Category: Concert
0 BBB Winter Concert Saturday 18th November 2017
Blewbury Brass Band is to hold a concert (with a mystery theme!) on Saturday 18th November. As usual, the band will put together an exciting programme of traditional and modern music to suit all tastes. In addition, our Learner Band will also be taking part. Make sure you add this date to your diary.
0 BBB a huge Success at Transport Concert
Blewbury Brass Band entertained the people of Blewbury last night with its transport-themed concert. The band, made up of over 40 people, filled St Michael’s Church with sound.
The band played a fine selection of pieces to suit all tastes and covered an varied array of different transport types. Our particular favourites included Funiculi, Funicula (funicular cable car), Ticket to Ride (train) and Tijuana Taxi (car). Bruce Gallop (soprano cornet) and Samuel Mobey (cornet) both delighted the audience with fine solos.
Musical Director, Ian Barlow, said, ‘It was a great occasion and wonderful to see such a full band. Thank you to our audience for coming out and supporting us.’
The Learner Band also performed with over 30 players impressing the audience. For the first time, we were joined by Tabitha, Charlotte, Annabelle and Clara from our Blewbury School teaching project. Learner Band MD, Judith Atkins, added, ‘It is good to see the children of Blewbury showing such an interest in the band. We hope to attract more young players over the coming months’.
Thank you to all to took part, helped out or came along to enjoy our concert last night and thank you to the Church for allowing us to use their beautiful building.
0 BBB Spring Concert Friday 5th May
Please add Friday 5th May to your diaries so you don’t miss out on Blewbury Brass Band’s transport-themed Spring concert.
Come and join our motley crew as we navigate our way through a selection of road, rail, air and water-based pieces. ‘Steering the ship’ will be musical director Ian Barlow who says, ‘We have some some great pieces lined up inspired by every mode of transport you can think of, and possibly a few more. Come and listen to some old favourites, modern classics and and our wonderful Learner Band’.
Venue and time to be confirmed.
0 Blewbury Youth Brass “Wow” at Easter Rehearsals
It has been a busy few days for all of our players and supporters as Blewbury Youth Brass met for their Easter Rehearsals. The children worked very hard on both Saturday and Sunday, making lots of improvements along the way. We held our first concert for family and friends and were joined by glorious spring sunshine. The concert was Jamie’s first performance as our principal cornet, and also featured solos from Thea, Megan and our trombone section.
This weekend marked the finish of our ‘Boppathon’ challenge and congratulations goes to all who took part. Prizes were awarded to all, and special recognition was given to Samson, Isobel and Rachel for their extra efforts. Over £1000 has been raised from this, which will be used to support our cultural excursions.
Thank you to all our young players for their cheerfulness, hard work and enthusiasm. A special thanks to our adult supporters and to the Speed Family for making the long trip down and being a huge help in rehearsals. Thank you to Mike Heard for taking some beautiful photos of our band.
We hope you have a lovely Easter, and look forward to seeing you at our next rehearsal!
0 Transport Concert on the Road to Success!
Blewbury Brass Band is preparing another spectacular concert of transport related pieces to delight the people of Blewbury and the surrounding areas.
The band is working on a programme which includes pieces representing many different modes of transport including ‘Moon River’, ‘Funiculi, Funicula’, ‘Ticket to Ride’, and many more. The Learner band, including several children from the village of Blewbury will also be performing.
Musical Director, Ian Barlow, says, ‘It promises to be a real treat. Come along and enjoy an entertaining evening of great brass playing. The band continues to go from strength to strength’.
The concert takes place on Friday 5th May, at St Michael’s Church at 7:30pm. Tickets are available on the door priced £8 (adults), £6 (seniors) and £1 (children). There will be interval drinks and a raffle.
0 BBB plays for Crowmarsh PTA Christmas Fete
The Band played to a packed hall at Crowmarsh School to add some Christmas spirit to the annual fete. We provided background music whilst parents and children enjoyed the stalls and cafe and then played for a noisy singalong. Thanks to the PTA for inviting us and we hope to see you again next year.
