Towcester Studio Band hold spring concert

There are a cluster of key dates during April and May including St George’s Day, the Queen’s birthday and VE Day Anniversary,and so the band created a programme of music that showcased these and other significant dates.

The concert was the first local performance under the musical direction of TSB’s new MD Neil Brownless.

Neil’s association with the band began in the autumn of 2014 when he deputised on trombone at a couple of events, and conducted the band at some rehearsals.

One of the band’s favourite concert venues is St Lawrence Church, Towcester. TSB has performed there hundreds of times over the years and the Church was decorated with Union Flag bunting, flags were handed to the audience and everyone was encouraged to exercise their lungs.

Neil selected a varied programme that was easy listening but also challenged the band. The concert was opened with the march Standard of St George, and followed by a trumpet solo ‘Virtuosity’ by Tom Stoneman. Tom is a member of numerous Northamptonshire music groups including the County Youth Brass Band. He was invited to join the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain earlier this year and will take up a position of study at Birmingham Conservatoire in September.

Several well known pieces including Jerusalem, Men of Harlech and Fantasy on British Sea Songs were interspersed with other solo spots. Dave Nicholson, the principal cornet played a rendition of Miss Blue Bonnet. Dave has played at the highest level in the brass band world and once helped out the famous Grimethorpe Band during one of their visits to Northamptonshire. He has enjoyed a couple of spells with TSB on both cornet, tenor horn and flugel horn.

Keeping with our principal players, Andy Rigby who recently returned to play solo euphonium literally hadn’t touched his euphonium for eight years following a break for work and family reasons. His performance of Rule Britannia was hugely appreciated by the audience. The solo euphonium seat became vacant a few months previously when the band said farewell to another one of its young players. Will Wilkins left for university but the Wilkins family is still represented as Will’s younger sister Annie is now a regular baritone player.

The night was rounded off with the Dam Busters march.

The committee and members of TSB appreciate the support from patrons, the local people of Towcester and the surrounding villages and the band look forward to meeting everyone again soon at their autumn Concert. Further details about concert dates how you can support the band by becoming a patron can be found on the Band’s website.

TSB are constantly recruiting new players in various sections around the band due to members leaving to go to university or retiring from playing. To find out more visit the website at www.towcesterstudioband.co.uk or email [email protected]