germany. Here are a few details and pictures:
Sunday 20th August
An early start for BYB, with the coach heading off from the band hut in Blewbury at 4:45am. Second baritone player, Natalie, was surprised by an impromptu 11th birthday celebration at a service station in Belgium.
The journey was very smooth and fast and we arrived in Boppard ahead of schedule and settled into the Bergschlossen Hotel.
Monday 21st August
After breakfast, we started the day with a rehearsal. Due to space restrictions, we used the veranda and were surprised to be joined by an enthusiastic group of fellow hotel guests who became the band’s greatest supporters.
We headed up to Cologne and enjoyed a day exploring the Lindt Chocolate Museum and visiting the Cathedral. This included the band climbing the 533 steps of the tower. We cooled off with a stop at the town’s water feature where some players engaged in some very energetic and soggy paddling.
Our evening meal at the Hard Rock Cafe became a party to celebrate David’s 12th birthday. The restaurant kindly supplied hats, streamers and party poppers to add to the festivities.
Tuesday 22nd August
The morning was spent exploring the fort at Ehrenbreitstein following an exciting cable car ride across the Rhein.
We then moved on to Bad Ems to prepare for our afternoon concert. The bandstand was sited in the shade of trees amongst some small bars and cafes beside the river. We were joined by Thea’s parents who had travelled out to hear the band!
Wednesday 23rd August
A drive to Rudesheim where we enjoyed some free time. Rudesheim proved a great town for ice-creams, chair lifts and sight-seeing.
The Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum was fascinating. It housed some of the oldest and most unusual mechanical instruments. We were mesmerised by the ingenuity of the machines.
We then headed to Bad Munster. Again, our coach driver got us there ahead of time and we were able to enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the town park. Many children ‘took the waters’ at the spa (not a pleasant experience!), explored the historic waterwheel and marvelled at the curious ‘haystacks’ which created a seaside atmosphere. Some children took part in a tense game of giant chess.
The evening concert was perhaps the musical highlight of the tour. We played under the arch of a very unusual raised bandstand to a large and appreciative audience.
Thursday 24th August
This was our day in Boppard. The children were given some freedom to explore the town. Attractions included the museum, the church, yet another chair lift and shopping in the town.
Some members of the band bumped into a group of pilgrims passing through the town. The group was led by a brass band who were delighted to show the children their European-style instruments and played ‘Trumpet Tune’ for them.
Our afternoon concert, again on the banks if the Rhein, was a delight. The children were relaxed and the soloists, in particular, excelled.
The evening entertainment included a fancy dress competition and our awards ceremony. Jamie was presented with the ‘good egg’ award for his tireless dedication to duty; Rachel was voted the ‘Players’ Player of the tour’; and Daniel received the musical director’s award for ‘Player of the Tour’.
Overall, the tour was a great success. The band played superbly. We loved Germany, its people and its culture. We were warmly welcomed wherever we went and were treated with kindness and respect. The children on tour were a delight. They all worked so hard and were a pleasure to be with. The staff were impressed with their good manners, willingness to comply with any requests, and their friendliness towards one other.
0 BYB End of Tour Concert Wednesday 30th August
Our fabulous youth band will be giving an end of tour concert on Wednesday 30th August in Didcot Civic Hall. This promises to be a spectacular event and features many of the best and most enthusiastic players in the local area.
The band has been working hard all year in preparation for the tour to Germany which is centred around the town of Boppard. We have selected an exciting and challenging programme including bandstand favourites, marches, show tunes, pop songs and solos: something for all to enjoy!
MD Judith Atkins said, ‘The band is really looking forward to the tour and the concert. At each rehearsal they just get better and better. Our soloists could rival those in the best bands in the area and our youngest players are learning so much. We are lucky to have attracted players from Cholsey Silver Band, Yarnton, Abbey Brass and Wantage. We even have one child from Norfolk who has travelled down to play with us!’
Tour leader, Ian Barlow, added, ‘We thank everyone who has supported the tour so far; Blewfest, The Tony Loy Trust, Baggs Tree Buskers, Waitrose and all other sponsors who have donated generously. The children also took part in a sponsored month of practice which raised over £1000.’
The concert will take place at Didcot Civic Hall on Wednesday 30th August at 7:30pm. Tickets are £8 (adults), £6 (seniors) and £1 (children) and are available from Judith 07732 197592 or on the door (subject to availability). We expect this to be a popular event so order tickets today!
0 BBB to perform with Didcot Choral
Blewbury Brass Band will be joining Didcot Choral Society for a joint concert on Saturday 24th June. The concert will take place at Didcot Baptist Church at 7:30pm.
Blewbury Brass Band 