David Grey

20-Jun-05: various updates and moves

(20-Jun-05) We've had several player changes over the last few weeks. It's with regret that we say goodbye to James and Andrew (cornet and trombone respectively), not to mention Michelle (horn) who has suceeded in getting away from her husband! We wish them well with their new Bands and would like to say that they'll always be welcome back. By the same token, we're delighted to welcome Claire and Rob (soprano and solo cornet) and John Smith how, despite coming with a cornet, has somehow ended up with an Eb Bass. Also thanks to Nick's wife Rosie Stokes who is helping out on 2nd Trom.

There were a few changes in postholder at the recent Annual General Meeting. We were sorry to see John Grayson resign as Chairman after a number of years at the helm. John's place has been taken by Peter Bryan who many of you will know as a long-time supporter of the Band. Peter's previous role as vice chair has been filled by Kim Wear.

20-Jun-05: Homepage

I've caught up much of the recent happenings on the site home page. please check it out for the latest stuff - I'll move it on to here when it's updated. Also, I'm in the process of updating the player lists and appearance schedule. It's all go....

10-Apr-05 : Catchup

As I've explained on the home page, I've had a few problems of late keeping things up to date. However, I'm back on stream.

Since the beginning of the year, we've had a few ups and downs including the departure of Musical Director Ian Scott. We did however manage to secure the services of ex-Stocksbridge MD Derek Renshaw to see us through the Area. Also, we were honoured to be be approached by BBC TV in London to take part in Flashmob 2005 The Opera which took place at Meadowhall on Thursday 7th April.

07-Nov-04 : We've moved!!!

Ater many years at Chapelgreen Community College, the Band has moved. Whilst the old location had several advantages, it was too small; rehearsing with percussion was almost impossible and the low roof was doing our sound production no favours at all. So, after much searching, we've settled on a new location just up the road in High Green. Our rehearsal times haven't altered, but if you're looking for the Band, you'll now need to go to St Saviours Church Hall on Mortomley Road. Although on this link the star is on Packhorse Lane, our Bandroom is just around the corner on the main road before the turning to Packhorse Lane (heading west). Parking is either on the main road or on Packhorse Lane.

We'd like to thank all the people at Chapelgreen for their support over the years.

New Player News (19th July 2004)

We were sorry to see our principal Euphonium Adam Lessard return to Atlanta after his course in the UK and we wish Adam all the best with his playing career.

It's nice however to welcome some new players into the fold. On Eb Horn, we welcome Chris Batty, on Bb Cornet Chris Almey, and hopefully news of a couple more signings over the next few days.

Updates 14-May-2004

Our last position in the Area contest meant we were up for relegation. Despite our best efforts, our appeal was rejected, so after one year in the Top Section, we find ourselves back in the First. Ah well, it was good while it lasted, and at least we can say "we woz there".

On Sunday, we're playing for Chesterfield Guides (or Scouts - I get confused) Parade in, err, Chesterfield. (That's the place with the church with the funny-shaped spire for all you North-Sheffield lot). Next Saturday (22-May-2004), we're back at the Newton Hall, this time as guests of Wortley Rotary for their Annual fundraising concert. We've got a couple of guest players doing solo spots for this outing. On trombone, Rachel Botham and on Flugel, Bridgette Scott, so if you're in the area, please come and give them some support.

Although I can't promise it making interesting reading, I've just started a blog. Comments are welcome!

Archived from 14-May-2004

We've just got off a busy weekend. It was the Patrons Concert on Friday 23rd and on the Saturday, we were leading a parade for Firth Park Community Centre. Somehow, I've always contrived to be on holiday for these two jobs in the past!

On behalf of the Band, I'd like to thank everyone that helped out over the weekend, sometimes at short notice.

For anyone interested in the old contest photo, I've hived it off to a seperate page.

We've also had a few player moves. If you'd like to apply for any of the vacant posts, please contact me.

Seeya soon, Julia! (08-Mar-04)

First Horn player Julia Hindley will be stepping down for a while to concentrate on being a Mum following the birth of her and Andy's son Christopher on 1st January. In her place, we're delighted to announce that Mark Taylor will be joining us. Mark's wife Michelle also plays with the Band.

We all wish Julia the very best. We know whe'll stay in touch because husband Andy will still be wielding the trombone in a dangerous and threatening manner!

We'd also like to publicly thank all those players that helped us out for the Area (some under duress eh, Andy?), and those that took up alternative instruments at sometimes short notice.

Not much happening

As you'll have seen if you've just come from the homepage, there's not much happening at the moment, mainly due to the amount of time being put in to the Area Test Piece. I'll try and update with the contest results when I get home next Sunday. We'll be appearing at Stocksbridge Victory Club on 4th April.

Disappointing result at St Helens

Last. What can I say? We though we were in with a shoult. To be honest, I don't think our choice of music agreed with the adjudicator. C'est la vie. Tristran Encounters here we come...

Who's conducting what?!

Ian's divvied up the Christmas schedule so we can now announce who will be the one with the white stick at each of the jobs on the list this year.

