1st November 2007

The Band Workshop in Italy was greatly enjoyed by all and a full write-up of this (and other Band Events) appears in the website of Sedbergh Lookaround - follow the link on the Home Page.

The committee is in the process of discussing possible arrangements for celebrations associated with the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Band.  Suggestions include a special late-summer concert with an associated Souvenir Program, a series of Master Class recitals, the publication of a Band History and the production of a CD.

Arrangements for the proposed recording of the CD by the Band, to be made during the Workshop to be held in Dumfries from May 25th to May 29th 2008, are progressing well.  Most Band Members are making a firm commitment to be available.  However, the Band is finding it difficult to recruit a reliable drummer/percussionist and it is proposed that an advertisement be placed in Lookaround.

13th January 2008

On Saturday 4th December the Band played its annual Christmas Concert in the People's Hall.  The 34 playing members were accommodated on stage only by use of the new stage extensions and it will become increasingly difficult if the Band has a further increase in size.  The concert was a great success and enjoyed by about 200 local residents.  During the Christmas period the Band has also played carols at various venues - the Bird Cage in Kendal, Booths Supermarket, and around the town of Sedbergh.  An additional low key event this year - a first - was the playing of carols by the splinter group the 'Bus Stop Buskers' along Main Street in Sedbergh.  These events collectively have made a major contribution to the Band funds.

5th February 2008

Brass Band Lessons

Since 16th February, the Beginner Band and Brass Lessons have undergone a change.  The Beginner/Learner Band with Tony Crofts continues to be held on Mondays, starting at 6.00 pm in the Sedbergh School Band Room.  In addition there is now a Saturday session from 10 am to 12 noon, of brass lessons and small group playing in the United Reform Church rooms, Main Street.  Players from the Sedbergh Town Band are available to tutor and guide new players.

Scholarship Success

 Town Band members, twin's Henry and Samuel Wray, are to be congratulated on gaining music scholarships from the Sedbergh Junior School, Bentham to the Senior School, Sedbergh.  They take up their awards in September.

Town Band's 10th Anniversary

 At the Christmas Concert, Town Band Secretary Hilary Hodge announced that a professionally recorded C.D., would be put together in May at an hotel in Dumfries.  Further events to mark this occasion are now taking clearer shape - on Saturday 27th September there will be an Anniversary Concert in Powell Hall: a commemorative programme will be produced to accompany the concert.  Thanks to a generous grant from the Arts Council in the course of the year, nationally recognised top brass instrumentalists will be holding master classes for members of the Town Band and local bands.  The same grant allows for a piece of music to be specially commissioned for the Town Band.

Towards the end of the year a history of the original Town Band (pre 1914) and the ten years of the present Band will be published.  A number of individuals and organisations have been circulated inviting comments/observations on the Town Band (value, contributions to the Town, impact on the image of the Town, in particular any anecdotes involving the Band etc.) for inclusion in the publication.

14th June 2008

Master Classes

To celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of the formation of Sedbergh Town Band the band has been lucky enough to obtain an Arts Council grant.  Part of this is to enable a programme of five Master Class Recitals to be held throughout the year. Each Master Class will feature a different instrument, covering in turn the various sections of a brass band. A short recital will complete each event.  The five instrumentalists are all renowned virtuosos from the brass band world.

Morgan Griffiths was the principle euphonium for Black Dyke Mills Band and then for the Yorkshire Building Society Band (YBS). In 1999 he was awarded the title of ‘Euphonium Player of the Year’ and in 2007 was appointed as musical director to the YBS Band.

Nick Hudson premiered the Wilfred Heaton Trombone Concerto for BBC Radio3 and gave the first public performance at the Royal Albert Hall of Philip Wilby’s concertino ‘White Knuckle Ride’.  He has played with most of the UK’s top brass bands and has presented master classes and performed throughout Europe and the USA.

Steve Sykes was principle tuba with Grimethorpe Colliery Band and has played with most of the leading UK brass bands.  He now works as a freelance musician performing in Europe, USA and Canada. Steve has also directed championship bands for many years..

Ian Porthouse has been principle cornet with a number of bands including Black Dyke Mills and Yorkshire Building Society Band and was Musical Director of Pennine Brass. He is Director of studies at Birmingham Conservatoire, tutor to the National Youth Brass Band and has conducted a number of prestigious bands.

Owen Farr graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2002 and was then voted player of the year by his fellow players in the Williams Fairey Band.  He is a lecturer at the Birmingham Conservatoire and tutor at the Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Each Master Class will be held on a Sunday afternoon in the URC Church at 2.30pm beginning with Morgan Griffiths on the 4^th May.  You are invited to join us for what undoubtedly will be inspirational entertainment, arising from the awesome technical brilliance from these top class performers.

The relevant dates are on the Diary page.

Images taken during the Master Classes can be viewed by following the link below.

Master Class Images

21st June 2008

GALA 2008

The Town Band again led the parade from the fire station to the Lupton fields, Back Lane, providing a rousing start to 2008’s most successful event.

In the course of the afternoon, from the shelter of their own marquee, the Band played a much appreciated selection of the more popular numbers in their repertoire.

BAND TRIP TO DUMFRIES

 On Sunday 25th May the Band gathered at the Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries, to make the recording of the C.D., that is part of the events arranged to mark the tenth anniversary of the formation of the Town Band.

 A two hour recording session on Sunday evening was followed on the three subsequent mornings with 9.00 to 1.00 pm sessions and a further two evening sessions, Monday and Tuesday.  This enabled some eighteen items to be recorded to the combined satisfaction of Director of Music Alan Lewis and recording technician Malcolm..  Much practice combined with repeated playing of the selected pieces that are to comprise the C.D., was required.  The finished article is scheduled to be ready to coincide with the Anniversary Concert in Powell Hall on Saturday 27th September.

 Afternoons were free and members of the Band, many accompanied by wives, husbands and families, made use of the hotel’s facilities (which included a swimming pool and fitness centre) and visited the various attractions in this popular tourist area.

The final evening of the visit started with a presentation at supper to secretary Hilary Hodge and Director of Music Alan Lewis by the Band as a mark of appreciation for all the organisation that had gone into setting up the trip.  This was followed by a concert given to an audience comprising the Band’s supporters and other guests in the hotel.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The A.G.M. was held immediately before the regular Wednesday rehearsal on June 4th.

The Chairman, Sandra Waters, reported a busy year just gone that saw the Band in Italy a well as giving concerts and playing at a number of functions locally.  She drew attention to the acquisition of a specially designed trailer to transport instruments, stands etc., to playing venues.  She proceeded  to allude to the various activities that will be marking the tenth anniversary of the Band’s formation including a major concert in September to be held in Sedbergh School’s Powell Hall, the availability of a C.D., recorded recently by the Band in Dumfries and the publication of a history of the Band’s first ten years.

Finally she announced that Douglas Thompson had agreed to become the next president replacing John Metcalfe who has served in this position since the Band’s formation.  The President’s Cup, given by John and awarded to the player who has made the most progress in the year, will be a constant reminder of his connection with the Band.

Treasurer Carl Storer reported a sound financial state of affairs but warned that significant commitments meant a temporary halt would have to be placed on further major expenditure.

The meeting closed after the existing committee was elected in to serve another year.

Band news and activities are new recorded in detail in the monthly issues of the Sedbergh Lookaround - follow the link below for the latest news.