Sidmouth Town Band

Proms Success As Sun Shines

2011-08-27T12:56:00.003+01:00

After waking up to torrential rain, the band sighed with relief as the sun came out to make last Saturday’s Last Night of the Proms concert the best yet.

Although we have learnt from previous years that the people of Sidmouth will turn out in their hundreds come rain or shine, the dry and sunny weather certainly helped to make the evening one to remember, as once again the picnic tables, candelabras and red, white and blue flags were all out in force.

There is once person that the Proms would not be the Same without, so we were delighted to be joined again by the very talented Val Howells. Val not only sings beautifully, but her enthusiasm and amazing outfits never fail to rouse the audience and add a touch of sparkle to the evening. A big thank you to Val, to our brilliant compère Nick Agg-Manning who keeps the evening running so smoothly, and to Sidmouth’s Lions Club for all their support on the day.

With the Proms over for another year, we’re down to the serious business of rehearsing for the National Finals being held in Cheltenham on the 25th September. Once again we’ve enlisted the help of Steve Sykes, who will be joining us for a couple of rehearsals in the near future to put us through our paces.

Hot Cross Buns

2011-04-23T22:58:00.002+01:00

The sun shone in Sidmouth yesterday morning for one of the bands’s favourite engagements of the year - the annual Hot Cross Bun Giveaway. After two consecutive years where an alternative wet weather plan has had to be put into action, it was nice to return to the Bedford Lawn Car Park to take part in this tradition that has been running for over 100 years.

In addition to rehearsing for the forthcoming summer season of concerts in Connaught Gardens, we have been preparing for a special one-off event taking place on 29th April to mark the Royal Wedding. Organised by the town’s Chamber of Commerce, the street party is due to run from 4-7pm, with the band playing between 5:50 and 7pm. We will be joined by the talented soprano singer Val Howells for a rousing, patriotic ending to the event. If you can’t make the street party, have a look at our engagements list (www.sidmouthtownband.co.uk) to see where and when you can hear the band in the near future.

Title and Promotion!

2011-03-13T23:46:00.003Z

The band is back on Cloud Nine this weekend after being crowned West of England Third Section Champions at the Regional Championships in Torquay for the second year running.

After last year’s win and a good result at the National Finals in September, confidence was high as we set to work in January on Philip Wilby’s ‘A Little Light Music’. Featuring ‘Cardiff Bay Ice Cream’, a technically difficult movement that would challenge bands in the Second or First Sections, we knew we had our work cut out if we were to even come close to repeating the success of 12 months previous. Luckily, hard work is something this band is not averse to, and over the following weeks the piece started to come together. If there’s one thing that the band has in abundance it’s imagination, and this was proved once again as ice cream, clog dancing, seagulls, sprinkles and Mr. Whippy all played a part in our story-telling approach to contest preparations! With rehearsals having gone well, we left for Torquay early on Saturday morning hopeful that we would be able to put in a good performance on stage. Not only were we looking to try and book our place at this year’s National Finals, but we also knew that a placing in the top 4 would guarantee us promotion into the Second Section in 2012 - a feat that hasn’t been achieved by the band for over 60 years.

Not long after arriving at our rehearsal venue, we learned that we had been drawn to play 10th out of the 11 bands competing on the day. With several hours to go until we would play, we had a short practice before heading to the Riviera Centre to do something else that we are good at - waiting! You could argue that our approach to waiting is not the most conventional (just ask the bands who are within earshot when our ritual humming begins...), but that time spent together is proving to be an important part of our pre-performance routine. With the waiting and humming over, it was time to take to the stage. Although there were odd bars here and there that we knew we could play better, we came off stage very happy with our overall performance. With only one band left to play after us, it wasn’t long before we were back in the hall awaiting the results. If we thought we were nervous before we played, that was nothing compared to the nerves we felt sitting and waiting for the top 6 places to be announced. With finger nails getting increasingly shorter, it came as a huge relief when those words we had dreamt of hearing - “ In first
place, the band drawn number...ten!” - were read out. Our cheers, grins, and a few tears were a good indication of how delighted we were with the result! Congratulations must also go to Downtown Band, who claimed second prize.

Being crowned West of England Third Section Champions for the second year running is a fantastic achievement for the band, and we very much look forward to returning to the National Finals in September to see if we can equal or better our result last year. The icing on the cake (or in this case the sprinkles on the ice cream) is gaining promotion to the Second Section in 2012 - the year that the band celebrates its 150th anniversary. This achievement is a testament to the tireless enthusiasm and ambition of Adrian, our Musical Director, and the hard work and dedication of the entire band.

A Little Light Music

2011-02-21T22:42:00.000Z

With less than three weeks to go until the Areas contest in Torquay, the band is working hard trying to get to grips with Philip Wilby’s challenging test piece ‘A Little Light Music’. The five section suite, which was commissioned by the Welsh Brass Arts Festival, is very different to last year’s more traditional test piece ‘Labour and Love’. With each movement posing its own challenge, it will no doubt be the bands that are able to best capture all of the contrasting styles featured that will be successful on the day, from the opening and closing fanfares, to the steady ‘Clog Dance’, the slow and melodic ‘Lady of the Fountain’, and the tricky but likeable ‘Cardiff Bay Ice Cream’. As always, the band is working hard to try and master all of the musical and technical requirements, but with only 10 rehearsals left, that inevitable pre-contest mixture of nerves and excitement is starting to kick in.

