Archive for Llewellyn Wells

Wokingham All Saints Concert

As part of the Wokingham Summer Music Festival we invite you to join the band for our lunchtime concert at All Saints Church! Our programme features famous marches, choral composition, hits from stage & screen and much more!

Saturday 20 June 2015, 12-1pm
All Saints Church, Wiltshire Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1UE

Tickets cost £6 and are available at http://www.wegottickets.com/event/315068

For more information about the Wokingham Summer Music Festival go to http://www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk/summer-festival.html

Whit Friday – The Greatest free Show on Earth

The band enjoyed a terrific Whit Friday with good friends and fun all day!  After supporting the Whit walks at Greenfield, we partook of a well-earned drink and hot lunch.  The band then delivered an afternoon sports day concert before performing at no less than 6 contests throughout Saddleworth!

Up against a selection of the best brass bands in the world, our contest results are encouraging and are as follows:

Delph 18th out of 77 bands
Diggle 25th out of 63
Denshaw 19th out of 66
Dobcross 19th out of 69
Greenfield 35th out of 68 – click here to watch our performance of The King’s Cavalier
Uppermill 28th out of 55

Saints Annual Gala Concert And Awards Evening

The Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band recently held their annual Gala Concert, which also saw the presentation of their annual player awards.

Following the rousing march ‘Ravenswood’ the band continued in usual style with the overture from ‘The Marriage of Figaro’. Following an earlier panic where repiano cornet Maria Lacey had to go back home to pick up her forgotten music and returning literally as the band were taking the stage, Maria along with identical twin Sally, flawlessly performed ‘the Flower Duet’ from Lakme.

Continuing with opera but this time form Italy, the band played Alan Fernie’s ‘Italian Fantasy’ a selection of popular themes including Funiculì, Funiculà, Nessun Dorma, O’ Sole Mio and Grand march from Aida. Concluding the first half, was the descriptive music from Karl Jenkin’s ‘The Armed Man’.

Following a short interval, the band started the second half with Hogarth Lear whirlwind of ‘Pel Mel’. In memory of the recent passing of Graham Woodward who was avid follower and close friend of the band not to mention Father of our MD Lee, the Band played Elgar’s Nimrod. Resetting the mood, the band played the Ray Woodfield portrait of circus life ‘Russian Circus Music’ with sections depicting the tumbling acrobats, scary bears and elephants and not forgetting the clowns.

Awards

Providing a short rest for the band, it was time to announce this year’s players awards.

The Bandsman of the year award is given for an individual’s service towards the running of the band, and this year was presented to the Band’s Chairman Paul MacNeill.

The next was for the light hearted ‘Facebook player of the Year’. Following all rehearsals, MD Lee Woodward votes for the player or section he believes to have played the best throughout the rehearsal. This year, Solo horn Jen Butchers was the worthy winner of this coveted award.

Finally, the Musician of the year. This year was presented to Wayne Filer on soprano cornet because of his “consistently high standard of playing at rehearsals, concerts and at contests”

Demonstrating one the reasons why he was voted Musician of the year and under extreme pressure, Wayne took the stage and performed Paul Duffy’s jazzy ‘Oh When the Saints’.

The Band then continued with the ever popular Last Night of the Proms including Fantasia on British Sea Songs, the hymn ‘Jerusalem’ and ending in style with Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1.

“I’m so Proud of Saint’s. It’s been a good year contest-wise, a respectful result at the Areas and a win at the SCABA entertainment contest. All of our concerts have been great; I purposely put out challenging music but the band take it in their stride and play it to a high standard. I’m blessed to have a committed band with great players all around the stand. Thank you to everyone and keep up the good work.” MD Lee Woodward.

Saintly recognition

The St Sebastian Wokingham Band recently handed out their annual awards at a highly entertaining presentation evening.

Awards

The “Musician of the Year” award voted by MD Lee Woodward, went to principal euphonium player Humphrey Haynes in recognition of his outstanding performances, whilst the “Bandsman of the Year” award, voted on by all members, went to solo trombonist Paul MacNeill for his faultless running of the band over the last 12 months.

Long Service

Long Service awards were presented to principal cornet Kevin Raines and percussionist Lisa Hubble, for notching up 10 years of commitment, whilst baritone player Cameron Lake received a presentation pocket watch for his amazing 65 years of stalwart service.

Farewells

Sadly, the band had to say goodbye to two members, with Lisa Hubble leaving due to work commitments and Graham McKillop seeking a new championship challenge with Sandhurst Silver.

MD, Lee Woodward told 4BR: “Both members will be sorely missed and I thank them for what they have done for the band in the past. Everyone in the band wish you the best of luck for the future.”