Camborne Town Band Music Society

18th December 2003 - Christmas Spectacular Heading For A Sell Out

Following last years popularity, the Band's annual Christmas Spectacular is heading for a sell out. The final concert of the year, held at County Hall - Truro on Sunday 21st at 6.45pm is preceeded by the Youth Band playing carols in the foyer before John Berryman will lead the band through a musical Christmas romp.

For those without tickets, the doors will open at 6pm.

8th December 2003 - £300 Raised For Camborne Salvation Army

At the Band's annual charity concert at Camborne Salvation Army Hall on Sunday, we are pleased to announce that the sum of £300 was raised for Army funds.

Conducted by the Ray Farr, the band featured a first half comprising of a number of Ray's own arrangements and some traditional Salvation Army Music. Soprano Jeremy Squibb thrilled the crowd with a rendition of Ray Farr's newly released solo - Gethsemene, before the band showed their versatility with Eric Ball's Resurgam and Peter Graham's Shine as the Light.

The second half of the concert followed a more traditional Christmas theme, with all the seasonal favourites including solos by Andrew Mitchell (flugel) and Rob Jose (Euphonium). Ray invited Bandmaster Graham Barker to conduct the encores to round off the evening.

The 2004 Salvation Army concert will be on Sunday 5th December at 7.45pm.

28th November - Contest Season for 2004 Announced

Following confirmation of an invitation to the All England Masters in Cambridge, the Band are pleased to announce the contests which they will be entering this year.

February 7th

Yeovil Entertainment Contest

March 28th

West Of England Area - Torquay

May 30th All England Masters - Cambridge

June 19th

West Of England Bandsman's Festival - Bugle

A contest diary, similar to the London Diary 2003 is planned for each of the contests.

20th November - Ray Farr To Conduct at the Salvation Army

The Band are pleased to anounce that they have secured the services of the world reknown conductor, arranger and composer Ray Farr to conduct the annual charity concert at the Salvation Army Hall in Camborne on Sunday 7th December. Ray will be working with the band throughout the weekend, preparing an all new programme specifically designed for the concert. The first half of the concert will be a mixture of Salvationist music and some of Ray's own arrangements, whereas the second half will take on a more traditional Christmas feel.

8th November - Youth Band Crowned as South West Champions

The final contest of 2003 saw Camborne Youth Band, beat Saltash and St Austell in Torquay to become crowned South West Junior Champions 2003. This adds to their present title of Cornish Junior Champions. Musical Director Alan Pope was delighted with the way the band played, and was thrilled with the result, especially by beating high fliers St Austell along the way. The cornet section gained further awards when they were named the best cornet section of the class, and certainly played their part in the band gaining an incredible 197 points.

The contest result rounds off a fantastic year for the organisation as a whole. In 2003, the Youth Band have won both the Cornish and South West Junior titles, the B Band qualified for the National Finals in Dundee and achieved promotion to the third section, the Senior Band won the West Of England Area, the Wets Of England Bandsmans Festival at Bugle, and were placed a superb 11th at the National Finals.

Said Chairman Reg Bennetts "I am absolutely thrilled with the competition results this year. Every band in the organisation has exceeded their own expectations and we look well placed to improve in 2004. The great thing about the organisation at the moment is that all three bands, and all members get along so well, with everyone supporting everyone else."

2nd November - Sounds Of Brass Theme To Be Recorded By Camborne

Monday night will see the band record the new BBC Sounds Of Brass signature tune. The music, commission to be written by Kevin Ackford, will be recorded by the band under the direction of the composer himself. The opportunity of recording the signature tune follows in the footsteps of another great priviledge which the band has been asked to fulfill - running a masterclass for First Section bands from all over the West Of England Area in preparation for the Regional Contests in March.

The week preceeding the West of England masterclass, the band will be working alongside Alan Pope and the B Band in their preparations for the regional competition.

