The Band under its Musical Director Steve Edwards recently held a Charity Concert in aid of Help for Heroes at St Nicholas Church, Montgomery with special guests the Guilsfield Singers, and the Montgomery Primary School Choir. The compere for the evening was the band’s chairperson Helen Bennett.

The very large audience, some of whom had travelled some distances enjoyed a varied programme of music and the evening was a great success. The concert was attended by special guests the High Sheriff of Powys, Col John Brunt and Mrs Brunt, together with his cadet, Cadet Hawkes. Also in attendance was the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Powys Mrs Ann Jones and her husband Mr Merion Jones of Llanbrynmair, members of Montgomery Town Council, Clive and Cynthia Duce, H4H Volunteer County Co-ordinators for Powys and some members of the Armed Forces who had recently returned from Afghanistan.

The Band is very grateful to everyone who supported the event in any way and as a result a cheque for £1020.00 was recently presented to the H4H Co-ordinators for Powys, Clive and Cynthia Duce by the NSB president John Bennett, who organised the event together with Chairperson Helen Bennett and Musical Director Steve Edwards.

On August Bank Holiday Monday the band had been invited to play at the Shrewsbury Steam Rally held at Onslow Park, Shrewsbury, this being the Rally’s 50th Anniversary year. This was the first time that brass bands had been invited to take part in this prestigious event. The music was provided by the Porthywaun Silver Band under the direction of Musical Director Mark Parry on the Sunday and the NSB under the direction of the band’s assistant conductor David Evans played on the Monday. The band very much appreciated the detailed organisation provided by Bob Scott, member of the Rally Committee who acted as band steward throughout the weekend and ensured the smooth running of the band performances.

In addition to the band playing in the marquee provided, each band was required to march into the Main Arena and perform a short programme of music to entertain the large crowds, prior to the arrival of the huge parade of vintage steam engines and cars.

All the members of the band enjoyed a wonderful day out.

The AGM of Newtown Silver Band was held in the Band room, Back Lane, Newtown on 14th April 2011.At the start of the meeting a minutes silence was held in memory of three past members of the band who had passed away during the last twelve months namely Mrs Doreen Owen, past player and member of the Finance Committee; Terry Phillips, a past player and one of the Band Trustees; and Dennis Jones, a past player and committee member.

Favourable reports were well received from the chairman, treasurer, secretary, contest secretary, bandmaster and musical director. Everyone at the meeting was delighted to hear that there are now over 60 playing members including the Learners, Training Band and Senior Band. All members of the Learners and Training Band receive free tuition and the free use of an instrument.

The following officials were re-elected for the ensuing year:
President: John Bennett; Musical Director/Conductor: Steve Edwards; Assistant Conductor: David Lloyd Evans; Band master: John Hughes; Chairman: Helen Bennett; Secretary: David Gardner; Contest Secretary: Helen Pryce; Treasurer: Dot Griffiths; Librarian: Alan Breeze; Welfare Officer Co-opted member: Eifion Thomas.

Committee members; Alan Breeze, Phillip Evans, Bill Ridley, Ann Perks and newly elected member Ernie Capener.

Trustees of the band John Jones, Francis Shirley and Tony Leach were re-elected and David Pugh was elected as a Trustee in place of the late Terry Phillips.

The Newtown Silver Band welcomes all players of any ability and contact can be made via the secretary David Gardner on 07790 940506, the chairman Helen Bennett 01686 668 446 or via the band website www.newtownsilverband.co.uk

The Newtown Training Band has been invited to take part in A CONCERT with the Cor Merched Maldwyn Ladies Choir at Llandyssil Church on Saturday 14th May 2011 and the Newtown Silver Band is organising a Charity Concert on Armed Forces Day, Saturday 25th June 2011 at St Nicholas Church, Montgomery in aid of Help for Heroes together with special guests the Guilsfield Singers and the Montgomery Primary School Choir.

Please click on the thumbnail images below to view the Band Presentations.

There was an excellent attendance at the Annual Concert and Presentations of the Newtown Silver Band held on 12th March 2011 at All Saints Church, Newtown which was a resounding success. The compere for the evening was the Band’s chairperson Helen Bennett who welcomed everyone and the special guest the Mayor of Newtown Councillor Joy Jones. At the commencement of the concert a Minutes Silence was held in memory of the recent disasters in Australia , New Zealand and Japan.