The band had a welcomed break from contest preparations at the weekend, when it joined forces once again with the River City Chorus for the Lions Club of Sidmouth’s charity concert at the Manor Pavilion. It was an enjoyable evening and one that we hope raised lots of money for two great causes - the British Heart Foundation and the Devon Air Ambulance Appeal.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T18:09:00.000Z

One of the band’s busiest and most successful years in recent history ended in typical fashion, with plenty of carols, mince pies and festive fun.

December always flies past, and this one was certainly no exception. It seemed like no sooner had we dug out the gloves, scarves and carol books ready for Sidmouth’s late night shopping on 3rd December, we were in the Volunteer just before midnight on Christmas Eve ready to hang up the tinsel and sleigh bells for another year. On 5th December we once again joined forces with the Exeter Police and Community Choir for their annual charity Christmas concert at St. Peter’s School in Exeter. Just five days later we were back on stage, but this time at the Manor Pavilion in Sidmouth for our own Christmas concert. Tickets for the concert had sold out well
in advance, and those people who had brought their tickets early were treated to an evening of festive music from both the senior band and the training band. With a packed out theatre and a fantastic atmosphere, the concert was a fitting way to end what has been a great year for the band. As we reflect on the successes of 2010, we head back to the bandroom with plenty of enthusiasm that 2011 will be even better.

We would like to take this opportunity say a big thank to each and every one of our supporters throughout year, and to wish you all a very happy new year! Keep an eye on our engagement list for 2011 (www.sidmouthtownband.co.uk) to find out when you can see and hear the band over the next 12 months.

Harrogate: The Story

2010-10-03T11:31:00.003+01:00

The band is celebrating winning third prize at the National Finals after a fantastic weekend to remember in Harrogate.

The inevitable mix of nerves and excitement were fully evident on Saturday morning as the band assembled for one final rehearsal before embarking on the 300 mile journey north. With the rehearsal over and the coach fully loaded with band members, supporters, instruments and the contents of Fiona and Adrian’s fridge, we bid farewell to Sidmouth at about 11:30am. If Sunday was to be all about the contest, then Saturday was all about the second most important competition of the weekend – Martin’s quiz. In what was a closely fought battle between the two teams at the back of the coach, it was Basses Minus One that clinched victory over the perhaps slightly over competitive Team Gnu. United in their victory, this moment was to be the beginning of a special bond between team leaders Steve and Graham that would only grow in strength over the course of the next two days. With the likes of the quiz, a DVD and a highly intellectual game of Scrabble (just how many points is it for rat, Gemma?) to keep us entertained, we had soon arrived at our hotel in the centre of Harrogate.

After a relaxing but low key evening on Saturday, come Sunday morning the band were up and raring to go, despite knowing that we had a fairly long day ahead of us. With the draw for our section not until 1:30pm, we got back on the coach and headed a few miles out of town to the bandroom of the Tewit Youth Band. Equal to the impressiveness of the actual bandroom itself was the impressiveness of the fantastic ‘good luck’ cake that had been made for us by Emily, a member of Tewit Youth Band who comes and plays with the band when on holiday in Sidmouth each summer. Thank you once again Emily, both the cake and the bandroom were lovely!

Back in Harrogate, Martin made his way to the International Centre to find out where we had been drawn. With the fourth section already running behind schedule, we knew that being drawn 15th out of the 17 bands in our section would mean our turn on stage would come well into the evening. However, none of us realised quite how late into the evening it would turn out to be! With the whole of the afternoon having been spent apart, by 7:00pm it was essential that the band regrouped and refocused. For most bands, this would probably consist of a simple team talk. But, if there’s one thing that was to become apparent over the couple of hours that followed, it’s that we’re not like most bands! At first, it was Fiona’s and Colette’s creation of a Willow Pattern Alphabet that got the band focussed on the crockery inspired music. A short while later, Hilary – the person with possibly the worst public speaking skills in the room – somehow found herself positioned in front of the band with 25 faces staring at her in anticipation of a story. The band listened intently as she read them the story of the Willow Pattern, much to the amusement and perplexity of the onlooking bands. With story time over and Christine’s and Josie’s excess energy burnt off with some star jumps, it was time for a short warm up before trekking to the other side of the building to wait to play. By this time it was close to 10:00pm, but, thanks to the camaraderie shown by the band and an inspired pep-talk from Adrian, spirits were high and we took to the stage with a reignited sense of pride and determination. A good performance followed, with just a few nervous slips and clips that were perhaps inevitable given the enormity of the occasion.

With the last of the 17 bands having played, we gathered in the hall with the 16 other eagerly awaiting bands to find out who had impressed the two adjudicators enough to find themselves placed in the top six. With an aim to come in the top 10, we sat hopeful but certainly not expectant that our name would be in amongst those read out. Our delight at being placed third was evident from the fact our cheers echoed loudest around the large auditorium, even compared to those bands placed in the top two. Despite the few blips that we already knew about, the adjudicators recognised that our performance captured the oriental feel that is crucial to the story being told. With the time now gone 11:00pm, we headed back to our hotel to celebrate our success in style. Led by Graham, Steve and Ivor, we treated the rest of the hotel to several karaoke classics, before reaching the highlight of the evening (apart from the results of course!) with our own attempt at the Conga. As the singing, dancing and all other events of the day gradually took their toll, we headed to bed as very proud National Finals prize winners.