31st October - Cornish All Stars Play at Solo Horn Players Wedding

This Saturday sees our Bandmaster and Solo Horn Graham Barker marry his sweetheart Narelle Calver. As a tribute to Graham, many top players from all around the County are gathering at Roche Church to play for the Ceremony. Due to another commitment at Truro Cathedral, not all of Camborne Band are able to attend, however once supplemented by other players from top bands around the County, Graham has put together an impressive line up. The band would like to take this opportunity to wish Graham and his bride, all the very best wishes for the future.

Wedding Band Line Up:

Solo Cornets – Chris Leonard (Camborne), Mo Whitehead (Camborne), Aaron Harvey (St Breward), Peter Jackson (Mount Charles)

Soprano – Jeremy Squibb (Camborne), Back Row – Andrew Mitchell (Camborne), Mick Pickett (Bodmin), Glen Philp (Mount Charles), Leanne Harvey (St Austell)

Horns – Mark Letcher (Bodmin), Wayne Brown (Camborne), Gavin McAuley (St Austell)

Euphoniums & Baritones – Steve Osborne (St Austell), Mark Bray (Bodmin), Rachel Trudgeon (Camborne), Terry Sleeman (Mount Charles)

Trombones – Sean Varcoe (Mount Charles), Chris Wooding (Camborne)

Basses – Tim Jocelyn (Camborne), Andrew Turner (Bodmin), Phil Blake (Bodmin)

Percussion – Daisy (Bodmin), Nigel Chadd (Camborne)

The Band will be directed by Len Adams.

23rd October - Ray Farr and John Berryman Announced as Christmas MDs

The band are pleased to announce that two legendary names in Brass Banding will be coming to Cornwall to conduct the band this winter. Ray Farr, the internationally renowned composer, arranger and conductor will be coming to Cornwall to work with the band during the weekend 5th/6th/7th December, culminating with him directing the Band's annual charity concert at the Camborne Salvation Army Fortress.

The following weekend, John Berryman will be coming to Camborne where he will direct the band at the Camborne Wesley Concert on Sunday 14th, join with the annual 'Pubs and Clubs' the following Saturday, and direct the Christmas Spectacular on Sunday 21st at County Hall. For futher details on any of the forthcoming concerts, please click on the relevant date on the Engagements page.

19th October - Camborne Placed 11th At National Finals

Playing from draw number 18, and sandwiched between Brighouse and Faireys, Camborne put in a very musical performance of Enigma Variations to be awarded 11th place at the National Finals - their second best result for 13 years. For the full story, see 'London Diary'.

17th October - Albert Here We Come

This morning sees the band leave Camborne at 8am, and set off for The Royal Albert Hall. Rehearsing in Wellington Barracks tonight and tomorrow morning, the band are in great shape, and looking to do the town of Camborne proud. For the full story on the weekend, log on here on Monday, however for the lastest up to date news on the draw, and how the band play, log on to www.4barsrest.com and follow the links for the National Finals.

National Finals Weekend Itinerary

Friday 17th

8.00

Leave Camborne
8.30

Pick Up at Indian Queens Bandroom
11.00

Taunton Dean Services (approx 20 mins)
14.00

Reading Services (40 mins max)
16.00

Arrive at Bernard Shaw Plaza Hotel & Check In
17.00

Band Coach Leaves For Rehearsal (18.00 start)
20.30

Return To Hotel

Saturday 18th
7.15

Breakfast
7.45

Band Coach Leaves For Rehearsal (8.30 start)
8.30

DRAW (first band at RAH by 9.30)
10.00

Contest Starts
Coach To Leave Hall 30 mins after results

Sunday 19th
8.30

Breakfast
10.00

Coach Leaves
13.00

Lunch stop (60 mins approx)
18.00

Arrive in Camborne

13th October - London Diary Proving a Great Success

For the latest up to date news on the band's preparation for the National Finals on Saturday 18th October, visit our London Diary page. Updated daily, read all the lastest gossip, news, and drama as the band prepare for the greatest contest in the calender.