The first half of the concert was provided by the Training Band and the Learners Band and the second half was taken over by the Senior Band, all under the direction of the Musical Director Steve Edwards. During the second half the Senior Band performed a varied selection of music including the beautiful tone Poem Resurgam by Eric Ball, which the band played the following weekend at the Welsh Regional Qualifying Championships at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea where they came a creditable sixth out of ten bands.

During the concert presentations were made to those achieving awards during the past 12 months. The Ron Griffiths Cup (most improved player in the Learner Band) went to Harriet Tolley aged 8. From the Training Band, the Training Band Shield (most improved Training Band player) went to Dylan Nutting and the Royal Mail Cup (Training Band Person of the Year) went to William Hughes.

The Senior Band presentations were as follows:Ken Barrett Shield (Most improved Senior Player) went to Adam Jones (percussion); Trefor Evans Memorial Cup (soloist of the year) went to the band’s principal cornet David Gardner; The NSB Shield (best section of the band) went to the trombone section, namely Osian Davies, Becky Youd, Neil Bennett, David Dart and Paul Lloyd; all these presentations were made by the Musical Director Steve Edwards. The Harry Leach Cup for the Senior Band person of the year, chosen by the band members themselves went to Eifion Thomas and was presented by the President John Bennett who also presented the President’s Trophy, the Ian Bainbridge Memorial Cup to Dot Griffiths the band’s treasurer for her outstanding contribution to the band over the past year. During the evening thanks were expressed to Philip Fennah, Bb Bass player for his commitment and service to the band over the past few years. Philip started playing in the Junior Band and North Powys Youth Band and he now leaves to pursue a career in the Police Service. We wish him well for his future success.

Newtown Silver Band is sad to record the loss of one of its trustees. Terry Phillips passed away on Wednesday 6th October aged seventy six years after a long illness. Terry joined the band as a young boy in 1946 having being encouraged by his father who was a bass trombonist in Newtown Silver Band. Terry started playing on cornet but after some time moved to trombone where he remained for a number of years. In turn he became a committee member, librarian, assistant conductor and for a short time as conductor. When his playing career ended he maintained his interest in the band and was subsequently elected as one of the trustees of the band - a position he held until his death.

His funeral service was held at All Saints Church, Newtown, Powys on Thursday 14th October when a large congregation was present to pay their respects and a small group from the band played Sullivan's 'Long Day Closes' arranged by the late Harry Leach MM, a former conductor of the band during Terry's early playing days. The band also played appropriate music at the end of the service. Terry will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Newtown Silver Band is sad to record the death of William Arthur Tanner (Arthur) of Broad Street Farm, Montgomery who passed away on Thursday September 9th 2010 aged 90 years. Arthur had been a faithful and loyal member of Newtown Silver Band for many years. Not only was he a playing member but he also used his talents to build new storage cupboards in the band room and was always willing to provide his van for transportation of band kit to engagements etc all over the country.

The Service of Thanksgiving was held at St Nicholas Church, Montgomery on Friday September 24th at 2.30.p.m. when a large gathering of family and friends together with several members of Newtown Silver Band were present. Items from the Band's latest CD were played during the service. Arthur will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

September 2010 has been a sad month for some of the players of Newtown Silver Band and members of the Band send their condolesences to David Lloyd Evans and his wife Jane on the death of Jane's mother, to Bill Ridley and Dorit on the death of Bill's father and also to Ingrid and Neil Simkin on the death of Ingrid's father, John Jarman.

The band has recently welcomed five new players to its ranks - three members of the Wood family - mum Gilly and daughter Katy on second/third cornet and son Robi on EEb Bass. Also joining is Osian Davies on principal trombone and David Dart on second trombone. All these players are or have been members of the North Powys Youth Band and Osian was recently awarded the Best Soloist award at the Gwent Music Festival.

At the recent Annual Concert of the Newtown Silver Band held on 15th May at All Saints Church, Newtown the following awards were made:

Learners Band Presentation
Ron Griffiths Cup for Most Improved Learner awarded to Ioan Grimwood (Cornet).

Training Band Presentation
1. Training Band Shield for Most Improved Training Band member Ernie Capener (Cornet).
2. Royal Mail Cup for Training Bandperson of the year Ann Perks (Baritone).

Senior Band Presentations
1. Ken Barrett Shield for Most Improved Player Osian Davies (Trombone).
2. Harry Leach Cup for Senior Bandperson of Year Neil Simkin (Eb Bass Tuba).
3. Trefor Evans Memorial Cup for soloist of year Del Thomas (Euphonium).
4. NSB Shield for best section during year awarded to Tenor Horn/ Flugel section.

