More new players! - The Harrogate Band's tenor horn section has been augmented with the arrival of Lisa Dunkley, formerly of Redbridge Brass, who has recently moved to Harrogate in connection with her work. Lisa has played alongside Harrogate's MD David Lancaster before, since they were both members of Alder Valley Aldershot Brass during that band's highly successful spell in the early 1990s (which included a performance at the Royal Albert Hall for the National Championships of 1991). Lisa's first contest with Harrogate was the Regional Championships at Darlington when she gave a terrific performance of Isaiah 40's notoriously difficult horn solo – some debut!
<12/4/2007>
Belgium - '…a fantastic weekend, what a great bunch of people...' that was the reaction of one of our guest players to a highly successful overseas tour which the Harrogate Band made over the Easter weekend. The musical highlights were a joint concert with Brass Band Smeermaas, celebrating their fifth anniversary, and a concert in Holland organised by the excellent St Geertrudis Fanfare Band in their magnificent band hall. Both of our host bands had organised meals for the English visitors and provided fine venues and attracted enthusiastic audiences. Soloists included principal cornet David Smith and the irrepressible Nick Garrett (soprano cornet) who brought the houses down with his 'Spanish Eyes'. Other memorable events included a river trip and tour of Maastricht and a sunny day for sightseeing – and the biggest ever bar bill – in Brussels. Night life in Leuven where we stayed (our hotel was across the road from the titanic Stella Artois brewery) was so good that several players only arrived back at the hotel in time for breakfast on departure day: a good time was certainly had by all!
<10/4/2007>
Fanfare for the Royal Hall - Restoration work on Harrogate's famous Royal Hall continues apace, and the Harrogate Band contributed to the fundraising efforts by contributing to a 'Fanfare for the Royal Hall' in which five of Harrogate's bands took part, alongside St Andrews Players' Choral Ensemble. The audience at the International Centre was large and enthusiastic, and clearly appreciated the wide range of musical styles on offer. Harrogate Band concluded the evening with a rousing performance which included David Lancaster's 'Rich Heritage' march, Kevin Norbury's 'Hallelujah Parade' and a recreation of the famous Two Ronnies' 'Bandsmen' sketch, with percussionists Steve Morland and Andrew Whitaker singing and playing the lead roles!
<25/3/2007>
Darlington - Robert Redhead's 'Isaiah 40' proved a stern but very enjoyable test for the Championship Section bands in this year's round of Regional Championships. Harrogate's team were delighted with their performance at Darlington, particularly in the light of the many personnel changes in recent months. However the 'new-look' band was impressive on its first contest outing and did enough to retain Harrogate's position in the Championship Section in 2008. MD David Lancaster said that 'the players all gave 100 per cent today and apart from one or two slips towards the close, the performance was exactly as we had prepared it. I was particularly pleased with the input of our new members, some of whom had not contested at this level previously but without exception they have risen to the challenge'.
<19/3/2007>
Fanfare for the Royal Hall - The restoration of Harrogate's Royal Hall at a cost of some eight and a half million pounds is now well under way, but fundraising continues in order that the renovation can include authentic decoration of the Hall and the re-opening of the upper gallery. The this end The Harrogate Band is joining forces with several other musical groups for the Harrogate District to present a 'Fanfare for the Royal Hall' which will take place in the Harrogate International Centre on Sunday 25th March at 7.30 pm. Other groups taking part are Knaresborough Silver Band, Tewit Youth Band, Harrogate and Skipton Music Centre Area Band, White Rose Concert Band and singers from St Andrews' Players who will each present a 20-minute programme. Since the Hall is scheduled to re-open in December 2007 this could be one of the last major opportunities to contribute to the fundraising; Tickets £10, Children under 16, £5, from 01423 537230. A rich and varied programme of entertaining music is guaranteed!
<19/1/2007>
New Faces - Over the last month the band has seen a number of changes of personnel with many new players making their debut with the band over the Christmas period. Mark Beardsell and Helen Kendall have joined the band on cornets and Vincent Ashby-Smith has joined the band's busy percussion section! Craig Ratcliffe has filled the solo euphonium position, whilst two current players have moved within the band: Nick Garrett to soprano cornet and David Smith has moved up one place into the principal cornet seat. Other new signings are expected shortly as the band gears up for a busy year ahead which will include a European tour and a new CD recording in addition to the usual round of concerts and contests.
<17/1/2007>
Starbeck Concert - The Harrogate Band played to a packed house at Starbeck Methodist Church on Saturday 13 January in a concert which marked the re-opening of the church following extensive renovation. In their first concert of the year the band featured David Smith and Lynne Stockdale as soloists and Keith Graham and Catherine Morland delighted the audience with their baritone duet Me and My Shadow. Unusually the concert also included a percussion quartet: Howard Snell's arrangement of The Clock and Dresden Figures by Albert Ketelby. During the concert Chairman Keith presented a bouquet to Liz Lancaster to mark her 'retirement' after serving as the band's General Secretary for several years. The large and enthusiastic audience was fulsome in it's appreciation of the band's performance and we look forward to a return to Starbeck in the not-too-distant future.
<15/1/2007>
Daniel and Georgina - The Harrogate Band has played at a number of band members' weddings in recent years and was delighted to play for the occasion of solo trombonist Dan Dickinson's marriage to Georgina in Osmotherley in December. The bride entered to the sound of 'Elsa's Procession to the Minster' and during the signing of the register the band accompanied Dan's cousin Victoria who gave a sensitive rendition of 'Over the Rainbow'. The music the couple had chosen to accompany their leaving the church had been a closely-guarded secret but everyone seemed to enjoy the moment as the band broke into an upbeat performance of 'Sing, Sing, Sing' sending everyone out with a smile on their faces! The band members send their very best wishes to Dan and Georgina for the years ahead.
<31/12/2006>
Starbeck Concert - The Harrogate Band played to a packed house at Starbeck Methodist Church on Saturday 13 January in a concert which marked the re-opening of the church following extensive renovation. In their first concert of the year the band featured David Smith and Lynne Stockdale as soloists and Keith Graham and Catherine Morland delighted the audience with their baritone duet Me and My Shadow. Unusually the concert also included a percussion quartet: Howard Snell's arrangement of The Clock and Dresden Figures by Albert Ketelby. During the concert Chairman Keith presented a bouquet to Liz Lancaster to mark her 'retirement' after serving as the band's General Secretary for several years. The large and enthusiastic audience was fulsome in it's appreciation of the band's performance and we look forward to a return to Starbeck in the not-too-distant future.
Daniel and Georgina - The Harrogate Band has played at a number of band members' weddings in recent years and was delighted to play for the occasion of solo trombonist Dan Dickinson's marriage to Georgina in Osmotherley in December. The bride entered to the sound of 'Elsa's Procession to the Minster' and during the signing of the register the band accompanied Dan's cousin Victoria who gave a sensitive rendition of 'Over the Rainbow'. The music the couple had chosen to accompany their leaving the church had been a closely-guarded secret but everyone seemed to enjoy the moment as the band broke into an upbeat performance of 'Sing, Sing, Sing' sending everyone out with a smile on their faces! The band members send their very best wishes to Dan and Georgina for the years ahead.