As always the VCB Proms concert is a great evening involving lots of audience participation with flag waving, clapping and singing.
To get the audience off to a flying start the Verwood Training Band set the mood by including 'I Vow to Thee, My Country' and 'Land of Hope and Glory' in their set plus, as a tribute to Sir Terry Wogan, a great rendition of 'The Floral Dance'.
Next up were Verwood Concert Brass Band whose set included superb solo performances from Andrew Watson on soprano cornet playing 'Lyrica' and Emma Button on trombone performing 'Traumerei'. The first half closed with a fabulously powerful performance of 'Tocatta from Suite Gothique'.
Opening the second half Verwood Town Band included all three movements of the Vaughan Williams 'English Folk Songs Suite' nicely setting the tone of some patriotism before the return of Verwood Concert Brass Band to close off the evening with all of the traditional last night of the proms pieces.
These included 'Fantasia on British Sea Songs', Jerusalem' and 'Pomp and Circumstance March No1'. MD Kevin Smith really encouraged the audience to full participation reminding them that last year they were singing along to a first section band but this year they were singing along to a championship band so nothing less than championship singing, flag waving and clapping would do.
They certainly were a champion audience befitting of a champion proms concert.
