News
Gold Award!
On Sunday 5th November, the band took part in the National Concert Band Festival London and Home Counties regional event at Wellington College in Crowthorne, and were delighted to be given a Gold Award for our performance. We had a challenging programme of March from A Moorside Suite by Gustav Holst, The Wishing Well by Rossano Galante, and Hanover Festival by Philip Sparke. |

Eastbourne Bandstand, 13th August 2023
We finished off our season of summer events with a very popular performance at the prestigious Eastbourne Bandstand. We played a wide variety of music again, including One Moment in Time, The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Beatles: Echoes of an Era.
It was lovely sunny weather, which brought out the crowds and meant several of the band members had a paddle in the sea afterwards!
We finished off our season of summer events with a very popular performance at the prestigious Eastbourne Bandstand. We played a wide variety of music again, including One Moment in Time, The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Beatles: Echoes of an Era.
It was lovely sunny weather, which brought out the crowds and meant several of the band members had a paddle in the sea afterwards!
Newbury Bandstand, 29th July 2023
On a sunny Saturday afternoon the band set up for a performance next to the bandstand in Victoria Park, Newbury.
We played a few old favourites such as Bandology, Soundtrack Highlights from Brave, and the Pink Panther. We also played some of our newer pieces including the Coldplay piece, Viva la Vida, and Eighties Flashback, which features pop music including Thriller, Eye of the Tiger, and You Give Love a Bad Name.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon the band set up for a performance next to the bandstand in Victoria Park, Newbury.
We played a few old favourites such as Bandology, Soundtrack Highlights from Brave, and the Pink Panther. We also played some of our newer pieces including the Coldplay piece, Viva la Vida, and Eighties Flashback, which features pop music including Thriller, Eye of the Tiger, and You Give Love a Bad Name.
Summer Concert - Song and Dance, 1st July 2023
We were very pleased to be back in St John's Church in Mortimer to bring some "Song and Dance" to the community.
Our concert included some exciting new pieces for the band including Pustza: Four Gypsy Dances, Wedding Dance, which is a Jewish circle dance, and Khachaturian's Sabre Dance. We also included film music from the latest Disney movie, Encanto, and from Dances with Wolves. There were more song melodies in The Beatles: Echoes of an Era. The home-made cakes in the interval went down very well too!
We were very pleased to be back in St John's Church in Mortimer to bring some "Song and Dance" to the community.
Our concert included some exciting new pieces for the band including Pustza: Four Gypsy Dances, Wedding Dance, which is a Jewish circle dance, and Khachaturian's Sabre Dance. We also included film music from the latest Disney movie, Encanto, and from Dances with Wolves. There were more song melodies in The Beatles: Echoes of an Era. The home-made cakes in the interval went down very well too!

Henley Bandstand, 29th May 2023
Bank Holiday Monday was a great day to be out in Henley - a lovely sunny day, lots of people enjoying being beside the river, ice creams on sale, and of course, music from the band! Children danced and sang along to our performances of Encanto and The Lion King, adults joined in with the Billy Joel selections, Eighties Flashback and the Beatles medley, and we even played an impromptu Happy Birthday for an unsuspecting band member.
Bank Holiday Monday was a great day to be out in Henley - a lovely sunny day, lots of people enjoying being beside the river, ice creams on sale, and of course, music from the band! Children danced and sang along to our performances of Encanto and The Lion King, adults joined in with the Billy Joel selections, Eighties Flashback and the Beatles medley, and we even played an impromptu Happy Birthday for an unsuspecting band member.
Concert tickets now on sale
Tickets are now available for our summer concert "Song and Dance", taking place on 1st July 2023 at St John's Church in Mortimer. Book your place now by ordering tickets via TicketSource, emailing us at SBCB_Music@yahoo.com, or you can collect your tickets in person at Baobab in Mortimer or The Fruit Shop in Burghfield. Just £10 for adults, or £9 each for groups of 6 or more adults. Accompanied under 16s go free! |
Celebrations for the Coronation of King Charles III, 6th May 2023
We were happy to be invited to help celebrate the coronation of King Charles III at the celebrations taking place on the Fairground in Mortimer. Most of Mortimer came along to enjoy the festivities, in spite of it being a rather damp day. We were part of an afternoon of musical acts, playing some old favourites, including Instant Concert and The Lion King, and some pieces that were new to us such as Eighties Flashback and One Moment in Time.
We were happy to be invited to help celebrate the coronation of King Charles III at the celebrations taking place on the Fairground in Mortimer. Most of Mortimer came along to enjoy the festivities, in spite of it being a rather damp day. We were part of an afternoon of musical acts, playing some old favourites, including Instant Concert and The Lion King, and some pieces that were new to us such as Eighties Flashback and One Moment in Time.
Bradfield Mayfayre, 1st May 2023
We started a busy summer season of outdoor events at Bradfield Mayfayre on the first bank holiday in May. As always, this is a popular afternoon out with many different attractions to keep people entertained. As well as seeing the band and other musicians in the Music Tent, there was maypole dancing, bouncy pig racing, sheep shearing, plenty of games to take part in, the craft tent to browse, and lots of food and drink on offer. Our music included some new pieces for us, with up to the minute film music from Encanto, music from earlier decades with Billy Joel in Concert, plus many regular favourites such as Moment for Morricone and Pirates of the Caribbean.
We started a busy summer season of outdoor events at Bradfield Mayfayre on the first bank holiday in May. As always, this is a popular afternoon out with many different attractions to keep people entertained. As well as seeing the band and other musicians in the Music Tent, there was maypole dancing, bouncy pig racing, sheep shearing, plenty of games to take part in, the craft tent to browse, and lots of food and drink on offer. Our music included some new pieces for us, with up to the minute film music from Encanto, music from earlier decades with Billy Joel in Concert, plus many regular favourites such as Moment for Morricone and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Spring Concert, 25th March 2023
Our first concert of 2023 took place on Saturday 25th March in Tadley. As our MD announced at the evening, our theme for the event was "no theme", so we played a wide range of different music, from a lilting flute solo from Ladies in Lavender, to a trip Into the Raging River, and ending the concert with a rock version of Bach's Toccata! We had a hint of Ireland in there to celebrate St Patrick's Day with Celtic Ritual and Lord Tullamore, and were delighted to welcome our clarinet ensemble "No Strings Attached", performing with us for the first time.
Our first concert of 2023 took place on Saturday 25th March in Tadley. As our MD announced at the evening, our theme for the event was "no theme", so we played a wide range of different music, from a lilting flute solo from Ladies in Lavender, to a trip Into the Raging River, and ending the concert with a rock version of Bach's Toccata! We had a hint of Ireland in there to celebrate St Patrick's Day with Celtic Ritual and Lord Tullamore, and were delighted to welcome our clarinet ensemble "No Strings Attached", performing with us for the first time.
We're Recruiting
South Berks Concert Band needs YOU! Do you play trumpet or trombone to Grade 6 standard or above? Are you available to rehearse in Tadley on Friday evenings? Would you like to have fun making music with an incredible group of people? If so, we'd love to hear from you. Drop us a line at SBCB_Music@yahoo.com. |