Lydney
Town Band is
an unsponsored, non-profit making organisation,
dedicated to the promotion of Brass band music, and the
provision of brass instrumental musical education
within the local community.
Training Band Tutors nominated for Community Awards!
Trust you have all seen brothers Roger and Ken Powell in the
newspapers, having gone through to the Top 5 of
the 'Pride of Gloucestershire Community Awards'.
The citation read
-
'Roger and
Ken Powell are two brothers who have dedicated more than
half a century to their beloved Lydney Town Band. The brass
band was formed more than 100 years ago and is still going
strong today.
The brothers, who
both play the cornet, have been involved in developing a new
generation of musicians offering free coaching to young
people who want to play in the band.
The band has
competed at the highest level over the years with many of
the musicians going onto forge successful careers in the
industry'.
They were rewarded at
a lavish Oscars-style ceremony at Cheltenham Town Hall
hosted by Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine and BBC
Radio Gloucestershire Breakfast Show presenter Mark
Cummings.
Judges for the awards,
organised by Gloucestershire Media, publishers of the
Gloucestershire Echo, Citizen and Forester newspapers, said
it had been an incredibly difficult task to choose the best
from a shortlist where everyone was a hero.
If you are a brass band player who has just become resident
in this area, or have recently been 'resting', then why not come
along to the Senior Band on Friday nights. Kerry and
Kevin and the others will make you welcome, as well as
offering you the chance to make a real contribution.
All
standards of players can come along, even if you are
already committed to another band and just fancy a different
'blow’ for a change, in a friendly environment, with the
promise of a 'pint' afterwards!.
In
addition to this, the
Training Band
section continues to develop
under the guidance of experienced tutors. Individual
tuition is given to the youngsters who can opt to take
the nationally recognised Associated Music Board Exam 'grades', which is by
far the best way to progress in order to become a proficient
all round instrumentalist.
Book the Band! -
Please contact Kerry Ford on 01594 530886
(Secretary) or email:
secretary@lydmetlydney.co.uk
if you want to discuss any aspect of the band, or to book
for your event.
The Lydney Band Podcast is now available to download -
Live on the web!
Four
tracks from the band's CD are featured in the 05th August
2007 Podcast produced 'down under' by hosts Lucas Burns and
Peter Ryan, and can be found on their website
www.brasscast.com
The
27 minute MP3 compilation, which you can download to your PC
or iPod, contains the
march Lydney
Park, - the blues Georgia On My Mind
with soloist Greg Morgan, - the 23rd psalm tune Crimond
in the arrangment by Peter Graham, and Bohemian Rhapsody
by Freddy Mercury arranged by Darrol Barry, as well as an
interview about the band.
Battle of
Britain' Concert on 10th September 2006 in Lydney
Town Hall was given the thumbs up by the enthusiastic
audience of townsfolk and assembled civic dignitaries. Local
Cadet unit colours paraded to the march 'RAF March
Past', followed by a memorable concert program that
contained much of the music associated with this event and
time in our history.
Eight year old
David Crow from the Training Band stole the show with an
amazing performance in true 'Von Trapp family' fashion, of
'Edelweiss' from 'The Sound of Music'.
Later, the roar of
Merlin engines in Lancaster and Spitfire, followed by
Churchill 's famous words from his speech 'The Few' provided
the perfect prelude to band's performance of the stirring
March from the film 'The Dam Busters'. Also included
was an audience 'sing-along' selection, ably led by our very
own, Mr Des Yeates.
1st
TROMBONE VACANCY: -
After almost half a
century of banding, Lydney's 1st trombone Dave Jenkins has
retired!
The search is now on
to find a local player with Dave's experience and dedication
to the band, who can also lead, and help develop a first
class trombone section.
A number of key
positions are now vacant as a result of recent senior
players retiring.
Members
of Lydney Band joined forces with Parkend Silver on Friday
19th May to greet the arrival of HRH The Princess Royal at Parkend Station, where a plaque was ceremoniously
unveiled to commemorate the new extension of the
Forest of Dean Railway from Norchard to Parkend. After
a short concert program to entertain the VIP's, and
assembled crowd awaiting the Princesse's arrival, the band struck up 'Congratulations'
when the Princess unveiled the plaque.
