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Met Office Forecasts Hot Summer
The Met Office have promised us a long, hot summer, and so far, they seem to have got it right! The first concert at the Connaught Gardens took place last Sunday, on a beautiful summer’s evening, and this weekend is looking just as good.
The cornet section has been strengthened by two new players. Gemma Jones joins us on repiano, and John Moss moves up from the Training Band on to 3rd cornet. They are both extremely dedicated players, and we hope they enjoy many summer seasons with us.
Speaking of summer (!), this year’s Proms Concert will be held on Saturday 22nd August. Joining us this year, as guest soloist, is Brett Baker – principal trombonist of Black Dyke! We are really excited about playing with Brett. He is one of the best trombonists in the world, and you should not miss this opportunity to hear him perform. The talented Val Howels will be singing with us again, and Douglas Mounce from BBC Radio Devon will be the compère. Tickets are just £5 and will be available soon from the Tourist Information Centre in Sidmouth, or from any band member.
It’s hard to know where the past few months have gone, so apologies for the gap since
the last update. Despite being a busy time for the band, the summer, as usual, came
and went in a flash. The perfect weather we had for the first two Sunday evening
concerts didn’t quite continue as we had (rather optimistically) hoped, but with
only one rained off and our ever-
They do say the British are always talking about the weather, and the band certainly lived up to this reputation in August as all eyes turned to the forecast for Saturday 22nd – our Last Night of the Proms concert. In a break
from tradition, this occasion proved to be
fourth time lucky as, at last, we had a dry
evening. The atmosphere was fantastic
and the whole evening thoroughly
enjoyable, but the concert was made
extra special by having Brett Baker -
principal trombonist with Black Dyke as
guest soloist. In what has to be the
highlight of the summer, Brett wowed the band and audience alike, leaving us in doubt as to why he is one of the best trombonists in the world. We hope we didn’t put Brett off too much(!), and are all excited at the prospect of possibly having him play with us again in the future.
Double Success in Torquay
The end of the summer always signifies the start of the business half of the year for the band, and it was soon time to plan ahead for the SWBBA Annual Championships held on 7th November. After weeks spent rehearsing Peter Graham’s ‘Haslemere Suite’, the band headed to Torquay knowing we faced tough competition in a tight section. Despite coming off stage happy with our performance, it’s fair to say that there was an element of surprise in our reaction to being announced winners of the third section! The band was delighted with the result, and a huge well done must go to everyone for what is a fantastic achievement – and one that ensures we head to the Areas in March with a new found spring in our step. A special mention has to go to our horn section, who doubled our silverware by being named the best horns of the day –congratulations girls! Also, a big public thank you must go to our MD Adrian for the time, dedication, and effort he puts in all year round. A result like this emphasises just how much work he has put in to developing the band over the years, and although he may not always get the credit he deserves, it really is appreciated by us all.
What’s Next?
With barely any time to celebrate, the band is already busy rehearsing for our next engagement. On the 19th November we are taking part in ‘A Note to Remember’ – a concert celebrating the music of local composer and arranger Gordon Langford. It hardly seems possible, but the smell of mulled wine and mince pies will soon be in the air as Christmas fast approaches. As always this is a busy time for the band, so have a look at our list of engagements for details of when and where you can help us celebrate the festive season!
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