Given that Sunday was such an exhausting day and it was well into the early hours of Monday morning before most of us got to bed, it came as no surprise that the long trip home was a slightly quieter journey than on the way up. To round off an already great weekend, we returned to Sidmouth to find our bandroom had been decorated with flags and a ‘Well Done’ sign courtesy of members of staff from Sidmouth Town Council. This was a lovely surprise and the support very much appreciated by us all.

Although this was very much a team effort, the band needs to say a big thank you to a few individual players. Firstly, thank you to Rachel and Sally, who were both drafted in to fill a couple of empty seats, but who we’re thrilled to say we’ll be seeing much more of in the future. Thanks also to Ian (our flugel player Esther’s husband), who, only three weeks before the contest very bravely agreed to come and hit a few things in the percussion section for us. Ian did a fantastic job playing all sorts of instruments he had never picked up before, and we even think he secretly enjoyed himself more than he would like to admit! Thank you Martin and Fiona for the time spent over the past six months making sure the weekend went as smoothly as it did. Finally, as always, thank you to Adrian for the relentless hard work he puts in before every contest and for putting up with those few extra grey hairs that must be an inevitable part of being the man in the middle.

So, what did Sidmouth Town Band learn from our trip to Harrogate? We learnt that two bass players being forced to share a twin room works wonders for sectional bonding, that Mexican waves are a great way to forget about nerves when waiting for results, and that there is no way you can fit six people in a Yorkshire Hotel lift. We also learnt how something as seemingly insignificant as Hilary reading a story could play such an important part in coming together as a team and finding that extra fire in our bellies to go out on stage and achieve something special. The whole weekend was a great experience and an invaluable morale booster, but to come away with those fantastic memories and a trophy for being the third best Third Section band in Great Britain..? As our principal cornet and second man down players Fiona and Colette would say, ‘That’ll do!’.

Pastures New For Joel

2010-10-03T11:26:00.002+01:00

The National Finals was a big occasion for all of us, but even more notable for one member of the band. For Joel Stephano, the band’s bass trombonist, it was his last engagement with the band before heading off to Sheffield University to study Electronic Engineering.

Having been introduced to the youth band by Fiona (our principal cornet player and a teacher at his school), Joel quickly progressed into the senior band. Growing in confidence, his playing has continued to improve year on year. Although we’re very sorry to see Joel go, we’re lucky that bass trombone is the instrument of choice for Rachel, who played euphonium for us at Harrogate in Elaine’s absence.

Good luck in Sheffiled Joel! We’ll miss your insane optimism, your annoyingly talented musical ability and your insistence on choosing solos that are impossible for the band to play. Make sure you come and play with us whenever you’re back in Devon!

Summer Season Ends On A High

2010-09-11T11:19:00.002+01:00

The band has rounded off its 2010 summer season in style, with a successful Proms concert and another two pieces of silverware to add to our expanding collection.

After weeks of preparation, the evening of the band’s Last Night of the Proms concert finally arrived on Saturday 21st August. Over the past few years we have grown accustomed to the unpredictability of August’s weather, however, experience has also taught us that we don’t need glorious sunshine to create a memorable evening. Luckily, for the second year in a row the rain held off, leaving the audience with umbrella-free hands to sip their champagne and wave their flags in true patriotic style. Special thanks must go to our talented guest singer Val Howels and to our compère Nick Agg-Manning, both of whom added that extra bit of sparkle to a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

The final weekend of the summer season sees the band make the short journey along the coast to take part in the Exmouth Brass Band Festival. Having been drawn to play first, we arrived in Exmouth early on Saturday morning ready to play our 25 minute programme to the adjudicator and the handful of early risers listening
in the hall. Eight hours later and back in the hall to listen to the results, we were delighted to come away with not only a cup for the being the best Third Section band, but also a cup for the best trombone section of the day. Congratulations
Chris, Martin and Joel - it was well deserved! Read the adjudicator’s remarks for our performance by clicking here.

The summer passed by with barely a moment to stop for breath, and things are certainly no different at the moment. With only two weeks to go until the National Finals in Harrogate, the band is currently working very hard practising the set test piece ‘Willow Pattern’. Once again, we are very lucky that Steve Sykes agreed to come and take us for a couple of rehearsals prior to the contest to put us through our paces. He has already been to one rehearsal, we are very much looking forward to his return next week.

Ever since the band qualified for the National Finals back in March,we have been faced with the reality that we would only be able to go if we were able to raise the large amount of money needed to fund our trip. We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to our fantastic audiences and the Town Council for their continued generosity and support. Without this support and a great deal of time and effort given by the band, we would not be able to represent Sidmouth and the West of England in Harrogate. Keep an eye on our news pages for more details about our journey to the National Finals.

Last Night of the Proms Tickets On Sale

2010-08-02T21:29:00.000+01:00

Tickets for this year’s Last Night of the Proms concert are now on sale. The concert, which is the band’s biggest of the year, is being held in Connaught Gardens on 21st August, at 7.30pm. Now only three weeks away, we’re very busy in the bandroom rehearsing a varied programme featuring music you won’t have heard us play during the year so far. We will once again be joined by local singer Val Howells, whose talent and impressive outfits always add some extra sparkle to the evening. This year, Val will be accompanied by a special guest.