29th September Proms Concert a Major Success

Wow - what a concert. With Major Paul Murrell on top form, and the band in full flow, the Proms concert ranks up alongside the 'Windows' concert in January for quality. From the opening bars of Liberty Fanfare you could sense that this was going to be a good one. Farandole flew along at a good old lick, followed by a very sensitive performance of Stevie Thomas' arrangement of Deep Harmony. Drums of Thunder from Windows ended our first session, and left guest soloist Karen Hurne to thrill the crowd with her pure voice.

Coming in cold to play Nimrod was one of the great challenges of the evening, but it was the music not the temperature which sent the tingles running up and down the Band's spines. A shortened version of Paganini ends the first half, with the crowd baying for more.

After the Janette Eathorne warm up for the second half, we launch into Paul's favourite arrangement of the evening 633 squadron, then we prepare ourselves for 1812. Despite only looking at the music on Friday, the band turn in a great performance of this epic, with a virtuoso performance by Daisy on the canons - no guess work here, bang on the button (please excuse the punn). With smoke swirling, Karen restored a degree of calm to the proceedings, with three more super arias before launching the band into the homeword leg with Riverdance. Despite being somewhat constricted by his frock coat, sword and spurs, Paul directs an excellent rendition of Riverdance, with fine performances from L Plate and Nobby, this really seemed to set the audience alight for the finale.

Fantasia on British Sea Songs was what it is, but the band do the piece justice, (perhaps the odd semiquaver in the sailors hornepipe may have been not quite together, but at 1000 beats a minute nobody would complain. Rule Britannia saw Karen take the lead for the first three verses, with Janette singing solo for the final verse. Jerusalem restored a degree of calm to the proceedings before the whole crowd lept to their feet for the finale - Pomp and Circumstance. Daisy again seemed in superb form as the maroons fitted with the band like a glove, with the encore finishing with glitter bombs and more explosions.

To stand at the end of a concert such as that and see the crowd rewarding the band with a standing ovation and what seemed to be a never ending applause is what banding is all about. The band played well, the special effects were superb, the Major was in fine form, both conducting and with the banter with Janette, an excellent soloist, but most of all, the crowd loved every minute of it.

20th September 2003 - B Band Earn 15th Place In Dundee

In a very closely fought competition in Dundee, Camborne B Band played their way to 15th Place in the National Finals, beating six higher ranked bands.

In only their second full year of contesting, following their qualification in third position at Torquay, Camborne B Band under the direction of Alan Pope played a highly musical performance of Eric Ball's Call of the Sea. Fine performances from all players helped secure this result, with special mentions made in the Brass Band Press to Rosie Langley (Solo Trombone) who was described as 'Brighter than the Ship's Bell', and Solo Euphonium Peter Harvey. Comments were heard all around the hall how Musical Director Alan Pope got the best out of the band, particular in recreating the rolling of the sea. The musical interpretation of the slow movement also recieved special mention.

The adjudicators had a very difficult time in picking the top six bands as they said that all bands had so much to commend. Musical Director Alan Pope was said to be absolutely thrilled with the way the band played, if a little disappointed that they were not awarded a higher placing, however he said that it was a great experience for the band and himself.

18th September 2003 - B Band Set Sail For Dundee

Camborne B Band set off on their mamouth journey for the National Finals in Dundee today. After their third place in the West Of England Area in Torquay early this year, the band are proud to represent the West Of England at the National Finals. As part of their preparation of the test piece 'Call Of the Sea' by Eric Ball, the band have been rehearsing in a number of different venues around the town including Camborne Wesley on Tuesday night.

The arduous trip sees the band leave Camborne at 7.30 this morning, arriving in Scotland late tonight. Friday is a recovery day with two rehearsals planned, with the contest on Saturday. Sunday sees the repeat journey , with the band arriving back in Camborne late on Sunday evening. Best wishes go with the band from the senior band and all in Camborne.

14th September 2003 - New Trombone Player Appointed

Following the retirement of Gareth Cottrell from the band after 6 years service, Camborne Town Band are pleased to welcome Neil Murley on 2nd Trombone. Previously a soprano player with Hayle, but more recently the Principal Trombone with Penzance, the band welcome Neil in time for London, and wish that he has a long and successful playing career with Camborne.