Review 2008

Review 2008

Youth Band Review

During 2008 the band has continued to perform very well at both concerts and competitions. A lot is asked of the band in terms of the number of engagements they are asked to perform, and I am delighted with the commitment shown by the players. However, I would remind everyone that they should only contact me if they are not able to attend a rehearsal or a concert, not a committee member, and do not send a message through another player. My contact details are at the end of this report. In addition, if you can give me as much notice as possible, it does help with program planning, and if I need to ask someone to replace a missing player, I need as much time as possible. I would ask you to check your email system or the web site, on a regular basis so that you are up to date with the bands current commitments.

I feel as a concert band we are now going in the direction that we have been striving for, for some time, by being able to combine good musical content with visual entertainment and I hope to develop this even further within the coming months.

While the band has some exceptional soloists I have been trying to give more players an opportunity to be featured in various pieces and again this is something, which I see continuing over the coming months.

The recording we produced in November was of a very high standard and one that all should be very proud of.

On the contest platform, I feel that we have been hard done by over the last 12 months. We have performed consistently well without always getting our rewards. In April, we have The National Championships, and it would be nice if our luck could begin to change when we perform at this event. If the band rehearses as they did for the recent Gwent competition, I am sure we have every reason to be optimistic.

The tour to Spain was very successful and we are very much looking forward to this years return trip.

The Junior and beginner sections continue to improve and I am delighted that Tom Hancock has joined the team of musical directors, as I am sure he will be able to make a major contribution. Although these bands do not get as much publicity as the youth band it is vital we all give as much time and support to them as we can as they are the source of future players for the youth band.

Finally, may I thank all of the parents, Jane and all the current Lions Youth Brass committee for their continued hard work and dedication to the band, without which would be unable to operate in the way in which do

Nigel Birch
Musical Director
Lions Beginner Brass

Youth Band Band Awards

Most Improved Players: Wesley Ashbrook, Alex Flanders, Abbie Unwin
Showing Promise: Ellie Baker, Ellis Peake, Sarah Edwards
Band Person of the Year: Matthew Darlington

Junior Band Review

As we start the New Year, It would be good to reflect on the past 12 months and the achievements that we have made as a band.

The band have come on leaps and bounds in the last year and with Nigel "stealing" quite a few players for the youth band (thanks Nigel!) we as a Junior band were left quite depleted but have coped very well. We have brought up several players from the beginners band who are all doing extremely well and shuffled exisiting players to top seats, giving them a chance to shine. It is nice that our former players are also finding their feet in the Youth band.

Many players in the band are really coming out of their shells and beginning to stand out, I would like to think 2009 will see a few new solo items with the band, following the successful solo competition, Come on I know you can do it!

I think as a band we have been very lucky to have a piece written for us - 'The Lion King' - this has been a big hit of the year and I would say has topped the charts.

As with the Beginner band, we have suffered from a lack of players at concerts and I would like to take this opportunity to say, if you are unable to come to a concert I need to know at least a week in advance (so that I can make arrangements for the seats to be occupied) , if you are ill on the night, please let me know.

We are looking forward to a busy 2009, with Newcastle festival just around the corner, another piece has been written especially for the competition, so I am really looking forward to that. I plan to run a workshop or two and really enjoy another good year with the band. I would like to thank all the parents for their continuing support, Kate and Olive for their help with uniforms over the past year and of course all the players in the junior band.

Sarah Raisbeck
Musical Director
Lions Beginner Brass

Junior Band Awards

Most Improved Players: Jessica Barnes
Showing Promise: Natasha Sherratt, Rebecca Preston, Laura Jones
Band Person of the Year: Edwin Morris

Beginner Band Review

As usual, 2008 has been a busy year for the Lions Beginner Band. After a very settled 2007, the past year has seen the personnel in the band change nearly as often as the Crewe Alexandra first team! Despite this constant change, the band is still progressing nicely and is looking forward to a busy 2009.

There have been several highlights throughout the year. Firstly, there was a high standard of performance at each and every concert the band performed in, with the bands performance at the massed band concert with the Cheshire Constabulary Band being of a particularly high standard. Further good news came in the number of entrants into the Slow Melody Competition (and the performances of all entrants) with many of the players who entered picking up prizes for their playing!

One issue has reared its head over the past year though. Throughout the year we have been unable to field a full band on a concert stage. This is not a problem if Hayley, Andrew or myself know in advance, but it does become a problem if we turn up to a concert expecting 25 players and only 13 turn up. If your child is unable to make a concert then please let one of us know as soon as possible so that we know how many children to expect as this does impact on the pieces we can play.

As touched upon earlier, we have lost a lot of players to the Junior Band over the past 12 months where they are now under the excellent guidance of Musical Directors Sarah Raisbeck and Tom Hancock. I can only assume the transfer fees these players have commanded are in the post! The amount of players who have moved up this year is a glowing tribute to how well the system at Lions works and, along with seeing players from our ‘first’ beginner band now having seats in the Youth Band, is the most rewarding part of the job.

All in all, 2008 has been a good year for the band, and if they continue to work hard over the coming months, there is no reason why 2009 won’t be the same. As always, a big thank you to the usual suspects, Jane and her hardworking committee, Nigel and the Youth Band and Sarah, Tom and the Juniors, all the parents for all the ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ with your children to concerts, and to anyone else who I have missed out (and I usually do!) a huge thank you for your continued support.

Chris Thompson
Musical Director
Lions Beginner Brass

Beginner Band Awards

Most Improved Players: Isobel Capewell, Kathryn Webb
Special Effort: James Bennett
Band Person of the Year: Lauren Barnes

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