The success of our Last Night of the Proms concerts over the past four years has primarily been down to you - our audience. Come rain or shine, the spirit and enthusiasm shown has given us some very memorable evenings. With surroundings like Connaught Gardens, you would have to search far and wide to even come close to matching the atmosphere as the band and audience join forces for the patriotic classics such as Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. So dust off the picnic table or dig out a blanket, bring a bottle or pack up a picnic, but most importantly, just bring yourselves, some friends, and your singing voices, and help us make 2010’s Last Night of the Proms the best yet.

Tickets cost just £5 and are now available from Sidmouth’s Tourist Information Centre, at any of our concerts, or from any member of the band.

Concert Season Is Upon Us

2010-05-24T21:56:00.001+01:00

Sidmouth’s Parish Church was the venue for the band’s latest concert, as we took to the stage just a week ahead of the start of our busy summer season. The concert - our first in the church since its refurbishment during 2009 - was enjoyed by all, with the new layout providing much improved surroundings for both band and audience.

The concert not only gave us the opportunity to show off our recently acquired collection of silverware, but also to treat the audience to the first public performance of the test piece ‘Labour and Love’ since being crowned West of England Third Section Champions in March. In another ‘first’ for the evening, the band played - and quite possibly premiered - a brand new arrangement by local composer Matt Kingston. It’s a piece you’re bound to hear during the summer, so for those of you can’t quite make out Adrian’s (mis)pronunciation of the title, it’s called ‘The Kingdom of Asturias’, and we’re confident our audiences will like it as much as we do.

So that leaves less than a week until we’ll be in back in Connaught Gardens for the first of 15 Sunday night concerts. Don’t forget that we start at 8pm and admission is free. Let’s hope the warm and sunny weather we’ve been spoilt with this weekend continues!

Here Comes Summer

2010-05-03T17:53:00.000+01:00

In only four Sundays time the band will have kicked off the 2010 summer season of concerts in Connaught Gardens. We’re currently very busy in the bandroom putting the finishing touches to our four programmes, each one offering a variety of music to suit all tastes. In a bid to raise enough money to fund our trip to the National Finals in September, this year will see our audiences having a little more say over what we play each Sunday evening. Come along to one of our concerts to find out how you can make sure we play your favourite piece this summer.

Don’t forget that you don’t need to wait until the 30th May to hear the band. On Friday 21st May we will be playing in Sidmouth’s Parish Church for the first time since its refurbishment and restoration during 2009. The concert will feature a wide range of music, and you will be the first to hear some exciting new pieces we are working hard to rehearse at the moment. Tickets cost £6 and are available now from Paragon Books, High Street, Sidmouth.

Back To Business

2010-04-02T21:42:00.002+01:00

It’s a long way down from Cloud Nine, but with a very busy few months ahead, the band has been making its way back down to Earth following its win in Torquay three weeks ago.

The band headed to its first engagement as newly crowned West of England Third Section Champions this morning as it took part in Sidmouth’s annual hot cross bun giveaway. We’re only two days into the month, but the term ‘April Showers’ couldn’t be more suitable as, for the second year running, Bedford Lawn car park was abandoned in favour of a dry venue for the event. However, the rain never does anything to deter the crowds, and as always the band enjoyed taking part in this old Sidmouth tradition.

2010 looks set to be an incredibly busy year for us all. Scarily, the summer
season is creeping up on us with the first concert in Connaught Gardens only 8 weeks away. With that in mind, and a concert to celebrate the refurbishment of Sidmouth’s Parish Church on the 21st May, the band will be busy over the next few weeks rehearsing a wide selection of music. In amongst our usual engagements, we will also be working as hard as possible over the next 6 months to raise the money needed to make it possible to compete in the National Finals in September. Remember to keep an eye on our engagements page for details of any upcoming fundraising events. If you have any ideas on how we can raise funds, or are able to help in any way, please do contact us or come and see us after any concert.

Champions In Torquay!

2010-03-14T22:59:00.002Z

The band is celebrating this weekend after being crowned winners of the Third Section at the West of England Regional Championships, booking a place at the National Finals in Harrogate in the process!

Having been promoted in 2008, the band has been working hard over the past couple of years to put in solid performances to secure its position in the Third Section. With the danger of relegation in the back of our minds, we started preparations for this contest knowing that another good performance on stage would not only put us in a safer position, but prove that the band is capable of holding its own in a field with strong competition.

With a win at Torquay last November, confidence was high as the band set to work on Percy Fletcher’s ‘Labour and Love’ – a challenging piece, but one that suited the band well and one we knew we would all enjoy rehearsing. A run of consistent, productive practices in the weeks leading up to the contest meant that we left Sidmouth bright and early on Saturday morning confident that we stood a good chance of improving on our 9th place last year. Drawn to play 6th out of the 15 bands, it was mid-morning by the time it was our turn to play for adjudicators David Horsfield and Peter Bassano. Although a few nerves did creep in, the band left the stage happy that we had put in a good performance.

Come results time, the band gathered in the hall to listen to the top six bands being announced, hopeful – but by no means certain – that our efforts may have just about put us in with a chance of hearing our name read out. With sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second places each going to other deserved bands, nerves reached a record high. The short pause before the winning band’s name was revealed felt like a lifetime, but it was well worth the wait as the Sidmouth Town Band was announced as the new regional champions! The result, which is the band’s highest since at least the 1920’s, is testament to the time and the hard work put in by both Adrian and the band not only over the past couple of months, but over the last few years.

