The Verwood Hub was absolutely packed with over 300 people eager to enjoy the Christmas concert and they weren’t disappointed.
The concert kicked off with the ever-enthusiastic Verwood Training Band all dressed up in various Christmassy outfits including conductor Mike Dunnings in his festive waistcoat. Their set included a sing-a-long ‘Holly and the Ivy’ carol and closed off with the good old favourite of Slade’s ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’.
Next up was the Verwood Concert Brass Band all looking very smart dressed up to the nines and playing some top quality Christmas arrangements such as ‘The Snowman’ and ‘Jingles Bells’. But in a new feature, which will happen in future concerts, a player from one of the other bands will be invited to play a solo with the principal band. On this occasion, it was Naomi Selby-Grace on cornet, who plays in the Training Band, Youth Band and Town Band, that had the wonderful opportunity to perform ‘Silent Stars Go By’. Very well done Naomi.
After the interval Verwood Town Band, also dressed up in Christmas costumes too, got straight to it with some audience participation of swaying and standing up (and how could you not?) to a great rendition of ‘Schneewalzer’, plus a sing-a-long to ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’, and closing off their set with another popular foot-tapper, ‘Stop the Cavalry’.
Back on with Verwood Concert Brass Band to close the show and what a hilarious start to the set with Steve Rowland ‘performing’ the ‘Yuletide Gallop’ on post horn – it must be seen to be believed - See video clip below.
By way of contrast Ian Harris on euphonium then gave a sublime solo performance of ‘O Holy Night’. Further audience participation occurred with ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ and ‘Hark the Herald’. The Band really demonstrated how it was now the best band in Dorset and now ranked 111th in the world by closing the concert with a very powerful performance of ‘Kingdom Triumphant’ but sent a very happy audience home with smiles on their faces with an encore piece of ‘Christmas Bolero’.
Verwood Concert Brass would like to wish everybody a very merry Christmas.
