Reviews

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30th November 2007, Concert by Lions Youth Brass for Cancer Research. On Friday 30th November, all bands were performing in a concert to raise money for Cancer Research. The concert started with the beginners band, with Andrew Felton in total control as Chris and Hayley were not present. It was nice to hear some different pieces and to hear the band in fine form. Well done to Andrew and the band. Next was the Junior Brass, with Sarah Raisbeck. Here again we had new tunes to enjoy and the band, under Sarah's Guidence get better everytime we hear them. In the second half The Youth Band took centre stage and were in fine form. After a couple concert items, we heard Danielle Unwin, on Flugel Horn, playing the very popular, I Don't Know How To Love Him, and she played very well, and Danielle will play a lot more solos in the months to come. We had some carols, ( yes in November ) and Jingle Bells. We finished off with The Can Can and Auld Lang Syne. A full house gave all band's a standing ovation at the end of an enjoyable evening. The next event is The Christmas Concert at Sandbach High School on Tuesday 18th December. Nigel Birch Musical Director Lions Youth Brass 17th November 2007, Concert by Lions Youth Brass for Newcastle Lions Club. The band began its program with the five pieces which they are playing next week at The Tameside Contest. This proved to be a good run out for the band to play these pieces, and although played very well, it has given me a few things to sort out for the weekend. Both soloists, Neil and Alex performed very well. Having got these out of the way the band settled down to play some general concert items, which also included the quartet of Abbie Edwards, Amy Ball, Zach Rogerson and Susannah Ball playing Clouds and Sunshine. We finished the first half with the ever-popular Instant Concert. The second half saw much of the same with popular pieces, such as New York, New York, and also included a quartet by Tom Hancock, Matthew Darlington, Neil Raisbeck and Alex Holsgrove, entitled, Dear Is My Little Native Vale. The concert finished with The Can Can. The band performed really well, particularly as the band has been concentrating on the competition music. The full programme was as follows: March: Star Lake: Eric Ball Tenor Horn Solo: Rhapsody For Soprano Cornet: Robert Eaves, Soloist: Neil Raisbeck Hymn Tune: As The Deer: Martyn Nystrom Euphonium Solo: The Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair: Stephen Foster, Soloist: Alex Holsgrove Film Music: The Pirates Of The Caribbean: Bruce Fraser Film Music: The Lion Sleeps Tonight: Stephen Elfman. Quartet: Clouds And Sunshine, Featuring: Abbie Edwards, Amy Ball. Zach Rogerson and Susannah Ball Selection: Instant Concert: Harold Walters Interval Popular: New York, New York: Frank Sinatra Film Music: Toy Story: Disney Quartet: Dear Is My Little Native Vale, Featuring Tom Hancock, Matthew Darlington. Neil Raisbeck and Alex Holsgrove Composition: Four Meets Seven: Patrick Milestone Popular: Super Trouper: ABBA Hymn Tune: To Be Requested Percussion Feature: Facinating Drums: Ted Huggens, Soloist: Mark Thomas Finale: Can Can:Offenbach The next concert is at Goostrey on Friday 30th November, when all three bands will be performing. Nigel Birch Musical Director, Lions Youth Brass 12th October 2007, Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre Friday 12th October saw the Youth Band in action at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre with proceeds going to The Comprehensive School.It was particular nice for me to meet up with old friends, Morag Woodward, my former music teacher and Laurel Thomas, former Principal Cornet Player with Lions, who played in both our National Championship winning bands. The concert and started with the march Star Lake by Eric Ball and was followed by music from the film, Toy Story, You've Got Friend In Me.Following that we had a duet by Tom Hancock and Matthew Darlington, followed by Four Meets Seven from the whole band. A quartet of Abbie Edwards, Amy Ball, Zach Rogerson and Susannah Ball Played Clouds and Sunshine, which was followed by the ABBA hit Super Trouper. Alex Holsgrove performed superbly as usual in Softly As I Leave You and the first half finished with the popular Pirates Of The Caribbean. Following a short interval The Holmes Chapel Comprehensive Brass Group performed and also local cornetist Alex Flanders performed Londonderry Air. The Youth Band began their next slot with the popular Instant Concert and this was followed by a quartet of Tom Hancock, Matthew Darlington, Neil Raisbeck and Alex Holsgrove who performed Dear Is My Little Native Vale. We then had a few more general concert items before the Youth Band were joined by the school brass group in Rule Britannia and Can Can. The concert was well attended and a good night was had by all. Thanks go to Laurel Thomas who organised the concert. Nigel Birch Musical Director, Lions Youth Brass Tameside Entertainment Contest November 2006 Lions Youth from Cheshire, ended the contest, with for us, the best performance of the day. Their tight and tuneful playing opened with the march 'Home Again', the horn solo 'Caprice', which must have only just missed the solo prize, and the euphonium solo performance of 'Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair', handed the soloist a much deserved prize. There were a few slips however in this performance which must have cost them, which concluded with a new arrangement of the party favourite, 'The Music Man'. In the end adjudicator Paul Andrews picked the slightly more demanding programme for the first prize, and while all the competing bands showed their skills, and gave the tiny audience hope for the future, the top three bands were quite a way ahead of the rest of the field. The soloist prizes were all well deserved, although the competition for these was much tighter, and all the soloists delivered excellent performances. This was a very enjoyable day, that was very well organised by the North West Counties Brass Band Association and Tameside Council. The changeover from one band to another went very smoothly, and the prize giving was a slick affair. If there was a gripe it was the closed adjudication, which really wasn't needed here. John Stirzaker 4barsrest.com February 12th 2006, Sandbach For many years the rotary club of Sandbach have organised concerts featuring the Lions Youth Brass Band which recruits from a wide area of South Cheshire. The latest of these concerts at Sandbach High School on Sunday 12th February had another