Last Night of the Proms

Saturday 15 October

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.

Autumn Coffee Morning

Saturday 8th October

The Training Band performed an entertaining couple of hours of music whilst the audience enjoyed a cuppa and, as you will see from the photo, the delicious homemade cakes as well.

It was a great opportunity for the band to not only play some familiar favourites but also try out some new pieces including those being performed next Saturday, 15th October, at Verwood Concert Brass' big Proms Concert at the Verwood Hub, alongside performances from the Verwood Town Band and the Verwood Concert Brass band.

Cream Tea Picnic in the Park Cross Over

This is a lovely part of what brass banding is about - putting on a free concert in the local community and seeing loads of people turn up to come and listen and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music . . . and the cream teas, ice-creams and cakes!

Such a lovely day for mid September too.

 

That's it for outside concerts for this year. Fingers crossed for some nice weather again next year.

Summer Concert

Saturday 23rd July

The Summer Concert at The Verwood Hub was not only summer hot temperature but the music was hot too!

It kicked off with Verwood Concert Brass doing a reprise of the start of their winning SCABA Entertainments Contest set with ‘Blackbird Special’ leading straight into Armenian Fire Dance. This was followed by a lovely trumpet duet, ‘Spanish Trumpets’ played by Elaine Close and Emma Graves.

The Verwood Training Band as usual played their up-beat numbers with gusto and showing that the band can play some pretty contemporary music by closing their set with ‘Brassed Up Funk!’ but that was not before MD Mike Dunnings surprised principle cornet player Naomi Selby-Grace with the results of her grade 5 cornet exam result which he announced live on stage – she passed with merit. Well done Naomi.

Verwood Town Band opened the second half which included a couple of piece from the film Brassed Off – ‘The Cross of Honour’ march and a foot tapping rendition of the ‘Clog Dance’. Principal cornet player, Jane Bray, also played a delightful solo piece ‘Share My Yoke’.

Closing the show Verwood Concert Brass kept the lively pace going with La Fiesta and the Earth, Wind and Fire number ‘In The Stone’ and also a superb trombone trio of Emma Button, Georgina Carter and Steve Close playing Cole Porter’s ‘It’s Alright With Me’.

The bands will be playing at a number of event over the summer but our next Hub Concert will be our Proms themed concert on Saturday 15th October. See you there!

Youth Band Performs at the Barrington Theater

Friday 1st July

Verwood Youth Band about to take to the stage at the Barrington Theater in aid of the Richard Ely Trust. Well done all.

Blushing Brass

Blushing Brass, the all-female brass band of Verwood Concert Brass, was joined by many other female brass players from over 20 other bands to enjoy The Big Blush – a whole day music workshop and mini concert to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now. The event raised a fabulous £1,300 for the charity.

Around 70 female brass players gathered at 9am at Parkstone Grammar School in Poole on Saturday 25th June to commence a fun packed day of music making through all-band rehearsals and break-out sectional workshops, culminating in a fabulous hour long concert to show off what a great sound they could make.

Blushing Brass was formed a few years ago by Verwood Concert Brass player Jan Tiller after being inspired by Boobs & Brass, the all-female fund raising brass band. Last year Blushing Brass and Boobs & Brass held a fantastic joint concert but this year Jan wanted to try something a little different and struck on the idea of getting ladies together for a whole day workshop.

It was a brilliant success. The day was led by Verwood Town Band conductor, Emma Button, who also doubled up as the trombone, Euphonium and baritone sectional tutor. Other experienced players also led sectional workshops for the cornet sections, horns and basses. The attendees were also well looked after during the breaks by volunteer helps serving refreshments including an array of delicious homemade cakes.

The day closed with the mini concert, with all of the ladies dressed in pink and treating the appreciative audience to pieces such as “I’m Still Standing”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “Let It Go” and finally “Happy”.

Jan Tiller was more than happy though saying “It was a really fabulous day made possible by so many fantastic helpers. It was so rewarding to see everyone having such a great time and I have had so many comments about how great it was for the ladies from so many different bands to all get together in such a friendly atmosphere. Ultimately it raised lots of money for such a worthwhile charity by doing what we love doing. Now everyone wants to do it again!”

 

Pentridge Village Fete

Saturday 11th June

The Training Band performed at Pentridge Village Fete. The weather was very unsettled but for the most part stayed dry.