Ian will be doing St. Patricks School, Grenoside Carol Concert and the Newton Hall Carol Concert. David will be in front for Sitwell Golf Club, St. Saviours, Warren Lane Methodist and the British Legion.

What's on (09-Nov-03)?

On Sunday 16th November, we'll be up in St Helens for the Wilkinsons contest playing somethign arranged by Eric Ball. Wait and see what it is!

On Sunday 9th November, we started the day with a march leading the Chapeltown Royal British Legion Rememberance Parade around Chapeltown. Our euphonium player and his girlfriend (Adam and Erica) from over the water are certainly getting a crash course in British culture and public events. Also, it was only at the start of the march outside the Legion that we found out that Rep player Karen Mahood (ex of Manx Concert Brass) had never marched before.

We'll be at the Legion tonight (kick-off 8pm) for the traditional Rememberance concert. The middle set will be the contest programme from last Sunday, so if you want to hear Adam playing Czardas, get down to the Legion tonight!

Nov-03: News and contest roundup

Malton Contest

We finished fourth in Malton. Our programme was Champions, Czardas (played superbly by Adam Lessard on Euph), 'Mid all the Traffic, Breakout from Cry of the Celts, Ugly Duckling (arr. Fernie) and Ayres of Agincourt. If you want to hear this programme again, we'll be playing it as the middle set of the Rememberance Day concert at Chapeltown British Legion on Sunday 9th November. Although a bit disappointed with the result, one consolation is that our guys got the award for most versatile percussion section (helped no doubt be the lorry-load of kit we took on stage), and in general, a good day out was had by all.

Oct-03: Autumn concert roundup

For the 150 or so people that attended our recent Autumn Concert, thanks very much - it was great to see you all. As usual, Ian Scott picked a wide variety of new music to entertain everyone with over 50% of the programme being new material. I don't think I'll ever be able to get the vision of him in that Union Jack shirt quite out of my mind. I wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat... truly the stuff of nightmares .

Check out the concert schedule to see where we're in action next. We're going to be busy for the next few weeks working on the test piece for Wilkinsons in November and a programme for the Malton entertainments contest. There are also a couple of other announcements in the pipeline, so keep us bookmarked!

Oct-03: New player signings

The Band are delighted to announce three new player signings.

On Principal Euphonium, the Band are pleased to welcome Adam Lessard. Adam is studying Euphonium at the RNCM. He hails from Athens in the state of Georgia, USA and previously majored in the Euphonium at Georgia State University.

On Solo Cornet, a little nearer home, Karen Mahood joins the Band from Manx Concert Brass. Karen is a second year student at Sheffield University.

Finally, joining on second trombone is Andrew Groom.

On behalf of the Band, I'd like to wish all the above players the very best during their stay with us.

Autumn Concert programme

Our Autumn Concert at the Newton Hall features yet more new music in our repetoire.

On 3rd October, you'll be able to hear, amongst others:

Fanfare for Rocky
A Nightingale Sang in Berkely Square
Swedish Hymn
Selection from Porgy and Bess
Keep Smilin' Through (selection)
Pomp and Circumstance
Rhapsody for Euphonium (Curnow)
Ayres of Agincourt

The second half of the program, by request follows more of a Last Night of the Proms-type theme, but the first features loads of new music.

Contact the band for more information.

End of the 2003 Summer Season

Well, the summer concert season has drawn to a close with a sucessful paddle in the sea at Scarborough (actually, playing on the Bandstand in Peasholm Park). We've also had jobs in Dewsbury town centre and Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury (yours truly waving the stick) and Bagshaw Museum, Batley with Ian in command (as indeed he was at Scarborough) (and secretly, his presence looms over us all the time :-), not forgetting the anniversary concert at Chapeltown British Legion. A thanks should go out to all the players we've had helping us over the holiday season this year - it's much appreciated.

Ian has also told me his movements around Christmas (based, no doubt around the Sheffield United fixture list - there's a joke in there:-), so some unsuspecting souls are going to get me for the night!

Archived News from 8th September 2003

Our next job is our Autumn Concert at the Newton Hall on 3rd October. It's not currently on the web site schedule, but I'll fix that soon. More news of what's to come on the program later...

I've also fixed the photo album. I don't know what happened there, but for some reason, the top bar links ended up pointing at a static page rather than the database script. It must have been me pressing the wrong Dreamweaver button or something. Ah well.

I've also got some great news if you don't get a chance to listen to the Band on a reguar basis. Whilst at the last Newton Hall concert, I took some video of the Band. Although the video is singularly uninspiring (we don't move around much and I was playing rather than filming), the audio lifted from the digital video is of reasonable (but certainly not studio) quality.

I've just moved three of the tracks from the concert to the web server. Check out the recordings page (bottom). There are three mp3 files there: Thunderbirds, The Great Escape and Augies Municipal Band. The latter's a bit special. It was the first public playing of this arrangement by Ian Scott.

If you like the photo album (what do you mean, you've never seen it?), there are some photos from August Bank Holiday weekend when we played on the Bandstand in the middle of the boating lake in Peasholm Park, Scarborough.

On the player front, we hope to have some positive announcements soon, but in the meantime...