News
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Summer Concert, Saturday 13th July 2024
The summer concert at St John's Church in Mortimer included music that we'd not played for many years. We opened the concert with Alfred Reed's The Music Makers, and included some George Gershwin and Andrew Lloyd Webber medleys in the 1st half. We played film music from War Horse and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. At a special request from a regular audience member we performed MacArthur Park. The audience also appreciated Ron Goodwin's Tall Ships, and the Military Wives Choir piece by Paul Mealor, Wherever You Are. |
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Shaw-cum-Donnington fair, Sunday 23rd June 2024
We were part of the entertainment for the local fete at Shaw-cum-Donnington, near Newbury. As well as the band, the fair had a display of classic cars, and of course, a dog show! We played some popular pieces including Instant Concert, Eighties Flashback, and Les Miserables. |
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Henley Bandstand, Sunday 9th June 2024
It was a chilly day playing at Henley's Mill Meadows but there were still plenty of people to listen and enjoy the music. We performed a range of bandstand favourites, including The Greatest Showman, How to Train Your Dragon, and Pirates of the Caribbean. The photo shows one of the percussion team playing the bodhran in Music from Brave. |
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Band tour to Devon, 25th-29th May 2024
This was our first tour since the pandemic & the first time the band has been on tour in the UK. We performed at 3 locations in the area on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. At Dawlish on Sunday, we were unlucky with the weather, and a lack of seats meant we had to stand for our performance. We only managed to play one piece before the heavens opened and we had to cancel the rest of the programme. The second concert was the highlight of the tour, at the Transit Shed at Exeter Quayside on Monday afternoon. This had an enthusiastic audience, nice weather and a visit from a few of the band members who could not come on the tour. The final concert, on Tuesday, was in Connaught Gardens in Sidmouth on a somewhat cool, grey and damp day. We played to a small and very distant, though appreciative audience, who were sheltering under cover at the opposite end of the green. On the way to Devon we stopped off at Glastonbury for the afternoon, with most of the band taking a trip up to the Tor. In between the concerts we visited Torquay & Exmouth, and then returned via Weston-super-Mare. We also introduced a new mascot to the band - Meet Billy Bear (in red) from Torquay, who joins Barney, Barnard and Berthold from previous tours. |
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Bradfield Mayfayre, Monday 6th May 2024
Our first summer bandstand event of the year was slightly damp! However, pouring rain and a bit of a mudbath at Bradfield Mayfayre didn't stop the band playing to a very busy Mayfayre crowd.
We performed some audience favourites including music from The Greatest Showman, Encanto, Les Miserables and James Bond.
Our first summer bandstand event of the year was slightly damp! However, pouring rain and a bit of a mudbath at Bradfield Mayfayre didn't stop the band playing to a very busy Mayfayre crowd.
We performed some audience favourites including music from The Greatest Showman, Encanto, Les Miserables and James Bond.
Spring Concert, 9th March 2024
Our first concert of 2024 took place in the recently reburbished Tadley Community Centre.
The concert started with John Williams' Midway March, and included some regular favourites such as Hounds of Spring, Stephenson's Rocket, and Lord Tullamore. We also performed some of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances and the reflective piece, Time Remembered, by the band's favourite composer, Philip Sparke.
Our first concert of 2024 took place in the recently reburbished Tadley Community Centre.
The concert started with John Williams' Midway March, and included some regular favourites such as Hounds of Spring, Stephenson's Rocket, and Lord Tullamore. We also performed some of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances and the reflective piece, Time Remembered, by the band's favourite composer, Philip Sparke.
Christmas Concert, 2nd December 2023
We were very pleased to play to a full house at our Christmas Concert in St Mary's Church in Burghfield. The audience were treated to a first half that included 2 of our Gold Award winning Festival pieces, Hanover Festival and The Wishing Well. The second half was pure Christmas, including favourites Sleigh Ride and Christmas Festival, and fun pieces Turkey Talk and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
We were very pleased to play to a full house at our Christmas Concert in St Mary's Church in Burghfield. The audience were treated to a first half that included 2 of our Gold Award winning Festival pieces, Hanover Festival and The Wishing Well. The second half was pure Christmas, including favourites Sleigh Ride and Christmas Festival, and fun pieces Turkey Talk and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Band Awards 2023
Congratulations to three band members for their achievements in the band:
Glyn Thomas, Musician of the Year
Kyrylo Avilov: Most Improved Player
James Hope: Overall Contribution
Congratulations to three band members for their achievements in the band:
Glyn Thomas, Musician of the Year
Kyrylo Avilov: Most Improved Player
James Hope: Overall Contribution
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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. |
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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.
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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 [email protected], 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! 
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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.
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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 [email protected]. |
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NEW Online Ticket Sales
We have a new facility for purchasing concert tickets so you can book your tickets online via TicketSource. There is no booking fee, and you can print an e-ticket at no extra cost or choose to pay a small fee to have it sent directly to your phone or posted to you. |
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