The win on Saturday will make for a very busy 6 months for the band, as we try and raise the money needed to fund our trip to the National Finals in Harrogate in September. We’re already thinking ahead and coming putting plans in place, so keep an eye out for any fundraising events between now and then. But if anyone has any ideas of how we can raise some money to get us to the Finals, please do let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

The Final Countdown

2010-03-11T17:24:00.002Z

With only 2 days left to go until the most important date in the band’s calendar, final preparations are being made ahead of the West of England Regional Championships. Bright and early on Saturday morning, the band will set off from Sidmouth to make that familiar journey down to Torquay to compete against 14 other bands in the Third Section.

The band has put in a lot of hard work over the past couple of months, but
ultimately it all comes down to a 10 minute performance on the day and the opinions of the two adjudicators in the box. Whilst it would be nice to get a good result, the band’s priority is just to play as well as we can and put in a performance to be proud of. Findnout how the band got on by checking our news page after the contest.

Charity Concert Goes With A Swing

2010-02-28T16:05:00.001Z

The band returned to the Manor Pavilion stage last night as it joined forces with local singer Avril Best and pianist Andrew Sturmey in a ‘Swinging and Singing’ charity concert organised by the Lions Club of Sidmouth. The audience enjoyed an evening of great variety, as the band, Avril and Andy each performed a selection of pieces. The band’s programme included both classical and modern numbers, and featured popular solos from Fiona Bell and Christine Sweetapple. The trombone section did their best Tom Jones impression as they performed his number one hit ‘It’s Not Unusual’, although we believe all the women in the audience did leave at the end of the evening with all items of clothing that they arrived in still intact!

The concert provided the band with the opportunity to perform the upcoming test piece ‘Labour and Love’ to an audience for the first time. Although it generally went well, it certainly gave us lots to think about and has reminded us that there is still plenty of work to do in the 7 rehearsals left between now and the 13th March!

Having now played in his first concert with the band, we must officially welcome our newest member - Gareth Davies. Gareth walked through the bandroom door 3 weeks ago, and although a very versatile player, was promptly handed a cornet. With a shortage of players on the back row and with only weeks left until the Areas contest, he has arrived at a very good time for us. Gareth is settling in well, and we hope he enjoys his time as a member of the band.

All Systems Go

2010-02-18T18:32:00.000Z

February may be the shortest month of the year, but the band is certainly doing its best to cram in as much practice as possible in preparation for its upcoming concert and contest. With only 3 and a half weeks until the Areas (a quick count up in our head makes that a total of 10 practices left), rehearsal of ‘Labour and Love’ is very much in full swing, with progress being made slowly but surely. We have already had the first of our practices with Steve Sykes, and now can’t wait for the next one on Tuesday 23rd.

The band has been juggling practising the test piece with practising for our fast approaching concert in the Manor Pavilion on Saturday 27th February. Organised by the Lions Club of Sidmouth, this year sees the band joining forces with local singer Avril Best and pianist Andrew Sturmey. In aid of two great charities, the ‘Swinging and Singing’ concert promises to be a very entertaining evening. Click here to see our engagements page for more details.

Back To School

2010-02-18T18:31:00.001Z

It was back to school time for three members of the band last weekend as Fiona, Christine and Hilary headed to West Buckland School near Barnstaple to attend the South West Brass Band Association’s Mid-Winter Workshop. Having navigated their way through some tiny lanes, they arrived bright and early on Saturday morning with instrument in one hand and packed lunch in the other. Even being faced with a scarily large amount of chairs set up for trombones didn’t put them off, and they made themselves comfortable ready for the busy two days ahead. Tutors for the weekend were Steve Sykes, Philip Harper and Brian Menear, who each took turns at both conducting the full band and tutoring each section. It’s always good experience to be taken by different conductors – not only do you learn new things, but it also helps to keep you on your toes!

The band rehearsed nine pieces in total, including a number of pieces composed or arranged by Steve and Philip. Keep an ear out in the future for ‘In This Hour of Soften’d Splendour’; a lovely piece arranged by Steve for quartet and band accompaniment that we are now thinking of buying. An enjoyable yet tiring two days (Hilary still hasn’t quite managed to recover!) came to an end at 5pm on Sunday, after the band had performed the pieces it had been working hard on all weekend to a small but appreciative audience.

A good weekend was definitely had by all. You only need to look around and see 75 other players of all ages and abilities sharing the same desire to learn new music, develop new skills and have fun to be reminded what is so special about being part of the brass band world.

Contest Preparations Underway

2010-01-24T00:48:00.002Z

With the tinsel and carol books packed away for another year, the band has been busy back in the bandroom. March might not seem that close at the moment, but for us, knowing that it’s only 7 weeks until the Areas contest is actually rather scary! With so many hours of rehearsal going into preparing for a contest, it’s always a relief when the test piece is one we can enjoy playing - and luckily Percy Fletcher’s ‘Labour and Love’ falls into that category.

The band is looking forward to welcoming back renowned bass soloist, conductor and arranger Steve Sykes, who will be taking us for two rehearsals leading up to the contest - the 9th and 23rd of February. The couple of rehearsals that Steve took us for prior to the 2009 Areas not only taught the band a great deal, but were also thoroughly enjoyable. The venue is yet to be confirmed, but anyone interested in coming along to listen to these practices would be very welcome to do so.