Special trains were laid
on to escort the Lydney band members and VIP's to and from
Parkend Station from Norchard..
Steam engine 'Bradley
Manor' had been suitably spruced up for the occasion.
Proms
- 'Last Night' style concert on Saturday
20th May 2006.
The
Town Hall Lydney, was the venue for this
popular flag waving ritual that featured soprano soloist Sue Black,
who delighted a large audience with solo arias by Franz Lehar.
The
band performed many favourites from it's repertoire and the Training
Band demonstrated remarkable progress, by contributing
several short pieces and solo items under Kevin Ford's
baton.
Sue
returned to lead to the flag waving and sing the
Traditional 'Last Night' patriotic favourites which
rounded off this gala evening of musical festivities to the obvious enthusiastic enjoyment of the audience!
Cavalry
arrive in nick of time for 2006 Regionals!
With only 6 days to go
before the the West of England regional contest, two of the
bass seats crucially remained to be filled!
Then the Cavalry
arrived !
Jetting into town from
Columbus Ohio, USA, especially to join the Lydney band for
the contest, came Patrick Herak and Sean Maloney - both
experienced American bass players with British Brass Bands
back in the States! These guys were soon up to speed
on the parts - which was great - especially as the final
week of preparation was dogged by a severe virus spreading
through the bandroom, affecting over half the band members,
and preventing bass player Robin Cawley from taking part!
Neil
Crowe with Sean and Patrick
Sean and Patrick had time for
a quick tour of the sights of the Forest of Dean and
surrounding area, visiting Symonds' Yat, Chepstow and St.
Briavels Castles, Tintern Abbey etc, followed by a
profitable day at the Cheltenham Race Festival!
The Lydney
Band of 2006 at Torquay -
The band with
conductor Cptn.Tim Cooper pictured in the hotel Ballroom,
Torquay.
Percussionists Amy & Garytook the title of Alan Fernie's vibrant arrangement of
Cole Porter's '..be a
clown' quiteliterally at the Town Hall
concert that launched Lydney British Legion's 2006 fund
raising Appeal!
£700
was raised by the event, conducted in spirited fashion by Capt.Tim Cooper. The concert also featured
The Forest of Dean Male Voice Choir.
3rd place
in 1st Section at GBBA!
In
spite of an enthusiastic audience reaction to the Band's
programme at the GBBA entertainment contest on 12th
February, Adjudicator Stan Lippeatt marked the band down to
184 points, resulting in 3rd place amongst the 1st section
competitors..
-
Mephistopheles :had a 'confident start' with 'neat
trio' and 'good solid ending', but p
not soft enough.
-
A Time for Peace :
'Fine horn sound', but 'accompaniment
a shade too strong'
Philip Hunt's popular
radio programme broadcast on Sunday 16th May included the
track 'BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY' from
the Lydmet Lydney Band's CD!
This was followed by a track
by the City of
Bristol Brass Band under the
baton of one of Lydmet Lydney's frequent Guest Conductors -
Bryn James. Dan Winder (recently playing Flugal for
Lydney), was the cornet soloist in Stephen Roberts popular
arrangement of the 'LONDONDERRY AIR'. The
show is broadcast by many local radio stations in the South.
BBC Radio Bristol 94.9, Cornwall 95.2, Devon 103.4,
Gloucestershire 104.7, Guernsey 93.2, Jersey 88.8, Swindon
103.6, Wiltshire104.3FM
£2,000 raised
for local Cancer Charity in Concert
The Charity concert organized
on Saturday 21st February 2004 raised around £2000 towards a
building expansion program at the Oncology Department within
Cheltenham Hospital. Band stalwart Brian White had been
receiving treatment at the department.
Brian's eldest son Andrew
White guest conducted
the band and brother Kevin compered the show in his inimitable
fashion. The concert which also featured the 'Chepstow Male
Voice Choir' conducted by Brian Howard, provided an
entertaining program of 'Music
from the Stage & Screen'.
The large audience present at
the Forest Theatre, Five Acres, near Coleford, was certainly
impressed, and showed their appreciation throughout.