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.
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ANNUAL CONCERT | 15TH MAY 2010 |
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.
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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | 29TH APRIL 2010 |
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.
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ORIEL DAVIES MEMORIAL GALLERY | 22ND APRIL 2010 |
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.
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THEATR HAFREN - 130TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT | 17TH APRIL 2010 |
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.
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COFFEE EVENING AND OFFICIAL OPENING OF REFURBISHED KITCHEN AND UTILITIES | 25TH MARCH 2010 |
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.
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DRAGONS AND WOLVES AND THE NEWTOWN PUBLIC HOWL | 4th MARCH 2010 |
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.
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WORKSHOP / SEMINAR | 26th & 27th FEBRUARY 2010 |
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’.
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CONGRATULATIONS NEIL AND INGRID | DECEMBER 2009 |
Congratulations to Neil and Ingrid Simkin on the birth of their daughter Lecsi Blythe, weighing in at 7lbs 12ozs on 7th December 2009.
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MASTERCLASS / WORKSHOP WITH CORY BAND MEMBERS | NOVEMBER 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.
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ANNUAL BAND PRESENTATIONS | MAY 2009 |
Please click on the thumnail images below to view the Band Presentations.
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NEWTOWN SILVER BAND AGM MEETING | MAY 2009 |
Please click on the link below to view the notes from our Annual General Meeting in May 2009.
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CONGRATULATIONS CLAIR AND PAUL | MAY 2009 |
We would like to congratulate Clair and Paul Foskett on the birth of Rose May Foskett on 15th May 2009, a sister for Thomas.
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RECENT COMINGS AND GOINGS | MARCH 2009 |
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.
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CD RELEASE - 'ADVENTURES IN BRASS' |
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.
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NEWTOWN SILVER BAND SAYS FAREWELL TO IT'S TREASURER |
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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