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ENGAGEMENTS 2011
Follow this link for Brass in the Community events
22nd May 2011- Baytree Garden Centre
19th June 2011 - Ayscoughfee gardens, Spalding
25th June - Promation at the Services Club, Holbeach
29th June - Holbeach Primary School
3rd July - Flinders Park, Donington
24th July - Whaplode Drove Country Fair
21st August - Band BBQ
1st to 5th August - Learn to Play Week
29th August - Baytree Garden Centre
27th October - Springfields Christmas Lights
28th October - Masonic Hall, Last Night of the Proms
29th Ocotber - Terrington Memorial Field
13th November - Remembrance Sunday
22nd May 2011 - Baytree Garden Centre
We had a very pleasant Sunday afternoon at Baytree Garden Centre. It was cool and windy but Baytree kindly made room for us to play under cover.
This was our first performance of our summer programme. It was an outstanding performance and warmly greeted by the visitors to the garden centre. Steven Butter played the cornet solo Demelza. Other highlights were 'March of the Peers' from Iolanthe, Selection from the Musical 'Grease', 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.
19th June 2011 - Ayscoughfee gardens, Spalding
Press Release:
The third band concert of the 2011 season took place in Ayscoughfee Gardens on Sunday 19th June. It was organised by the Friends of Ayscoughfee and featured the Holbeach Town Band with Musical Director Mel Hopkin.
It was a lovely afternoon, if a bit windy, and the band delighted the audience estimated at 250, with a wide range of musical styles to suit all tastes. They played music from Gilbert and Sullivan (March of the Peers) to Queen (Crazy Little Thing Called Love); music from various films (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Pirates of the Caribbean, Air Force One, Backdraft, Brassed Off). Principal cornet Steven Butter played the cornet solo ‘Maid of the Moor: Demelza’. The band also played a rock ‘n’ roll extract from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite – as performed by B Bumble and the Stingers in the 1960s and called ‘Nut Rocker’.
As it was Fathers’ Day, Musical Director Mel Hopkin was very pleased that his son James was able to come over from Leamington Spa with his two children (all brass players) and they all played in the band alongside Mel’s daughter Zoe who plays euphonium in the band.
Holbeach Town Band has many young players, most of whom have come through the band’s training scheme. Unfortunately, they are too small to carry the largest instruments, so the band were grateful for help from George Brown and Richard Keys (from the Kirton Band) and Andi Shortland (from Spalding Brass) to add depth to the bass end.
Chairman of the Friends of Ayscoughfee, Graham Dark, said that this concert was just what the series of Band Concerts is all about – a good afternoon’s entertainment, a good crowd and encouraging young people to take part in music making.
25th June - Promation at the Services Club, Holbeach
 We had a promational stall at the Services Club, Holbeach. We had a table with a variety of instruments from Cornet to BBb Bass so that visitors could try them.
Thanks to the 6 band members who manned the stall.
The organisers gave us the choice of a central position in the car park, alongside other activities, or round the back among the bowls. We chose the central position where we would, at least, be seen. Unfortunately there was a disco playing next to us, so we shelved ideas for some informal quartet playing.
29th June - Holbeach Primary School
Thanks to the band for another excellent performance at Holbeach Primary School. This concert was to promote our learn to Play Week in August so it was a pity that more children did not come to see us. We started with the Learner Group going through the usual warm-up routines then on to some simple tunes in parts. Four of them played a piece from their forthcoming grade exams.
3rd July - Flinders Park, Donington
Holbeach Town Band are honoured to be the first brass band to play in the Bandstand in Flinders Park, Donington.
The Bandstand is well-built but is a little small. We took 20 of our 33 members and there was not a lot of room to spare.
The band’s performance coincided with Donington’s Gala Day and there was a good turnout of visitors.
24th July - Whaplode Drove Country Fair
A pleasant but disorganised day at the Whaplode Drove Country Fair. We agreed to play 3 x 30 minute sets at 12.00, 2.30 and 3.30. It started off very well. We started at exactly 12.00 to an enthusiastic audience - we were playing in the 'music tent' with bales of stray for the sudience to sit on. The weather was very pleasant, and the first set finished all too soon.