0 Learner and Beginner Band Christmas Cracker!
Well done to the players of our Beginner and Learner Bands who put on a hugely enjoyable concert last night to round off a busy term of music making. The Beginner Band opened the concert with a fanfare and the rousing ‘Battle Pavan’ which was enhanced by some lively percussion playing from Thomas and Adam. They then played a selection of Christmas carols. The Learner Band entertained us with some Christmas songs before the bands combined to play ‘Jingle Bells Boogie’ and ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’.
Thank you to Annabelle who performed ‘Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer’ as her first ever solo. Rory and Jasper Tidmarsh also performed solos; Rory a compilation of his own making and Jasper a lively version of ‘Frosty the Snowman’.
We now have about 30 young players attending the bands regularly including five recruits from last year’s ‘Brass in Class’ lessons at Blewbury Primary School. In the new year we hope to encourage some of this year’s group to attend. All our young players are going from strength to strength. Ben (trombone grade 3), Katie (horn grade 2) and Annabelle (cornet grade 1) all took ABRSM exams this week and three players, David (horn), Adam and Michael (percussion), will also be playing with the main band in the new year.
If you are learning a brass instrument and would like to get involved in Blewbury Brass Band please contact Judith Atkins md-learnerband@blewburybrassband.org.uk
0 Blewbury Thanksgiving Concert
A huge thanks to the players of Blewbury Brass Band for their amazing efforts at the Thanksgiving concert. A packed audience was entertained by a selection of American favourites including Stars and Stripes Forever, An American Trilogy and Mack and Mabel. We were also treated to solos from our horn player Alice, and principal cornet Lewis. Our Learner Band gave a memorable performance of Tequila, joined by our young players from Blewbury School.
The band said a fond farewell to its flugel playing legend, Martin Holliss, who made his ‘final’ performance with us. Martin played the solo Under the boardwalk which he dedicated to Jag Cook, who sadly passed away earlier this month. Ian presented Martin with a long awaited award for the band’s ‘Players’ Player’ of the year, an award that was first founded by Jag himself.
We would like to thank: all our helpers on the night; Ray Goodwin for a fabulous lighting show; our band deps, Colin and Jason; and, of course, our fantastic audience! The proceeds for the evening will be split between the band, and the Blewbury Youth Brass tour to Germany next year. Your support is very much appreciated.
We look forward to seeing you all at our Christmas engagements over the coming weeks.
0 Thanksgiving Concert
On 26th November, Blewbury Brass Band will be holding a seasonal concert to celebrate Thanksgiving. The music will have an American theme and we will be serving refreshments with a US flavour. Don your stetson, and join us for an evening of lively music from our main and learner bands.
0 Blewbury Brass Band Thankgiving Concert Saturday 26th November
Blewbury Brass Band will be holding a spectacular Thanksgiving Concert on Saturday 26th November at 7:30pm in Blewbury Village Hall. The music will have an American theme and we will be serving refreshments with a US flavour. Don your stetson, and join us for an evening of lively music from our main and learner bands.
The concert will feature our Main Band and our Learner Band and will include a traditional Sousa march, film and show favourites, beautiful flugel, trombone and horn solos and a Mexican classic!
Musical Director, Ian Barlow said, ‘The standard of the band improves with every concert and this promises to be our best yet. I have thrown out some challenges to the band in ‘Mack and Mabel’ and ‘Wild West’ and the players responded with great enthusiasm. We are all very excited about the concert and would like to see a sell-out audience.’
The band is also getting baking and we will be serving American-style savoury and sweet snacks (available from 7pm), so please come hungry! There will also be a licensed bar and raffle.
Tickets are available from Savages, Blewbury Post Office, Hagbourne Community Shop and Post Office, and on the door. Adults £7, Seniors £5, Children £1.
For further details, please see our website www.blewburybrassband.org or contact Judith johnandjudith8@virginmedia.com
Blewbury Brass Band 