After their result at Torquay last week the band are looking forward now to an enjoyable summer season of concerts…

A huge thanks to our friends who continue to help the band. Above Helen (Left), and Issy (Right) having a laugh with Nicky at Torquay. Below Mark made light work of the high sop notes.

As ever - watch this space!

It’s just around the corner - that time of year when tradition throws up all sorts of magical sights, smells and sounds which combine to give us the time honoured celebration of Christmas. As you might expect Woodfalls Concert Brass already has a busy calendar in the run up to Christmas, and will be seen in and around Salisbury and surrounding areas carolling and collecting to help fund the band’s activities in 2009. If you are a pub, restauant, retailer or other organisation and would like us to play for your Christmas festivities, either as a small group of a full brass band, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your requirements.

The Woodfalls Concert Brass performed to an audience in St.Thomas’ Church Salisbury last night in the first of their summer season of concerts.

The concert season sponsored by Waitrose saw an evening of multi-sensory enjoyment. The debut outing of the band’s new stand banners gave a fresh and highly professional appearance. A varied programme of pieces ranging from John Williams’ “Hymn to the Fallen” through to the bright a cheerful jazz of Glen Miller and Count Basie, and solos and features from Jon Pickard, Dan Pearce, Rickard Sjoberg and our highly flexible percussion section saw something for everyone to enjoy. The icing on the cake was the opportunity to taste some of the delights from the Salisbury branch of Waitrose. With wines, cheeses and sweet and savoury for all to try the evening was no doubt a feast for the senses. The band are looking forward to the next one in Lymington on the 19th July, not least for more tastings! Yum!

A series of concerts as part of our exciting summer programme, sponsored by Waitrose. Doors 7pm for 7.30 start. Tickets: £8 adults, £6 concessions, £4 children - available on the door.

The band’s AGM will be held on the 15th June 2008. For further details please visit the players and members’ online notice board. If you need further information about accessing the notice board please email here.

The band are pleased present this summer season playing behind a smart new design of stand banners. They are black, embroidered with the band’s logo and an edge trim in gold. The prototype designs were put to the vote at practice and unanimously agreed on this design.

The banners will replace the current design of burgundy on white, which served the band well over the years but are becoming tired with use. Also the colour scheme is a legacy from the old burgundy jackets, which were replaced some time ago with the black and yellow uniform you see the players in today.

The band have to acknowledge Waitrose, who have given the band the vehicle to afford to purchase the stand banners, through their exciting season of concerts which the band will be performing in throughout 2008. Please see the diary for more details.

Woodfalls Concert Brass took to the high seas at the Regional Finals last month for their performance of “James Cook – Circumnavigator” in a blustery Torquay.

With the storms brewing up over the English Riviera it was only fitting for the fourteen bands competing to play a piece like this, and the band were certainly satisfied with their performance.

The eventual result of tenth was maybe somewhat unexpected, however the band have taken confidence from a solid performance which included some outstanding soloist lines.

The band also made the most of a sociable evening away which included a very enjoyable Italian meal in the town centre – a few sore heads arrived for breakfast the next morning!

Congratulations must go to Helston Town and Otterbourne Brass who will now be representing the first section in the National Finals this September in Harrogate.

Special mention must also go to our counterparts at SWT Woodfalls who will be playing at The Royal Albert Hall for the first time since 2002 following their result of second place in the Championship Section.

Woodfalls Concert Brass can now look forward to a strong season of summer concerts which already encompasses ten dates. For more details on these concerts stay tuned for the website for dates and venues.

Article: Chris Hatch

Woodfalls Concert Brass are now in their final preparations for the West of England Regional Championships which will take place this weekend in Torquay.

The test piece, Gilbert Vinter’s “James Cook- Circumnavigator”, has proven to be an exciting challenge for the band who have grown both musically and as a team over the last few months.

Preparing to take to the stage against thirteen other bands in the section, WCB are in vibrant and optimistic mood following their second prize in the contest last year and their successful result at the National Finals in Harrogate.

As they say the proof is in the pudding, and Woodfalls are hoping that they will get their just desserts on Saturday afternoon.

Article: Chris Hatch

The next challenge facing the Band will be the Regional Finals in Torquay, on 8th March 2008.

With a great result in last year’s contest the band qualified to attend the National finals in Harrogate in September where they were placed 7th resulting in the band’s highest ever world ranking of 182!

This year’s 1st section selection is Vinter’s “James Cook - Circumnavigator” and the band are already enjoying getting their teeth (and lips) stuck into the piece.