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.

Verwood Carnival 2016

Monday 30th May

Bank Holiday Monday was the day of the Verwood Carnival and the band were proud to lead the carnival parade around the town as it has done since the very first Verwood Carnival in 1927.

It was great to see members from all three VCB bands, Verwood Concert Brass, Verwood Town Band and Verwood Training Band, making up a representative band who all played and marched exceptionally well to the enjoyment of the roadside spectators.

Thanks to local amateur photographer, John Larry, for the photos.

How Entertaining!

On Sunday 22nd May both Verwood Concert Brass and Verwood Town Band travelled all the way to Crawley in West Sussex where both bands took on the new challenge of competing in an entertainment contest. Furthermore it was venturing east, outside of our normal West of England region, to compete against bands based in the southern counties region.

Normally we are used to being judged on our ability to play one technically challenging test piece at contests but with an entertainment contest, you play a short programme of about five pieces and as well as getting judged on playing ability, the bands are also judged on entertainment value and presentation.

The Town Band were in the B Section of the contest up against bands from 2nd, 3rd and 4th sections and as a 4th section band it was always going to be tough going particularly against 2nd section bands.

Once again the Town Band were drawn to play 1st and got the contest off to a great start and at the end of Section B it earned them some well deserved silverware, being awarded the prize for the best 3rd or 4th section band (that was not one of the top three bands) and beat a 2nd section band as well. A great result.

As well as Verwood opening the contest it closed it as well, as Verwood Concert Brass were the last band to play in Section A which was for championship and 1st section bands. Although VCB may have been considered to be the favourites they certainly didn't disappoint with a stunning and very entertaining programme for which they won 1st prize. Brilliant!

 

Both bands thoroughly enjoyed the experience so perhaps it will mark further ventures in to entertainment contests.

What a cracking Training Band Coffee Morning Concert.

It is quite a big event for the Training Band to perform a whole two hour concert considering they rehearse just once a week for one hour but everyone agreed they sounded fabulous with a brilliant selection of entertaining music.

It was also an opportunity to publicly thank Pat Morrow, ex Mayor of Verwood, who during her term of office chose to support the training band as one of her charities.

As a result of her fund raising the band now present themselves in very smart VCB branded black jackets and ties. What's more the band were also able to buy a new set of music stands to replace the somewhat well used and wonky previous set. Thank you Pat.

Our new starter group, The Acorns, also joined in and played a few pieces on their own during the interval.

The Training Band are in great demand this summer playing at numerous garden and village fetes in the area - a demonstration of just how good they are.

Hopefully you will see and hear them when you are out and about.