Latest News
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New signings!
The band are very pleased to announce that we welcome, not one but, two new players to the band in last week!
Catherine Reid joins us on Repiano cornet from Lofthouse 2000 and Alan Gibson joins us on 2nd Trombone from Horbury Victoria. Both players bring with them a high standard of musicianship and experience and we would like to wish them both a very long and happy time with us here at Drighlington.
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Durham Miners Gala 2010
There have been plenty of aching muscles around the band since Saturday which saw a team of 19 of the band (including a small number of friends from neighbouring bands going, literally, the extra mile) set off at 5:45am on a coach to Durham to represent our friends at Greenside Lodge.
After a much welcome breakfast at the Greenside Lodge, the band and Lodge performed an hour long march through the village of Greenside followed by a double march parade through Durham City Centre in front of the Greenside banner, playing to swarms of supporters and revellers along the way finally arriving back in Drighlington at around 7pm.
All in all, another excellent day was had by all and we are already looking forward to supporting our friends from Greenside again next year.
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Farewells
It is with a great deal of sadness that the band have had to bid a fond farewell and best wishes to a number of our players over the last couple of months. Martin Hall and Matthew Gaunt, on Principal and Tutti Cornet respectively, have both had to take sabbaticals from full time playing for the forseeable future due to family and work commitments, Robin Morgan (Eb Bass) has taken up his conducting career again with Meltham & Meltham Mills following surgery preventing him being able to continue on Bass and Anthony Malone (Solo Baritone) is taking time out from playing for health reasons.
We would like to extend our best wishes and heartfelt thanks to all of the above for their friendship, dedication and contribution to the band and hope to see them all around and about in the future.
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Double March Contest success
In the last month, the band have seen success at both the Morley and Brighouse March & Hymn Tune Contests claiming third place in both competitions.
With both contests fielding strong entries from local bands and even as far as Holland, Drighlington put on an excellent showing to walk away with prize money at each venue.
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Two more Player Profiles are available
Player Profiles are now up about our 1st Horn Player, Linda Whitaker and 2nd Trombone, Kevin Dawson.
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Bb Bass, Cornet and Percussion Vacancies (May 2010)
Following the sad departure of Andy Leicester (see previous news item) and our Principal Cornet, Martin Hall, needing to take an extended sabbatical, the band currently have the following vacancies.
- Solo Cornet (possibility of Principal, Repiano or Front Row for the right candidate)
- Bb Bass
- Kit Player
If you are interested in any of these vacancies please do get in touch via our contact form!
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Sad departure of Andy Leicester (Bb Bass)
It is with a deal of sadness that the band have to say goodbye to Andy Leicester, one of our Bb Bass players. Back in November last year, Andy suffered a serious break to his arm and since then has not been able to lift heavy objects, especially the largest and heaviest instrument in the band!
Andy came to Drighlington under Kevin Belcher in 2006 and has been a highly regarded friend, as well as player, to everyone in the band ever since. We wish him all the very best and a speedy recovery.
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Spring Cafe Concert Tickets are available (Sunday 18th April)
Sunday 18th April sees the band perform the first of it's regular Cafe Style Concerts in 2010 at Morley Town Hall. Enjoy an afternoon of brass band entertainment in a relaxed Cafe style atmosphere, with afternoon tea provided as well!
For many, this will be the first chance to hear the band this year since the arrival of Jim Davies as MD, and the band have been working extremely hard to take our performances to new heights. It is already looking to be a fantastic afternoon with music from the Stage and Screen, Classical, Swing and much more in the mix along with several Solo perfomances.
Tickets are selling fast and are available for £7.00 (afternoon tea is included in the price) from any of the band members or by contacting Wyn Crossland on 0113 285 2465.
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Youth Band join with local Parish church, St Pauls, to help celebrate Palm Sunday
Hot on the heels of their concert during the Spring Fayre on the Saturday, the Drighlington Youth Band were up at the crack of dawn (the clock's changed overnight meaning even less time for a lie-in) on Sunday morning to take part in the village Parish Church Palm Sunday celebrations.
Despite the even earlier than normal start, the band played traditional Palm Sunday hymns for the congregation as they gathered outside St Pauls and raced up to the Meeting Hall to play again for the procession as it made its way through the village to the service.
Following the service, the band entertained the congregation with a program of light music during morning coffee with a number of enquiries and bookings being made for further concerts later in the year. The Youth Band would also like to acknowledge, with their sincere thanks, the generous donation made by the congregation during a retiring collection after the service.
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An Egg-cellent day out at our Spring Fayre
Saturday 27th March saw the band hold its annual Spring Fayre at the Meeting Hall in Drighlington with even Mother Nature making the effort and giving us a glorious sunny day to accompany it.
Between 10am and 2pm, the army of volunteers made up of supporters and members of both the Senior and Junior Band worked tirelessly behind various stalls to raise over £600 for band funds! The Youth Band, debuting their new uniforms, were also on hand to provide musical entertainment which was very warmly recieved by everyone and even managed to gain interest from three new members to the Training Band program.
Special thanks go to Wyn & Ken Crossland for their ever present devotion and hard work in organising the day.
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Family Values at Drighlington with a double dose of Davies
The latest signing to our ranks comes hot on the heels of our advertisment for Solo Horn and it's from within the band family.
We are very pleased to announce the Rhiannon Davies (wife of our newly appointed MD, Jim Davies) has agreed to join the band ready for the Yorkshire Areas in March.
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Introducing Our New Musical Director
The band are extremely pleased to welcome our new Musical Director, Jim Davies!
Following the departure of Kevin Belcher earlier in 2009, the band have spent considerable time and effort ensuring we found the right person, from numerous excellent applicants, to lead us into the Championship Section in 2010.
Jim brings with him an extremely high calibre history of banding, both as a player (Champion Soloist of Wales at aged 13, Granada TV Best Soloist - TWICE - and Principal Cornet with both the Cory Band and Brighouse & Rastrick), a Musical Director with Markham, EYMS and Carlton Main, and as a contest Adjudicator at some of the most prestigious contests in the UK!
We warmly welcome Jim, and his family, to the band and wish him every success as he leads us forward into 2010!
Forthcoming Events
- 17th July 2010
Joint Concert with the Horsforth Ladies Choir, Horsforth - 18th July 2010
Joint Concert with the Rodillian Singers, Ossett - 1st August 2010
Pudsey Park, Pudsey - 8th August 2010
Worth Valley Railway, Oxenhope Station (Ensemble) - 14th August 2010
South Leeds Stadium, Leeds (Ensemble) - 15th August 2010
Dartmouth Park, Morley - 28th August 2010
Dewsbury Town Centre (Ensemble)
Grateful thanks
The band would like to acknowledge recent support & donations from the following organisations, our greatful thanks!
- Leeds Carnegie Rugby
- Bradford Bulls
- West Yorkshire Playhouse
- Drighlington MOT Centre
- Perfect Image (Drighlington)
- Tesco
- Dolphin Fisheries (Drighlington)
- Morrisons