The presentations were made by the band's Musical Director Steve Edwards. The Ian Bainbridge Memorial Cup awarded to the person who has done most for the band during the year was presented to the Band Secretary David Gardner by the president of NSB John Bennett.

The band held its AGM in the band room. All the officials gave favourable Reports. The officials and committee members were all re elected with the exception of Martin Tomkins who resigned due to work commitments. The band is at present short of one committee member. During the meeting it was emphasised that the band was short of percussionists including timpani players, otherwise there is a full complement of players.

The Gallery very kindly hosted a special evening for the band to view the DVD of the Newtown Howl. Our hosts served refreshments and all the band members present enjoyed the evening.

The Theatr Hafren was full for the 130th Anniversary Concert of the band. Official guests and past members had been invited. The band, conducted by Steve Edwards, were pleased to welcome the Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd Choir as their guest artistes on this special occasion. Compere was the band’s chairperson Helen Bennett.

During the past few months much work has been carried out and completed in the kitchen and toilet areas in the band room. Official guests and organisations that had contributed to the work were invited to the “Grand Opening” when the President of the band, John Bennett, cut the ribbon and officially declared the kitchen now open. Entertainment was provided by the newly named Newtown Training Band (formerly the Junior Band) under its conductor Steve Edwards. It was a very pleasant social occasion, which it is hoped, would be the first of many.

In addition to the normal rehearsals for the Second Section test piece Kingdom Of Dragons at Brangwyn Hall Swansea later this month, some strange and chilling sounds have been heard echoing from the band room and surrounding streets of Newtown as members of the band prepared for the first public 'Howl' in Wales, rehearsing a piece of music especially commissioned for Newtown Silver Band by the artist Simon Whitehead in conjunction with his exhibition  'Afield' at the Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown. Simon commissioned the composer Barnaby Oliver, who lives in Australia to compose this especially written work for Newtown Silver Band This is Barnaby's first work for brass band.

In 2005 Simon Whitehead spent time on a hunting reserve in Northern Quebec, Canada. An enduring memory of the visit was the wolf packs, audible at night and absent by day.

Here in Wales Simon reconstituted this lost predator through a series of mysterious and audible sightings through Newtown on Thursday evening 4th March culminating in a public gathering and procession through the town and the first public 'Howl' on the Bryn Bank above the town.

For this the band split into groups, howling away on their instruments and finally assembling together to play the members of the public on their way to the Bryn Bank.

A film crew from Cardigan filmed the entire event and a DVD will be available at the Oriel Davies Gallery.

The Band was intrigued and privileged to be part of this unique event; something that was completely different from the normal brass band repertoire and the band enjoyed the experience of practicing their wolf howls around the town creating considerable public interest.

Last weekend under the tutorage of Gwyn Evans, Musical Director of Seindorf Beaumaris and Newtown's Musical Director Steve Edwards the band worked hard in a Workshop on the test piece, Kingdom of Dragons by Philip Harper.

After a very busy Christmas period the beginning of January and February saw rehearsals depleted due to the bad weather conditions. However the band remained very busy preparing the Second Section test piece for Swansea in March and for their first engagement of the year, which was the ‘Newtown Howl’.

Congratulations to Neil and Ingrid Simkin on the birth of their daughter Lecsi Blythe, weighing in at 7lbs 12ozs on 7th December 2009.

Newtown Silver Band in conjunction with Theatr Hafren, Newtown, presented a Masterclass / Workshop at the theatre on Saturday 21st Nov 2009 with four members of the Cory Band, prior to the Cory Band Concert that same evening. Forty-four players of varying ages and abilities attended from six bands within Mid Wales, namely Newtown Silver, Knighton Town, Aberystwyth Town, Abergynolwyn Silver. Towyn Silver and North Powys Youth Band.

The players under the tutorage of Owen Farr, Chris Turner, Chris Thomas and Alun Horgan enjoyed a very worthwhile and instructive time and everyone expressed their pleasure at this opportunity and requested that it should be repeated at some time in the future. At the end of the Course everyone joined together for a final "blow" Theatr Hafren was packed for the Cory Band Concert and prior to the Concert, the Newtown Silver Band with some members of the Knighton Town Band, under the Musical Director Steve Edwards, performed in the Foyer to a large appreciative audience.

This short concert was compered by the Newtown Band's chairman Helen Bennett.

Please click on the thumbnail images below to view the Band Presentations.

