NEWSLETTER FOR WIND AND BRASS PLAYERS
Dates Summer 2012 ~ Rehearsals start on the first day of term!
| April | |
| Thurs 26 |
08.30 JSW perform – Chaplain’s assembly (details t.b.c.) 19.00 Chamber Concert (Chapel) – rehearsals t.b.c. - Woodwind and Brass Chamber Music Brass Ensemble rehearse 16.00 in the Auditorium |
| May | |
| Tues 1 Fri 4 Thurs 10 Sat 12 Sun 13 Tues 15 Mon 21 |
19.00 Chamber Concert (Music School) - VI.2 Leavers 19.00 Brass Band, Jazz Band and SW Farewell Concert (Blake Theatre) 19.00 Junior Ensembles Concert (Blake Theatre) - JSW Grange Band to play at Grange Open Morning – arrangements t.b.c. 11.00 Symphonic Winds ‘Prague Band’ workshop (Blake Theatre) 16.00 Brass Ensemble Workshop with Grange PIV Brass and Percussion players (Pavilion) 19.00 Hatton-Bucknall Woodwind Competition - (Music School) |
| June | |
| Thurs 21 Thurs 28 |
12.00 Grange Band and Choir depart for Bridges 13.00 Grange Band and Choir perform at Bridges Tea Dance Form III Band musicians visit RWCMD |
| July | |
| Mon 2 Fri 6 Sat 7 Sun 8 |
19.00 Symphonic Winds ‘Prague Band’ Tour Concert (Priory Church of St. Mary) Rehearsals from 16.00 t.b.c. 11.00 Grange Prize Giving (Marquee) - Grange Band plays at reception 13.40 Chamber Choir and Brass Band rehearsal (Priory Church) 08.45 Chamber Choir and Brass Band rehearsal (Priory Church) 09.45 The Commemoration Service 11.00 Prize Giving Symphonic Winds (Prague Band) play at post-Speech reception Symphonic Winds departs for Prague and Bohemia (return 16th July) |
Looking further ahead
Sunday 16th September – celebration of 25 years of concert band work at Monmouth School
Brass Band
A great deal of hard work was put in last term thanks to you all and I’m looking forward to our programme at the Farewell Concert on the 4th May. Due to two other musical events on Tuesdays please make a note of these two dates when there will not be a rehearsal - 8th and 15th May. After the Farewell Concert we will be preparing the music for the Commemoration Service on 7th July. As always during the external exam season boys in the 5th and 6th forms are very welcome to rehearsal whenever you can manage it.
The workshop at the Pavilion on May 15th will be a new venture this term and I know that the boys in PIV are looking forward to it. Thanks in advance to the 9 Piece Brass Ensemble (and Alex) for your help with this event. After we have worked on some pieces individually and together there will be an informal performance for parents and friends at 5.30pm.
ARB
Jazz Band
Thank you and congratulations for your performance at the Shire Hall. Not only was our music enjoyed by the Monmouth Women's Festival award winners but we entertained many at the Punch House and Wetherspoons too! There will be some alterations to the programme for our performance at the Farewell Concert so I would appreciate a prompt start please at 1.50pm on Thursday 26th April.
ARB
Grange Band
Last term we welcomed new members to the ensemble, taking our numbers to over 30 players.
By popular request, the theme from Transformers and Raiders March (Raiders of the Lost Ark) are both in the pads for performance this term! These will include a performance at Grange Assembly (t.b.c.), an outing to the Bridges Centre – where the band was warmly received last year – and playing at the post-speech reception at the end of term
PGD
Junior Symphonic Winds
Silver Award at the National Concert Band Festival finals at The Royal Academy of Music in London
Around one-third of the band had parents/grandparents/siblings/friends there travelling by a variety of methods ranging from motorbike to aeroplane!
JSW has been in the National Finals of the NCBF for three consecutive years – no mean feat for a band that is entirely without audition and with an average age of around 12½ years. Each year there have been no more than half-a-dozen bands in the junior category of the finals, most of which are county-based or music centre bands.
Congratulations to the ensemble – and huge thanks to Miss Beak, Mr Hathaway and Mr Jones for their help
New music in the pads for the concert next term so make sure you are all there ……..
PGD
Symphonic Winds
Thank you for your work during ‘tight-rope’ term.
The performance at Headmaster’s Assembly was well received by the school and I was astonished and very pleased that the entire band was seated and ready at 08.30 so thanks for that! This was followed on the same day by SW being visited by the Haberdashers’ Deputation during a routine rehearsal in the Glover Music School – again there has been some very pleasing feedback.
This term sees the usual ‘farewell’ concert during which we thank those members who are leaving the band for their contribution to the ensemble – thereafter, Monday rehearsals are given over to rehearsals of the ‘Prague Band’ and preparation of the programme for that adventure ………………
PGD
Please know where you need to be and when – this is going to be quite a busy term ……….
Mrs. Dollins Miss Beak