dimension as it also featured six members of the prestigeous Black Dyke Band who play under the name of White River Brass. Musical Director Nigel Birch conducted the very accomplished Youth Brass Band through a variety of entertaining and challenging items, including a 17 minute test piece used in youth competition. Sarah Raisbeck, talented young cornet player from the Lions Youth Brass, also played a solo, as did the excellent Ben Croombs on the marimba. White River Brass had their own programme of light and classical music, performed to the very highest standards, including both group and solo items. The two bands combined in a number of pieces, not easy for either band, but to great effect. It is to the credit of White River Brass that members have spent most of the last weekend giving master classes to the Lions Youth Brass, free of charge. A capacity audience was well rewarded for their attendance and helped raise around £1,400 for the Rotary Club to buy three emergancy Shelter Boxes which will be sent to disaster areas when the need arises. These boxes contain a high quality ten person tent, together with sleeping bags and ancillary equipment such as a multi fuel cooker and tools Rosemary Twidale and Bill Coupe Rotary Club of Sandbach March 27th 2004, Holmes Chapel This concert proved a big winner with the people of Holmes Chapel, so much so that the the venue had to be changed due to the large number of advance ticket sales. Even then the leisure centre was packed to the raftors with around 300 people. The band are currently in the middle of preparation for the national finals next saturday, the hard work certainly payed off as the bands performance was outstanding throughout. The band performed some old favourites such as: Sure and Steadfast, Flashdance, The Can Can, I Will Follow Him mixed with several newer items. We also performed the program for next weeks national competition which is: Jubilation Partita Killing me Softly - soloist Greg Holsgrove Cambrian Suite As well as all of this winning performances from last weeks Newcastle music festival performed, they were: Neil Raisbeck, Sarah Raisbeck, Nicola Hughes (vocal) and the Lions B Quartet. The concert was enjoyed greatly by all present so much so that the recieved a standing ovation. Thankyou to the people of Holmes Chapel and to the band for their hard work. Ian Raisbeck 28th March 2004 May 3rd, Winsford The concert at the Methodist church in Winsford on Saturday was a very good concert; we received a very warm welcome and both the Lions juniors and senior band performed very well. The concert started with the junior band playing ‘Pots and Pans’ which seems to have become a signature tune for them. They then continued with the rest of their program which was enjoyed by the brilliant audience. For one player in the junior band it was his first proper concert since promotion from the beginners just one week ago. Well-done jack! The senior band took the stage for the second half playing an interesting but different program: Maryland Daydream Believer Solitaire Super Trouper Rachie Ploughboy Mid all the traffic New York New York To a wild Rose Flashdance Friends for life Can Can It was a very well performed concert and I would like to thank on behalf of the band our four guest players who helped us out for the night. Sarah Raisbeck 5th May 2003 June 28th - Audlem Proms Lions were performing at the Audlem prom for the second consecutive year. This event attracts a couple of thousand people every year which makes it probably the biggest audience the band perform for eacch year. Due to a school leavers prom Sarah was unable to attend, I (Ian) stepped in to play Principal cornet with the band, a position not unusual as I had previously been principal at lions for two and a half years. The program included: A Bridge to far Flashdance Posthorn Galop Daydream Believer Super Trouper Friends for Life New York New York Can Can The band played very well and the very large audience thouroughly enjoyed it Ian Raisbeck 10th July 2003 July 31st - Last Night of Tour, Sandbach High Last concert of tour 2003. Well, what can I say? The concert began with LYB playing the march Standard of St George. After this rousing start, the band played various pieces of music and featured 5 of the bands soloists, a duet, and a trombone trio with a twist. The twist being that Katie Smallwood played Baritone alongside our three trombone players. The concert came to a stunning finish with our famous rendition of Offenbach's Can Can. The LYB dancers (The Trombone Section) went all out by wearing skirts. The people on the the front row nearly fainted due to the hairy legs being flashed infront of them. The rest of the band did their dance routines as well as wearing their humorous hats, and were also joined by ex-bandmembers who had come to watch. There was also a serious side to our concert in which we had to say goodbye to one of our Bass players, Andrew Farmer. Andrew had been in the band for a number of years and was a credit to the band. Andrew left due to other commitments and will be missed by all in the band. Also to collect a certificate due to leaving the band was Chris Haighton who played percussion, and Chris Thompson who played Bass Trombone. Chris Haighton left is studying to become a fighter pilot in the RAF. We all hope you pass with flying colours (pardon the pun). Chris Thompson is currently training to become a primary school teacher. Chris Thompson was also band rep for 2 years until Andy Cooper took over the position earlier this year. Both Chris' will be missed by all the band. The last concert of tour is always the best and this year was no exception. The standard of playing all through the week was very high, and even though we had spent the whole day on the coach, the standard of playing was high, as was the spirit of the band. All in all, a very enjoyable concert, to end a very enjoyable tour. The program was as follows: Standard of St George Post Horn Galop - Post Horn Soloist - Ian Raisbeck Daydream Believer As the Deer Danny Boy - Tuba Soloist - Andy Cooper City Cruiser My Way Autumn - Baritone Soloist - Katie Smallwood The Golden Lady Interval March LYB Solitaire - Cornet Soloist - Sarah Raisbeck Super Trouper To A Wild Rose - Euphonium Soloist - Nicola Hughes New York, New York I Will Follow Him - Trombone Trio + Baritone - Greg Holsgrove,John Saxon,Chris Thompson,Katie Smallwood Flashdance.......What A Feeling Amigos Para Siempre - Euphonium and Cornet Duet - Nicola Hughes and Sarah Raisbeck Can Can Andrew Cooper August 3rd 2003
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