| Chalford concerts can sometimes seem like buses – you wait ages and then two come along at once. | |
 |
On Wednesday 29th November the band were proud to support Meningitis Now at their Christmas Concert in Gloucester Cathedral. Along with the Rock Choir and pupils from Elmbridge Primary School, the band entertained a packed Gloucester Cathedral. |
| Then on the first day of advent it was time for the band’s (almost) Christmas Concert at The Subscription Rooms in Stroud. The Senior, Academy and combined bands took the audience on a tour around the world and even to another planet (with a piece entitled “The Rings of Saturn”), where each piece represented a stop on Santa’s journey.
Young player of the year was Clement Hutchinson; Players’ player of the year was Josie Marshall. |
|
    |
|
 |
The bands would like to thank their supporters for their help and support throughout the year.
For these two concerts the band would also like to thank 1st Call van hire for allowing longer access to the van and really helping logistics. |
SWBBA Annual Contest 2024 – Open Section
This year’s November trip to Torquay had a completely different agenda compared to previous years, in that the work done in the band room in the build up to the contest was more important than the contest itself.
Of Distant Memories by Edward Gregson is probably the hardest own choice piece that the band had attempted – this was a deliberate approach taken to try to develop the band.
And that it most certainly did! A lyrical piece of music, with plenty of technical and performance challenges, with every section put under pressure.
We had multiple players in new seats, with Lisa moving to Solo Horn and Kelly on Euph, and new front row cornet Helen in her first Torquay contest. Sarah, from Academy, helped on Timps.
Despite all the challenges we got there – as Steve said in the Saturday morning rehearsal:
Getting to Torquay with everyone available – tick!
Having a performance he was proud of – tick!
The adjudicator agreed, and in his comments noted it was “A difficult work played to a good standard…”
Amy Tubb had a slightly different take on things: “Bloody hell.. that was the toughest contest experience of my life!”
But we’re a better band for it all
Results
1. City of Cardiff – Dances & Arias
2. Lympstone – Tallis Variations
3. Forest of Dean Brass – Salome
4. Filton Concert Brass – Year of the Dragon
5. Plymouth City Brass – Cry of the Mountain
6. Hyde Band – Essence of Time
7. Weston Brass – James Cook Circumnavigator
8. Chalford – Of Distant Memories
9. Glastonbury Brass – Tallis Variations
10. Roche Brass – Salute to Youth
11. Sidmouth Town Band – The Corsaire
12. Lanner & District Silver Band – A London Overture
13. Porthleven Town Band – Land of the Long White Cloud
14. Helston Town Band – Equilibrium
Free performances by Academy and Senior Band
Both bands will be performing their regional test pieces in public.
Meningitis Now Ribbon Appeal Concert 2023
Literally sandwiched between Highnam Primary Academy and the Rock Choir, Chalford Band were proud to support the Meningitis Now Ribbon Appeal in Gloucester Cathedral. A short set, but in the impressive yet daunting Cathedral the band managed to keep control despite the huge reverb, and were well appreciated by the large audience
LBBA Contest 2023
After last year’s success at the LBBA 2022 contest, the band had decided to revisit Loughborough in 2023. perhaps a few hadn’t quite realised what a commitment that was, as the coach pulled up towards the band room at 5:45am on Sunday morning!
Despite the early start the band were raring to go, eagerly snooping round the warm up area trying to work out who was playing what. We were drawn 4th, and started our performance really well – we’d obviously taken on board the comments from Torquay. The whole point of doing this competition was to experience different acoustics, and that certainly challenged us in the second half of the piece – Steve was having to work hard to keep things on track. Once again the soloists excelled though, and by the finish we were back on song.
Unusually, some of the band listened to some of the following performances, with wildly differing views – who’d be an adjudicator? In the end, 4th place, which the band were pleased with, certainly judging by the singing from the back of the coach on the way home.
1. Hatfield & Askern Colliery (Vicki Kennedy)
2. Soham Comrades (Jayne Murrill)
3. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
4. Chalford (Steve Tubb)
5. Hathern (Gary Wyatt)
6. Kibworth (Brendan Caddy)
7. Milton Keynes Brass (Matthew Brown)
8. Strata Brass (Leigh Baker)
9. Oddfellows Brass (Craig Williams)
10. Wantage Concert Brass (Simon Jones)
11. Rushden Town (Adele Hudson)
SWBBA Open Contest 2023
Our surprise appearance at the National Finals had really messed with preparation for the the Annual SWBBA contest in Torquay: mixed availability of player for rehearsals over the summer holidays normally make preparation for the November contest challenging at the … Continue reading →
National Championships 2023 – Report & Result
A slightly odd day in September – Chalford at the Nationals! After a somewhat disruptive preparation due to summer holidays, the band met on Saturday morning at the band room for the final tweaks to “St James – A New … Continue reading →
Coronation Concert Eastcombe
The band’s first concert since their Torquay success was on home turf, as the band played at the coronation celebrations at Eastcombe. The weather was kind and the crowd large and in good spirits as the band played an eclectic … Continue reading →
WEBBA Regionals 2023 Report and Results
Despite some challenging traffic and miserable weather, both Chalford Senior and Academy bands descended on St Luke’s church in Torquay for pre-competition rehearsals. The Academy band has only really come together over the last couple of months as the organisation … Continue reading →
End of year message from the Chairman
The Christmas period ends a hard fought but successful year for the Band. The gradual re-build and integration of both Senior and Youth / Academy ensembles culminating in well deserved Contest successes at the South West and Leicester contests for … Continue reading →