News

TCB will be holding their annual workshop on 3rd March 2012, at Trinity Church, Lower Earley. We will be rehearsing “Yiddish Dances”, which we are performing in the NCBF finals and repertoire for our Spring Concert.

Angela Searle, one of our flute players, usually provides us with freshly baked scones with jam and cream, which are thoroughly enjoyed by all the band members.

A selection of TCB’s members braved the elements to bring some Christmas cheer to the shoppers of Reading and Winnersh.They performed some Christmas carols including audience requests, and raised £532.79 for the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre.

They also accompanied the Beech Hill Baptist Church with their Carol singing in Benham Drive, Spencers Wood on 22nd December, where they were provided with mulled wine and mince pies.

Saturday 17th December saw two wonderful Christmas concerts enjoyed by audience and band members alike. They also marked TCB’s 10th birthday with special features, including decorations incorporating the new band colours and a slide show of the band events since its formation.

The band also took the opportunity to wear the new T shirts and fleeces which have been purchased for outside events. I hope you will agree that they look very smart, and are more suited to outdoor events.

There was a fantastic programme which included Christmas favourites “Rockin’ Round The Christmas Tree”, “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day”, “A Christmas Festival”, a few audience carols, and a couple of brilliant saxophone solos from Tim Newbury and Rosie Edgar. Also included in the programme was “Lux Aurumque”, which was one of the pieces that we performed at the National Concert Band Festival, where we were awarded a prestigious Platinum Award. The choir from the Caversham Park Primary School also delighted the audience with their singing during the afternoon performance.

Fantastic evening at the Festival of Christmas Trees in Trinity Church this evening. The audience certainly seemed to enjoy themselves and the display of trees was wonderful. Pam (our Box Office Manager) and her husband provided a tree on behalf of the band, with a theme based on our new colour scheme. It was beautiful. All proceeds raised at the event will be donated to Help for Heroes. The next opportunity to hear Trinity play will be outside Sainsbury’s, Winnersh on 16th December at 6:30pm.

Following the rebranding of the band, we have received fleeces and T shirts with the new colours and logo. They will help to keep us warm while we go carolling and play at other outdoor events.

On Sunday 20th November,Trinity Concert Band, under the baton of Chris I’Anson, were thrilled when they received a Platinum award at the National Concert Band Festival in Northampton  for their performances of “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre, and “Paris Sketches” by Martin Ellerby. As a result, the band are automatically entered into the finals next Spring at the Royal Academy of Music, London!

The comments from our adjudicators were as follows:

“An imaginative choice to begin your programme. The soft chords and slow moving pulse required much control which you displayed well. Much of the movement was unanimous and the attack was mostly well together. The quality of tone was impressive and your dynamic range was broad and effective. Some big and exciting crescendos.”

“Rhythmic playing – especially reliable percussion section who kept the pulse on a firm footing. The tricky rhythmic passages seem to hold no problems for you and there was some clean and well controlled fingerwork in the upper winds. Lots of real precision and discipline here. Much to enjoy. Great programme and presented with high standards of performance. Well done.”

Here’s a chance to listen to some great music, see some beautiful Christmas trees, while supporting the fantastic ‘Help for Heroes’ charity!

Trinity Concert Band will be performing on Tuesday 6th December at Trinity Church, Lower Earley as part of their ‘Festival of Christmas Trees’. The performance will commence at  8:00pm, with some light refreshments being provided at around 8:45pm, followed by a further performance until 9:45pm. All donations go to ‘Help for Heroes’, and tickets for TCB’s Christmas Concerts on 17th December will be available for purchase from the Box Office manager.

As well as being able to keep up to date with band news and events on Facebook, you can now follow us on @tcbconcertband.

The National Concert Band Festival (NCBF) is the UK’s largest wind band and big band festival.

This year’s finals will be held at the Royal Academy of Music in London on the 1st and 2nd April 2012.