BBQ Pictures are here! - November 2002
Yes, the second Band BBQ Pictures are here! On the 25th August the wonderful English weather treated us to another lovely day - rain, rain and oooh, a bit more rain. Click here if you want to see more photos of us looking wet, and some of us looking a little silly! (We promise no alcohol was involved. Well alright, maybe just a little!)
Disappointing Result - October 2002
The Band recently competed in the Second Section at the SCABA Autumn Contest at Folkestone playing the piece Royal Parks. Unfortunately luck was against us and we were both drawn to play last, and were positioned last in the results. However, as a Band we were very pleased with our perfomance and felt we are still continuing to make vast steps forward in our playing. Many thanks to those of you who have offered words of support and praise after our performance.
Shock Promotion! - May 2002
The Band recently received a letter from the National Band Contest Committee inviting us to join the Third Section. Due to the large number of Bands in the London and Southern Counties Area, there has a been a reshuffle & basically, because we were close enough to the top of the League table we have now qualified for promotion! Hurrah – something for us to toast to!!!
Instrument Update - May 2002
We have been inundated recently with immense generosity from local groups. Following the last newsletter, the Youth Band has had 4, yes 4 cornets donated! Two cornets were kindly donated by the Brighton and Hove Breakfast Rotary, 1 has been donated by Hove Rotary, and another has been donated by Hove Lions. The Youth Band has already received 2 of the cornets which were kindly presented at the Hangleton Manor Fun Day by the Chair person of the Brighton and Hove Breakfast Rotary. The other two cornets are currently on order, and should be presented at the Jubilee Concert on 1st June.
Hove – SCABA Spring Contest- April 2002
The Senior Band competed again at the SCABA Spring contest in April which was again held at Hove Town Hall. We came 7th from 9 playing the piece Music for a Festival by Philip Sparke. The Band played very well, but as in the National Contest, the standard in the Section has improved considerably, and it has become vastly more competitive. Many Bands competing against us were competing in higher National sections than us, so it indicates the standard of other “local” Bands. Many Thanks to Martin Faulkner who helped us out on Bass Trombone.
The Youth Band also competed this year and did fantastically well. They came 4th in their section & I know all of us who heard them were very impressed with their performance. It certainly bodes well for a year or two down the line as the Band matures without losing too many players. Well done to all of you.
Stevenage – National Contest - March 2002
The Band recently competed in the Fourth Section of the London & Southern Counties Regional Qualifying Contest at Stevenage Leisure Centre. Thankfully this time we didn’t have to leave quite as early with a more civilised start of a 9am rehearsal before the coach left.
We were drawn 18th, which was fairly high up the order in the second half of the draw, so we didn’t have too much of a wait. The Band played well (as always!) and managed a respectable joint 8th from 29 Bands. Paul Homewood from Mid Sussex Band kindly played Bass Trombone to help us out. We also had another interesting quiz care of 2 more guest quizmasters, Lewis Kelly and Rachel Welch. I’m sure we are all looking forward to more guest hosts of the quiz saga next March!
Lottery Money & Instrument Update- January 2002
The Youth Band has been very fortunate over the Christmas break to receive a grant of £1000 from the Lottery funded National Foundation for Youth Music scheme towards buying a new small Eb Bass. This costs £1450 and is now on order. We hope to receive it in the next few weeks. For further details on the scheme visit the website at www.youthmusic.org.uk.
The Band is currently also in the process of purchasing 2 new Horns for the Youth Band, and a programme of instrument purchases which will boost both the Youth and Senior Bands has been agreed on by the committee as follows:
Phase 1 has already begun with the purchase of the small Eb Bass for the Youth Band.
Phase 2 is the purchase of a nearly new 4 valve BBb bass for the senior band at a price of about £3,000 which releases a 3 valve BBb for the youth band. The existing instrument has just been handed to the youth band and the new instrument is being tested. The funds raised from the bass case at the last 3 concerts are partly paying for this.
Phase 3 is the purchase of a new small Bb bass for the youth band at an estimated price of about £2,000. The band currently does not have enough funds for this but former player and conductor David Chappell has just made a generous donation of £500 towards it. The purchase will be made during 2002 if sufficient funds are raised. Kind thanks are due to David for his generosity.
Phases 1-3 will ensure that both bands have 4 basses and that, for the first time ever, the Youth
Band will have 2 small basses for younger players. It means the Youth Band will have acquired 3
instruments with a total value of about £5000. However, the Senior Band set of Basses will consist of 3 Besson Sovereigns (2 BBb and 1 EEb) and 1 old Imperial EEb. This latter instrument is not of acceptable quality.
Phase 4 is to replace this old Imperial EEb hopefully during 2003.
Most successful Christmas EVER!!!! - January 2002
Well, we certainly had a busy Christmas, but it has DEFINITELY been worth it! The Christmas Concert was HUGELY successful with one of our biggest audiences in years! And there should be a HUMUNGUS thank you to all the players who turned up at the Carolling (hang overs and all!) and the various collectors who played their part in raising, wait for it - over £1100 for the Band! The numb feet and the frozen fingers now seem worthwhile. 