Please click on the link below to view the notes from our Annual General Meeting in May 2009.

		AGM MEETING NOTES - MAY 2009

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We would like to congratulate Clair and Paul Foskett on the birth of Rose May Foskett on 15th May 2009, a sister for Thomas.

There have been many comings and goings in Newtown Silver Band during the last few months.

The band recently said goodbye to some of its long serving members due to work commitments and university placements. Bryn Pryce, cornet, recently left for Cardiff University to study Town and Country Planning. Nathan Mullan, cornet, left to study Pharmacy at Liverpool University; Kate Preston, baritone, who returned from university but has now had to leave due to work commitments. Elin Evans, tenor horn, who has secured a teaching post in London; Lotte Wood, cornet, due to her commitment to the ATC. Mike Barratt, baritone, due to work commitment away and Michael Jones, cornet, whose work took him away but who is hoping to return shortly.

The band welcomes Bill Ridley on cornet together with Tom Griffiths, cornet, who has come up from the junior band; Amanda Tomkins, first baritone from Knighton Town Band. Amanda joins her husband Martin who came to Newtown Silver Band some time ago. Elin Jones second baritone from Ystralefera Band after having secured a teaching post at one of our local schools; Mark Williams BBb Bass formerly from Knighton Town Band and Wellington Brass Band, and Pete Jones Solo Trombone formerly with Seindorf Beaumaris.

Paul Lloyd has moved from Solo Trombone to Bass Trombone, and Neil Simkin from EEb Bass to Euphonium for the Swansea Area Contest.

The band recently enjoyed a social evening on the occasion of it's Musical Director, Steve Edwards surprise 60th birthday party, where it played a short concert at the beginning of the evening under assistant conductor David Lloyd Evans.

The band now look forward to the Area Contest in Swansea in March.

Newtown Silver Band under it's Musical Director, Steve Edwards, released it's latest CD entitled Adventures in Brass at a joint concert with the Newtown All Saints Church Choir on Saturday 27th September 2008.

Having had two engagements cancelled recently due to the dreadful weather experienced in Mid Wales, although they were able to take part in the Welsh Food Fair held at Glansevern Hall on one of the fine days, the band was only too pleased to finally release the CD at a well attended concert in Newtown on Saturday.

Recorded at the Seindorf Beaumaris Studio, the band wish to thank Seindorf Beaumaris for the use of it's facilities and the opportunity to enjoy a very sociable weekend. The CD features solo's by David Gardner Principal Cornet, Del Thomas Principal Euphonium and Clair Foskett Principal Tenor Horn, playing 'Londonderry Air', 'Sweet and Low' and 'Afton Water' respectively. Other items include 'The Waltonian', 'Breezing Down Broadway', 'Angels Watching Over Me' and 'Adventures in Brass' by Ray Farr from which the CD takes it's title.

The cost of the CD is £10.00 plus p&p £1.00 and can be purchased from any band member.

Newtown Silver Band is in its 128th year of unbroken service to Newtown and the surrounding area.

At the recent AGM of the band thanks were expressed to the band's retiring Treasurer David Pugh after 25 years as treasurer and 55 years as a playing member of the band where he first played BBb Bass and then latterly Bass Trombone. David was presented with a cut glass tankard with an inscribed base by John Bennett, President of the band who thanked him for all his work and commitment over the years. The Band's Musical Director Steve Edwards and the Chairperson Helen Bennett also spoke in appreciation of David's musical and administrative work with the band and his dedication over this period.

Annual Reports were given by the Chairperson, Secretary, Contest Secretary and Musical Director. All agreed that the year had been a musical and social success. Mention was made of the successful visit to Dublin at Easter, and the weekend visit to Beaumaris when the band recorded its latest CD in the Recording Studio at Beaumaris Bandroom. Thanks were expressed to Gwyn Evans and the Beaumaris Band for all their help and the use of their facilities. The CD which features many tracts from the musicals and shows, and well known marches etc ends with the test piece Adventures in Brass which gives the CD its title. It is hoped that the CD will be available towards the end of June and will be on sale at the bands forthcoming engagements and concerts and from members of the band.

During the year the band took possession of a new set of uniforms worn for the first time at a well attended concert in Montgomery Church in December. All the Officials were re- elected with the exception of the treasurer David Pugh and a warm welcome was extended to the incoming treasurer Mrs Dorothy Griffiths who was unanimously appointed to succeed David by the well attended meeting. For engagements, concerts etc please contact the Secretary David Gardner on 07790 940506.

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