We had a walk around the fair; the queues for hog roast and ice cream were disappointingly long and slow. We returned for our 2.30 set to find a choir sining so we waited ptiently for them to finish. Then Morris Dancers started to play! The organisers admitted that their programme wasn't going as planned. Our 2.30 set eventually started at about 3.10 - we played 3 pieces then had to stop for 'World Record Jelly Throwing'. We restarted at 3.55 and played one more piece and finished at 4.00. As we wnet, some singers and the Morris Dancers were vying for the next slot.
It wsas a nice venue with a good audience, just a pity that we couldn't play more.
1st to 5th August - Learn to Play Week
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We had a successful Learn to Play Week. During the week we had 12 new learners, 7 of whom came every day. 3 others came the week before but were on holiday this week. 2 others joined the Learn to Play week but had already started coming to the Learner Group.
The Learn to Play Week was run by Musical Director Mel Hopkin with the help of members of the band, and particularly those who learned to play in previous years. |
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21st August - Band BBQ
We had a very enjoyable afternoon at the Spalding Grammar School playing field for the annual band barbecue. Band members and families were welcome to attend. The school's extensive field offered superb facilities for ball games.
The Musical Director, Mel Hopkin, and Chairman, Yvonne Butter, organised the BBQ. The MD did the cooking (burgers, hot dogs, chicken drumstick, pork steak and salmon steak) and the guests contributed drinksand salads etc.
Band members brought instruments and had an impromptu rehearsal during the afternoon.
The Band presented each band member with a mug as a memento celebrating the band's 40th anniversary.
29th August - Baytree Garden Centre
Another visit to Baytree Garden Centre. It was Bank Holiday Monday and we had quite a few players away (particularly cornet players). Well done to Kevin and Laurence for a great job on front row cornet; and thanks to Ros and PAul for helping out on the back row.
We had a good audience for our first set.
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27th October - Springfields Christmas Lights
We were pleased to be invited to be the main music attraction at Springfields for the switching on of the Christmas lights. We were told we would be on the stage.
Didn't quite go according to plan! The stage was only large enough for the drum kit (Tony in the limelight at last) and 2 basses - they were under cover - the other 24 of us were in the open in the drizzle and rain. Music was damaged; we tried to play with music in plastic sleeves, but the rain blurred the music and we were mainly restricted to single sheet music (turning music over was a nightmare). Added to that the switch-on overran by half an hour, so we continued playing and got wetter. Then we were sprayed by wet, sludgy fake snow, as part of the 'entertainment'!
The evening ended at home drying off and rescuing as much music as possible.
28th October - Masonic Hall, Last Night of the Proms
What a great night - probably our best concert ever. We had some extra help - 2 cornets, 2 trombones and 2 basses - which improved the overall sound considerably.
It didn't go according to plan (again). We were due to play at 7.15pm while the audinece had a meal; then a break before our full Last Night of the Proms concert; it was not due to end until 10.30 - a bit of a worry with half a dozen young players. Unfortunately the start was delayed by half an hour because more guests turned up than expected and the organiers had to re-organise the tables.
We played incidental music while the guests were eated nad ate the first course, then we had a break while they finished their meal. We returned for the full concert.
Highlight of the concert was the James Bond Collection, but the audience enjoyed singing along to Keep Smiling Through and the 'Last Night' usuals. We were asked to play encors for Rule Britania, Hornpipe from Sea Songs and, of course Land of Hope and Glory.
29th Ocotber - Terrington Memorial Field
A pleasant afternoon at Terrington St Clement for thir Autumn Extravaganza. It was well attended but the organisers had put the band's marquee too far away from the main activities, so we did not have much of an audience! We were a bit light on cornet players, but principal cornet Steven Butter did a great job. We played mainly llight incidental music.
13th November - Remembrance Sunday
Our regular Remembrance Day at Holbeach St Marks. We've been there every year since we were formed 40 years ago.
This was one of our best! The band played well; the weather was very pleasant. Steven Butter played Last Post and Reveille at the War Memorial; Kevin King played Last Post and Reveille in the Church during the service.
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