In addition to practicing for the contest, the band has been kept entertained by taking it in turns to select a piece of music at random from the library to play. So far, it’s been fairly easy to see why some pieces have been left to gather a thick layer of dust over the years, but we’re bound to uncover some forgotten about classics at some point. In the mean time, Hilary is going to continue to do her best to convince everyone to choose a piece from the ‘Selections’ section of the library, in the hope that Calamity Jane will make that long overdue appearance...

New Website Coming Soon!

2010-01-03T12:03:00.000Z

In amongst the caroling and eating far too much over the festive season, we have been very busy getting a brand new website ready for 2010. With a few glitches along the way, we couldn't quite manage to get it up and running by 1st January. But, fingers crossed, it will be finished and uploaded within the next week. Keep an eye on http://www.sidmouthtownband.co.uk/.

What's Next?

2009-11-12T18:18:00.000Z

With barely any time to celebrate, the band is already busy rehearsing for our next engagement. On the 19th November we are taking part in ‘A Note to Remember’ – a concert celebrating the music of local composer and arranger Gordon Langford. It hardly seems possible, but the smell of mulled wine and mince pies will soon be in the air as Christmas fast approaches. As always this is a busy time for the band, so have a look at our list of engagements for details of when and where you can help us celebrate the festive season!

Double Success in Torquay

2009-11-12T18:17:00.001Z

The end of the summer always signifies the start of the business half of the year for the band, and it was soon time to plan ahead for the SWBBA Annual Championships held on 7th November. After weeks spent rehearsing Peter Graham’s ‘Haslemere Suite’, the band headed to Torquay knowing we faced tough competition in a tight section. Despite coming off stage happy with our performance, it’s fair to say that there was an element of surprise in our reaction to being announced winners of the third section! The band was delighted with the result, and a huge well done must go to everyone for what is a fantastic achievement – and one that ensures we head to the Areas in March with a new found spring in our step. A special mention has to go to our horn section, who doubled our silverware by being named the best horns of the day – congratulations girls! Also, a big public thank you must go to our MD Adrian for the time, dedication, and effort he puts in all year round. A result like this emphasises just how much work he has put in to developing the band over the years, and although he may not always get the credit he deserves, it really is appreciated by us all.

The best horn section:

From Sidmouth Town Band

The band:

From Sidmouth Town Band

Last Night of the Proms 2009

2009-11-12T18:17:00.000Z

They do say the British are always talking about the weather, and the band certainly lived up to this reputation in August as all eyes turned to the forecast for Saturday 22nd – our Last Night of the Proms concert. In a break from tradition, this occasion proved to be fourth time lucky as, at last, we had a dry evening. The atmosphere was fantastic and the whole evening thoroughly enjoyable, but the concert was made extra special by having Brett Baker - principal trombonist with Black Dyke – as guest soloist. In what has to be the highlight of the summer, Brett wowed the band and audience alike, leaving us in no doubt as to why he is one of the best trombonists in the world. We hope we didn’t put Brett off too much(!), and are all excited at the prospect of possibly having him play with us again in the future.

November 2009

2009-11-12T17:07:00.000Z

It’s hard to know where the past few months have gone, so apologies for the gap since the last update. Despite being a busy time for the band, the summer, as usual, came and went in a flash. The perfect weather we had for the first two Sunday evening concerts didn’t quite continue as we had (rather optimistically) hoped, but with only one rained off and our ever-faithful audience never letting us down, the 2009 season was a great success.

Upcoming Last Night of the Proms

2009-06-30T18:15:00.000+01:00

Speaking of summer (!), this year’s Proms Concert will be held on Saturday 22nd August. Joining us this year, as guest soloist, is Brett Baker – principal trombonist of Black Dyke! We are really excited about playing with Brett. He is one of the best trombonists in the world, and you should not miss this opportunity to hear him perform. The talented Val Howels will be singing with us again, and Douglas Mounce from BBC Radio Devon will be the compère. Tickets are just £5 and will be available soon from the Tourist Information Centre in Sidmouth, or from any band member.

New Players

2009-06-30T18:14:00.000+01:00

The cornet section has been strengthened by two new players. Gemma Jones joins us on repiano, and John Moss moves up from the Training Band on to 3rd cornet. They are both extremely dedicated players, and we hope they enjoy many summer seasons with us.

Met Office Forecasts a Hot Summer

2009-06-30T17:06:00.000+01:00

The Met Office have promised us a long, hot summer, and so far, they seem to have got it right! The first concert at the Connaught Gardens took place last Sunday, on a beautiful summer’s evening, and this weekend is looking just as good.

Summer's Here!

2009-06-30T17:03:00.000+01:00

Four weeks ago the band started its summer season at the Connaught Gardens, and the weather has certainly been kinder to us than last year! 4 dry concerts so far, and with fantastic audiences at each of them - the summer really has begun in style. New music includes “The James Bond Collection”, “Ave Verum Corpus”, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber”, the theme from Rocky, “Be Still My Soul” and “Tonight”. It’s fair to say the music we play is varied, so there should be something for everyone to enjoy! If you haven’t heard us before, come along to the Connaught Gardens in Sidmouth at 8pm every Sunday - a lovely way to end your weekend!

Unfortunately, the steps to the bandroom have been declared unsafe, so we are currently unable to rehearse there. EDDC have very kindly allowed us to use the Knowle council chambers when it is available, so if you are thinking of coming along for a blow in the next few weeks, contact us first so you know where to find us.

