News
Summer Concert: Stage and Screen, Sunday 8th July 2018
During a very hot day, protected from the sun (but not the heat) in the marquee on Mortimer Fairground, the band played a variety of film music, highlights from musicals, and television themes, whilst also giving audience members the opportunity to sit within the band to experience the "full surround sound" effect! Kick Shins, the local Ceilidh band performed a string of barn dance music which had people on their feet taking part. We were also raising awareness and funds for TiM Friends, a local befriending service, which provides extra friendship and support via telephone, home visits, and outings for elderly and vulnerable people within the local community.
During a very hot day, protected from the sun (but not the heat) in the marquee on Mortimer Fairground, the band played a variety of film music, highlights from musicals, and television themes, whilst also giving audience members the opportunity to sit within the band to experience the "full surround sound" effect! Kick Shins, the local Ceilidh band performed a string of barn dance music which had people on their feet taking part. We were also raising awareness and funds for TiM Friends, a local befriending service, which provides extra friendship and support via telephone, home visits, and outings for elderly and vulnerable people within the local community.
Mortimer Fun Day 7th July 2018, Musical Instrument "Have a go" session at SBCB's stall
If you had ever wished you'd had the chance to play an instrument then this was the place to be! Adults and children alike all had the chance to try at the SBCB stall at Mortimer Fun Day. There were plenty of band members on hand to help, and instruments for all ages, from shakers for babies to different woodwind, brass and percussion for older children and adults.
If you had ever wished you'd had the chance to play an instrument then this was the place to be! Adults and children alike all had the chance to try at the SBCB stall at Mortimer Fun Day. There were plenty of band members on hand to help, and instruments for all ages, from shakers for babies to different woodwind, brass and percussion for older children and adults.
Henley Bandstand Sunday 24th June 2018
We had glorious weather for our final bandstand concert of the year at Henley's Mill Meadows. Playing by the riverside to people in the park and on the boats moored up and going past us, we were very pleased that we were in the shade under the canopy of the bandstand! Some of the most popular music enjoyed by the audience included themes from Beauty & the Beast and Brave, plus "Instant Concert", a piece made up of over 20 different tunes.
We had glorious weather for our final bandstand concert of the year at Henley's Mill Meadows. Playing by the riverside to people in the park and on the boats moored up and going past us, we were very pleased that we were in the shade under the canopy of the bandstand! Some of the most popular music enjoyed by the audience included themes from Beauty & the Beast and Brave, plus "Instant Concert", a piece made up of over 20 different tunes.
Eastbourne Bandstand Sunday 10th June 2018
We made a trip to the Eastbourne seaside for the afternoon of 10th June, which turned out to be a lovely sunny day that brought out the crowds to listen to us play a variety of music. The pieces we played included some traditional marches, a flugel solo, some rousing film music, favourite musicals, and even a piece thought to be written by Henry VIII.
We made a trip to the Eastbourne seaside for the afternoon of 10th June, which turned out to be a lovely sunny day that brought out the crowds to listen to us play a variety of music. The pieces we played included some traditional marches, a flugel solo, some rousing film music, favourite musicals, and even a piece thought to be written by Henry VIII.
Bradfield Mayfayre Monday 7th May 2018
On a day of record breaking temperatures for a May Day bank holiday, the band went to Bradfield Mayfayre to provide musical entertainment for visitors to the afternoon event. Most of the band squeezed into the marquee to remain in the shade, but our Musical Director was out in the sunshine for the whole performance, keeping the sun off with a hat.
Musical highlights included The Lion King, Mamma Mia and the main theme from Out of Africa.
On a day of record breaking temperatures for a May Day bank holiday, the band went to Bradfield Mayfayre to provide musical entertainment for visitors to the afternoon event. Most of the band squeezed into the marquee to remain in the shade, but our Musical Director was out in the sunshine for the whole performance, keeping the sun off with a hat.
Musical highlights included The Lion King, Mamma Mia and the main theme from Out of Africa.
The Spring Concert, "From Burghfield to Broadway" on Saturday April 21st was a lovely day in St Mary's Church, Burghfield. This was a new venue for most of our band members and we enjoyed playing in the responsive acoustic with a varied programme of music.
We began with pieces we played at the NCBF finals in Manchester, but included all 4 movements of Holst's 2nd Suite in F this time, and followed with Philip Sparke's Barn Dance and Cowboy Hymn. Sf Sax, a group of 6 players from within the band, treated us to pieces in each half of the concert: Summer by Joe Hisaishi and 2 movements from Ron Goodwin's Suite for Brass, arranged for saxophones and percussion by Ray Meads. Other highlights from the pieces played by the full band were selections from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and Lerner and Loewe in Concert, both taking us to Broadway, and Variations on Laudate Dominum by Edward Gregson. We were treated to a beautiful performance of the Theme from Schindler's List from our solo flute, Erica Scott, accompanied by the band.
