News
Sf Sax rocks Blewbury!
Our saxophone sextet, Sf Sax, performed to a full house in Blewbury on Saturday 24th November. The event was part of Project Resound at St. Michael's and All Angels Church, raising funds to commission a contemporary stained glass window.
The group performed a varied programme including The Girl with the Flaxen Hair, Bohemian Rhapsody, Little Brown Jug, and a Disco medley that had the very appreciative audience joining in with the actions for YMCA! There was also a version of Eric Whitacre's Lux Aurumque, which means "Light and Gold", which had been specially adapted by the group for this concert to reflect the light that will be brought into the church when the window is installed. The addition of many complimentary audience chats and some lovely nibbles made for a very enjoyable evening, with over £1,300 being raised for the project.
Our saxophone sextet, Sf Sax, performed to a full house in Blewbury on Saturday 24th November. The event was part of Project Resound at St. Michael's and All Angels Church, raising funds to commission a contemporary stained glass window.
The group performed a varied programme including The Girl with the Flaxen Hair, Bohemian Rhapsody, Little Brown Jug, and a Disco medley that had the very appreciative audience joining in with the actions for YMCA! There was also a version of Eric Whitacre's Lux Aurumque, which means "Light and Gold", which had been specially adapted by the group for this concert to reflect the light that will be brought into the church when the window is installed. The addition of many complimentary audience chats and some lovely nibbles made for a very enjoyable evening, with over £1,300 being raised for the project.
Celebrating Paul Speed's 10th Anniversary as our Director of Music, Friday 28th September 2018
For one rehearsal only we put away our instruments and brought out the food instead! September marked 10 years with Paul as our Director of Music, so we threw a party to celebrate.
For one rehearsal only we put away our instruments and brought out the food instead! September marked 10 years with Paul as our Director of Music, so we threw a party to celebrate.
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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.
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.
