October 2014

The South West Brass Band Association’s annual Entertainment Contest at Exmouth on the 3rd September seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to enter our first contest since 2001 – and indeed it was! The contest featured bands from the fourth, third and second sections. Because we haven’t contested for so long we were placed alongside four other bands in the “unregistered” category, which positioned us nicely for pulling off the shock of the contest. MD Stephen Sykes drilled the band hard for this one and it paid off – we were awarded the Harris Cup for highest-placed unregistered band and were also placed fourth overall behind two second section bands and one who has gained promotion to the second section this year. Well done Stephen, a master stroke!

Last Night of the Proms Concert 29th October Have you ever watched the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall and wished you were there? Now is your chance to live that experience brass-band style! We will be performing a Last Night of the Proms concert at the Princess Theatre on the 29th October featuring Prom classics including Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance and Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs - and with guest Soprano Bev King leading the singing for the ever popular Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and Rule Britannia you will need your best singing voices!

Beverley studied at Birmingham Conservatoire of Music and since training has enjoyed a varied and exciting musical career. Singing professionally as a soloist Beverley has performed in some fantastic venues including the Colston Hall, St Mary Redcliffe and Bristol Hippodrome. As an actress she has great fun working within Casualty, Boon and Woof the Dog. Twenty five years as Director of Music in two independent schools has seen her train choirs to a high standard entering and winning many competitions as well as taking the choirs on tour all over Europe. More recently Beverley has enjoyed playing saxophone with Worlewind Band and singing with the Bristol Hippodrome choir preparing to sing with Russell 'The Voice' Watson.

Our first contest in 15 years – and we win the Harris Cup!

The concert starts at 7:45pm and tickets can be obtained from the Princess Box office at £7 / £6 concession on 01278 784464 or buy online at www.theprincesstheatre.co.uk

Meet Some New Players!

A very young Kevin Gaskell joined the Army straight from school at age 16 as a bandsman, which gave him the chance to live the brass band player’s dream and learn his trombone playing trade at the world famous Kneller Hall. Kevin joined Burnham and Highbridge Band shortly after leaving the Army and quickly became an audience favourite. In more recent years Kevin has played for a number of local championship section bands including Portishead and Yeovil, and we were delighted when he agreed to play with us again at the Exmouth contest in September. We are even more delighted that he enjoyed it so much that he has decided to stay and we are able to say “welcome back Kevin”.

It’s a little bit early to be talking about Christmas, but as a brass band it is both our busiest and our favourite time of the year.

We will be out and about in the area throughout the season carolling for the shoppers and helping Father Christmas to switch on lights in the High Streets starting with the Glastonbury Frost Fayre on the 26th November .

This year there are three Christmas concerts to choose from, St Mary’s Church Wedmore on the 10th December,

the Princess Theatre on the 18th December and Stogursey village Hall on the 21st December – don’t forget your carol singing voices!

Don’t forget if you are on Facebook you can follow the band for up to date stories and information - just search for “Burnham and Highbridge Band”

For a full list of our engagements and up to date news please visit our website at www.burnhamandhighbridge.band

and for help in booking tickets please contact Barbara Garner on email: barbara@burnhamandhighbridge.band Tel: 01749 671520 / 07733 001 523

Rachael Dickinson, pictured on the right of Band Manager Sarah, could never have guessed what would happen when aged 10 she carried out a dare set by her primary school friends. A gentleman had come into the school assembly promoting brass lessons, no one put their hand up, Rachael’s friends dared her, and the rest is history!!

Rachael joined Clevedon Band at age 12, started on third cornet and soon earned a place on the front row. She joined Portishead Town Band in 2000 and played with them until 2014, during which time the band progressed from the Fourth to the Championship Section.

In 2014, Rachael had lost the buzz that playing had always given her and decided to hang up her cornet for a while. It stayed in the cupboard

until we asked her to help us out for a concert at the start of the summer and we are delighted to say that she has decided to join us - the buzz has returned and it looks like its here to stay!

Christmas is Just Around The Corner……