News about the Proms will be available soon. It will be on the 16th August this year, and Val Howels will once again be blessing us with her stunning voice. We are currently working on the programme for the evening, but needless to say the usual flag-waving songs will be in there, as well a few surprises. Look at the website over the next month to find out more.

The training band had their first concert of the year at Sidford Fete, and will also be playing at the West Hill fete on the 28th June. They can be heard at the Connaught Gardens on the 6th July and 10th August, starting at 7pm. As always, anyone wishing to learn to play can receive an instrument and tuition from us.

Area Contest

2009-03-17T16:03:00.000Z

The band have recently competed at the West of England Regional Finals in Torquay. Having just been promoted to the Third Section, we were not expecting to do well at the contest, but we were absolutely delighted with our performance. It’s probably the best the band has ever played on stage, especially off the dreaded number one draw. Unfortunately the adjudicators weren’t as impressed (!) and we came 12th, but it was certainly a great debut in the third section and we will be aiming for the top 10 next year. Particular thanks go to Peter Mansfield, who stepped in to help us on bass, and Martin Cordy, who - after recovering from shoulder surgery - switched from trombone to baritone, and worked incredibly hard to cope with this change. Adrian was very proud of the band’s performance, and we look forward to the next test piece!

Adjudicator's Comments:
Peter Roberts:

Atmosphere created but minor intonation problems. Needs more structured dynamic levels (sop mf). Good strong presto. Again layered dynamics. Watch diminuendo into D. Cornet plays well but with slips. Good rhythmic playing. Back to presto. Fine. Cornet cadenza handled very well. Just minor intonation problems at O and beyond. P goes well but with slips. S is forte and needs more dynamic contrast. U again layered dynamics. W well handled rhythmically. Good at BB. Miss the effects at CC but a fine ending.

Overall a fair attempt at this work. It needed more structured and layered dynamic levels to make all the effects work.

Rob Wiffin:
Troms sharp at A, dynamic layers need a bit more attention. E Solo cornet a bit sticky to start. F good. G not quite together. H good. I accents need more articulation through the texture. J too fast to articulate properly. K mf notes need to be more prominent. M good. N nicely done cornet. O 2nd cornet too prominent but generally well controlled here. P flugel good. Solo horn good. R good. S you back a long way for , euph not quite on top C. T intonation not quite there. V troms a little out of tune. Well done towards V. good. X nicely controlled. Z okay. Could use more breadth of sound. AA nice layering. CC good. Molto rall a little scrappy.

Overall not a bad effort - not all layers successfully balanced, but an accurate and fluent performance, relatively error free. The presto tempo was appropriate but sometimes lacked space for articulation and accent. Perhaps the atmosphere could have been captured more effectively.

Sadly, Graham Pollard is unable to play with the band due to work and family commitments, so we do have a vacancy for a Bb Bass player (or two). Graham will be very much missed, as much for his personality as his playing, and we hope he’ll be able to help us out in the future. If anyone can help fill this vacancy, either permanently or for some summer engagements, please contact us. We would also like a back row and front row cornet player to complete the ranks. We practice on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year. New players are always welcome.

New Faces

2008-11-20T18:25:00.000Z

Anybody who is a regular at our concerts may have noticed a few new faces in the band over the past few months. Unfortunately, at the end of the summer season we had to say goodbye to two members of the band – Holly Hill and Tom Cranch. Holly has moved away to Buckingham University, but with Mum Colette still in the band we are sure we’ll still see her when she comes home to visit! Tom has moved to Reading on a job placement for a year, but hopefully we won’t be without his sense of humour and weird and wonderful facts for long, as he is already planning his return to the band next summer! Luckily, we have managed to gain some new players too. You may have already spotted two faces from the Training Band – Lowell Pinn and John Moss – playing third cornet in the senior band. Both are progressing very well, and we hope they remain in the band for many years to come. We are also delighted to welcome two more cornet players into the band. Johnny Mason – on solo cornet – will be with us until April when he leaves to join the Navy, whilst newest recruit Gemma Jones – on repiano – is currently settling in as a fully-fledged, permanent member. They are both proving to be great assets to the band, and we hope they enjoy their time with us.

All that remains for 2008 is to say a huge thank you to everybody who has supported us throughout the year, and to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We look forward to the challenges that next year will bring, and hope to make 2009 a very successful year for the band.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2008-11-15T18:24:00.000Z

Back in the band room, the dusting off of carol books and the jingle of sleigh bells could only mean one thing – Christmas was on its way! The prospect of digging out Christmas music in November is welcomed with rather varying levels of enthusiasm, but with our first Christmas engagement fast approaching, we conjured some festive spirit and got stuck into practicing a selection of old and new pieces. On Sunday 7th December the band was delighted to join forces once again with the Exeter Police and Community Choir for their annual charity Christmas concert, with proceeds this year being split between the Chestnut Appeal and the RNLI Exmouth Lifeboat. Although the whole programme proved popular, a special mention must go to the band’s two soloists – Christopher Holland and Steve Belli – who, under their newly acquired alter egos of Noel Coward and Baloo (trust us, you need to see it to believe it!), both provided superb performances for a large and appreciative audience. The band’s next engagement is our own Christmas concert, which is being held on Friday 12th December. This is one of the band’s favourite concerts, as it not only provides us with the opportunity to end the year in style, but, in awarding the Presidents Cup and the Michael Parker Award for Most Improved Player, enables us to recognise the achievements of individuals. Another highlight of the concert will be an appearance by the Training Band, who have been working extremely hard throughout the year. Tickets have been selling like hotcakes (or should that mince pies?), and we are all looking forward to an evening of festive fun.

