http://www.sandwichband.org.ukJune 2012 Issue No: 3 NDWICH

Newsletter of the

In this issue:Conductors Previous ConcertsForthcoming concertEnd of Year BBQNotices

Benedict Preece

Benedict ‘Ben’ PreeceBenedict is studying at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance having been awarded a scholarship in 2010, and has recently been awarded the FNCM in Conducting. He currently conducts East Bridge Chorale and Caritas Chamber Choir; and also sings tenor as a Deputy Lay-Clerk in Canterbury Cathedral. Benedict is also active as a composer, repetiteur, accompanist and teaches piano, horn and singing.We welcome Ben to the Sandwich Concert Band.

Ben Preece

Peter Rose Peter was our guest conductor who took us for rehearsals from March this year through to our last two concerts, namely, the Sandwich Celebration and the Grand Concert. Peter was a former principal clarinet player for the Royal Marines Staff Band. More recently, as proprietor of Unison Music, he undertakes repairs of brass and woodwind instruments. Peter is an experienced musical director of wind bands and is also involved in the local jazz scene. We thank Peter for conducting us with humour, tolerance and forgiveness. Peter was presented with a card signed by band members as a reminder of his time with us.

Peter Rose

Conductors

The Phoenix Centre

Earl & Son cutting the cake

Peter Rose in full control of the band

Lynne Bancroft

Photo gallery from Sandwich

Sandwich’s Sandwich Celebration on Sunday 13th May 2012

It is difficult to believe that up until the year 1762 nobody had thought of putting something to eat between two pieces of bread and eating it. But apparently the Town of Sandwich claims to have witnesssed this event and so makes it’s claim to the - the sandwich.To celebrate this monumentous invention 250 years ago the current Earl of Sandwich wanted to mark the event with some ceremony and so The Band found itself in Market Street, Sandwich (next to the marquee for special invited guests and dignitaries) on Sunday 13th May in the afternoon to provide musical entertainment for all those taking part to celebrate this famous snack. Under the baton of Peter Rose we gave an hours concert from our repertoire which featured especially Lynne Bancroft, playing in full regalia, the bagpipes as the soloist in ‘Highland Cathedral’. This was the Band’s first public outing in Sandwich - playing in the open air and came as a surprise to many residents finding out that they now had a ‘Town Band’ of their very own - something which we are keen to promote.P.S. - Have I mentioned the David Clare and me were forced to drink beer, eat the special sandwiches and the celebration cake after the event? (it was a struggle but it had to be done! - editor)Brent R.

Previous Concerts

Kent Grand Concert at the Marlowe Theatre on

Saturday 19th May 2012

When we were approached by Gary George, Band Sergeant Major of the Band of the PWRR (Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment), to take part in a massed-bands venture, we weren't quite sure what it would entail but we said 'yes' anyway! After much discussion and a lot of hard work and organisation, the end result was a concert at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury with seven Kent bands participating - The Band of the PWRR, Invicta Concert Band, Thanet Concert Band, Hythe Town Band, Ashford Concert Band, Bromley Concert Band and, of course, the Sandwich Concert Band. Each band was allowed to choose two pieces to be included in the programme, which all the bands would play together. On the day, we arrived at the Marlowe Theatre at 12.30pm for a rehearsal. This was the first time that all the bands had collected en-masse to perform, although each band had been practising the pieces separately so there was a lot of work to do. After finding our way to the stage (backstage at The Marlowe is a bit of a maze), and making sure that everyone had a seat, we embarked on a 4 hour rehearsal - with no loo stop! This was a nasty shock for many of us!! Although, in hindsight, it was probably a good thing, as during the actual concert in the evening, one poor lady (not a member of our band, I hasten to add) only just made it back to the stage in time after the interval - she had got lost in the maze of rooms and corridors backstage. She plonked to her seat just as the curtain started to rise for the second half! The programme included Oxford Street March by Eric Coates, Hymn to the Fallen by John Williams (from the film Saving Private Ryan), and a medley of tunes from My Fair Lady. The PWRR Corps of Drums presented several pieces accompanied by a light display, and the concert was rounded off with a rendition of Tchaikowsky's 1812 Overture. Kate Robinson

RehearsalsTraining Band meets on a Wednesday 6pm - 7pm at the Phoenix Centre, SandwichConcert Band meets on a Wednesday 7pm (baton down at 7.15pm) till 9.15pm at the Phoenix Centre, SandwichKeeping in touchWe hope to keep you in touch with what SCB are doing but for really up-to-date news please visit our Website: www.sandwichband.org.uk or find us on Facebook or You TubeIf you have any items or suggestions for inclusion in a newsletter let us know and we will try and include it in our next bulletin (no promises though). Acknowledgements:Thanks to Kevin Smith-Burchnell for the poster designThanks Jeremy Bancroft for the photographs from the Sandwich Celebration ConcertThanks to Gary George for his photograph of the Massed Bands at the Grand ConcertNewsletter Editor: David Clare If you have contributed items, thoughts, corrections (and there are usually several) to this edition and have not been mentioned please accept my apologies and my belated thankyous. Your input has helped to produce this newsletter.

Plea for New Members Sandwich Concert Band is a Community Band and are always looking for new members who play a wind instrument to join us.Players of all ages are welcome either to join our Training Band or Concert Band The former is for young and old up to grade 4 when we encourage them to move to the Concert Band. Don’t get put off by the grades. You do not have to have the piece of paper saying what grade you are only to be about that ability on your instrument and have the wish to join a lively and friendly band.If you are interested; contact any of the members shown below for more information - or turn up at one of our rehearsals and introduce yourself.

Notices

End of Year BBQWednesday 11th July 2012 at 6.30pm at the Phoenix Centre

We will be having a BBQ to mark the end of the band year.The Training Band will play a selection of music and afterwards all members of the Training Band and Concert Band are invited to enjoy a BBQ before we close for the summer. (the images are for illustration purposes only - don’t think you are going to get anything looking like this!!)

Saturday 7th July 2012 at 7.30pm

A Walk in the Park

St. Mary’s Art Centre, Sandwich

Come along and join us for a walk in the park on a summer’s evening. It is not actually in a park and we are not actually walking but it is a summer’s evening and the music will transport you there. Enjoy music such as:

Birdland,

Flower Duet from Lakme Summertime (Porgy and Bess)

Teddy Bears Picnic, Queens Park Melody

Bridges Over the River CamLadies in Lavender

Tickets:Adults: £6.00Children: £3.00Available on the door.

Forthcoming Concert