The audience enjoyed drinks and cakes during the interval in the Parish rooms and were very generous in our retiring collection for the Church.
We began with pieces we played at the NCBF finals in Manchester, but included all 4 movements of Holst's 2nd Suite in F this time, and followed with Philip Sparke's Barn Dance and Cowboy Hymn. Sf Sax, a group of 6 players from within the band, treated us to pieces in each half of the concert: Summer by Joe Hisaishi and 2 movements from Ron Goodwin's Suite for Brass, arranged for saxophones and percussion by Ray Meads. Other highlights from the pieces played by the full band were selections from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and Lerner and Loewe in Concert, both taking us to Broadway, and Variations on Laudate Dominum by Edward Gregson. We were treated to a beautiful performance of the Theme from Schindler's List from our solo flute, Erica Scott, accompanied by the band.
The audience enjoyed drinks and cakes during the interval in the Parish rooms and were very generous in our retiring collection for the Church.
GOLD at the National Finals of NCBF
The band had an emotional and exciting day travelling up to Manchester for the Finals of the National Concert Band Festival. After a long coach journey we finally entered the Royal Northern College of Music just after 2pm. A few members headed off to the concert hall to watch 3 other bands perform, and then it was all action. First a warm up, then off to the rehearsal room, and suddenly the ushers told us that it was our time to go on stage, and we were taken off to the concert hall. We could feel the excitement and the tension amongst the band members! After being introduced to the audience, we gave a cheery group wave to our adjudicators before we started to play. Reality dawned then that we had less than 20 mins to impress, and we concentrated hard as we performed our pieces: Maple Leaf Overture by Philip Sparke, Canterbury Chorale by Jan van der Roost, and Movements 3 & 4 (Song of the Blacksmith and Fantasia on the Dargason) from the 2nd Suite in F by Gustav Holst. After some excellent feedback we were delighted to be presented with a Gold Award. As one of only 6 community wind bands performing from across the UK this was such a proud moment for us.
The band had an emotional and exciting day travelling up to Manchester for the Finals of the National Concert Band Festival. After a long coach journey we finally entered the Royal Northern College of Music just after 2pm. A few members headed off to the concert hall to watch 3 other bands perform, and then it was all action. First a warm up, then off to the rehearsal room, and suddenly the ushers told us that it was our time to go on stage, and we were taken off to the concert hall. We could feel the excitement and the tension amongst the band members! After being introduced to the audience, we gave a cheery group wave to our adjudicators before we started to play. Reality dawned then that we had less than 20 mins to impress, and we concentrated hard as we performed our pieces: Maple Leaf Overture by Philip Sparke, Canterbury Chorale by Jan van der Roost, and Movements 3 & 4 (Song of the Blacksmith and Fantasia on the Dargason) from the 2nd Suite in F by Gustav Holst. After some excellent feedback we were delighted to be presented with a Gold Award. As one of only 6 community wind bands performing from across the UK this was such a proud moment for us.
Band Workshop & Repertoire Day
Band members had a fantastic day at a workshop led by Duncan Stubbs, former Principal Director of Music of the RAF Music Services. As well as playing some of our current music he also stretched our musical skills with several tricky pieces that he had brought with him: Alfred Reed's Armenian Dances, 3 Russian Folk Songs by Andrew Pearce, The Blackpool Tram from Ghosts by Stephen McNeff, and one movement (Igneous - Born of Fire) from one of Duncan's own pieces, From the Depths of Time. Everyone went home feeling both exhausted and exhilarated from the day, and can't wait for the next one to be organised!
Band members had a fantastic day at a workshop led by Duncan Stubbs, former Principal Director of Music of the RAF Music Services. As well as playing some of our current music he also stretched our musical skills with several tricky pieces that he had brought with him: Alfred Reed's Armenian Dances, 3 Russian Folk Songs by Andrew Pearce, The Blackpool Tram from Ghosts by Stephen McNeff, and one movement (Igneous - Born of Fire) from one of Duncan's own pieces, From the Depths of Time. Everyone went home feeling both exhausted and exhilarated from the day, and can't wait for the next one to be organised!
Recording Studio
The band went to the Institute of Sound Recording at The University of Surrey's Stag Hill campus in Guildford for our third time in a recording studio, where a current Tonmeister student recorded the band's performance of a few pieces chosen by our Director of Music. It was a very tiring but fulfilling day for the band, where we recorded 3 new pieces of music to add to our previous 2 studio recordings. We look forward to seeing and hearing the results in the next few months.
The band went to the Institute of Sound Recording at The University of Surrey's Stag Hill campus in Guildford for our third time in a recording studio, where a current Tonmeister student recorded the band's performance of a few pieces chosen by our Director of Music. It was a very tiring but fulfilling day for the band, where we recorded 3 new pieces of music to add to our previous 2 studio recordings. We look forward to seeing and hearing the results in the next few months.