Contest Time

2008-11-10T18:23:00.000Z

With the summer season over, the band kicked off the ‘business end’ of the year by taking part in the SWBBA’s Exmouth Brass Band Festival, held on Saturday 6th September. This is always an enjoyable day out and, being an entertainment contest, provides the band with an opportunity to put together a programme that is not only challenging, but one that we know the audience (and hopefully the adjudicator!) will enjoy. Having done well in previous years, there was perhaps an element of disappointment in coming 8th out of 15, especially as the adjudicator’s comments were generally positive and therefore provided little in the way of constructive criticism. With Exmouth over for another year, it wasn’t long before it was time to step onto a contest stage once again – this time for the SWBBA Annual Championships held in Torquay. Despite spending weeks preparing Gareth Churcher’s test piece ‘Episodes for Brass’, it is perhaps fair to say that the band never quite reached full strength, and could have done with a little more time to ensure all the parts came together and to put some finishing touches to the piece. From playing off of the notoriously tricky number one draw, the band came in 6th place out of 7, with one of the eight bands in our section having withdrawn prior to the contest. Although we gave it our all on the day, this result instils even greater motivation to show the third section what we’re really made of at the all-important Areas next March!

"Summer" Ends

2008-10-10T17:05:00.000+01:00

The summer continued in the grey and cloudy fashion that had come to characterise the 2008 season, but despite the notable lack of sunshine, we were fortunate enough that none of the 16 concerts had to be cancelled due to rain. However, any weather-related good fortune was seriously lacking come the day of the band’s biggest event of the year – its Last Night of the Proms concert. With memories of getting extremely wet in both 2006 and 2007 still very much in mind, we had everything crossed that the ‘third time lucky’ philosophy would stand us in good stead for 2008. Unfortunately our optimism was in vain, and once again both the band and audience had to battle with the elements in order to keep dry. Even the weather could not detract from the fantastic atmosphere however, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable and successful evening. They do say bad luck comes in threes, so 2009 looks set to become the year to break the mould!

Last Night of the Proms 2008 Preparations

2008-07-30T18:21:00.000+01:00

The senior band is currently busy preparing for its third Last Night of the Proms concert, which is to be held on Saturday 16th August at Connaught Gardens. Following two successful and thoroughly enjoyable evenings in previous years, 2008’s concert is set to be the biggest and best yet! We are thrilled to be joined once again by guest singer Val Howels, who continues to wow us with her stunning voice and equally stunning outfits! Compère for the evening will be BBC Radio Devon Personality Douglas Mounce, who we are sure will do a fine job in keeping proceedings running smoothly.
Of course, no Last Night of the Proms concert would be complete without the patriotic classics, and so we will need your voices to be in fine form and your flag waving arms to be at the ready for joining in with favourites such as Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. In addition to the classics, the concert will feature an entertaining and varied programme of music, none of which you will have heard during the season so far. There are some new pieces to the band, including ‘The Prayer’, superbly arranged specially for this event by the band’s own young bass trombonist Joel Stephano. You will also be in for a couple of surprises this year, including seeing one member of the band as you will have never seen him before! We don’t want to ruin the surprise too much, but this is certainly one concert not be missed!
Tickets for concert – priced at just £5 – have already gone on sale, and are available from Sidmouth’s Tourist Information Centre (01395 516441), or from any band member. There will be a raffle on the night with a selection of great prizes, so make sure you get there early enough to buy your tickets to be in with a chance of taking one home. The Gardens will be open from 6:30pm, with the concert commencing at 7:30pm.
For those of you who are still drying out your picnic blankets and union jacks from 2006 and 2007, we believe this year will definitely be third time lucky with the weather! Bring a picnic, a bottle (or two!), a blanket, or even table and chairs complete with your very own candelabra! But most importantly, bring yourselves, some friends, and an enthusiastic singing voice, and help us to celebrate in true style. Given the beautiful surroundings, glorious sunshine (yes, we are that confident!), and the usual amazing atmosphere, this promises to be a very special evening.

2008 Summer Concerts

2008-07-15T17:04:00.000+01:00

The band is now past the halfway mark of its season of concerts at Connaught Gardens, and despite the weather this summer being a bit of a mixed bag, luck seems to have been with us every Sunday evening! For the first time in years we have had a completely dry first half of the season, with no concerts having been cancelled. Let’s hope the trend continues until the end of the season!

Summer is always a busy time for the band, and you may see us playing in various locations around the town over coming weeks. On Saturday 2nd August we will be playing at the official opening ceremony of the Sidmouth Folk Festival, and on Sunday 3rd August at 6pm we will be providing music for the hymns at the Folk Week Songs of Praise service at Sidmouth’s Parish Church. We round folk week off in style on Friday 8th August with a concert (and perhaps a pint or two!) in the gardens of our favourite local, The Volunteer Inn.

The training band has also been busy, including its first Connaught Gardens concert of the year on the 6th July. Don’t forget to come and give your support and encouragement once again on Sunday 10th August, at 7pm.