News
Jan 2007 - A busy festive season
The
band had a very successful, and very busy, festive season. We performed various
concerts throughout Oxfordshire, finishing off with one of our regular Christmas
jobs in Hailey. The audience were taken by surprise with the youthfulness
(left) of our Musical Director (!!!). Click here
for more pictures from the Hailey concert. Thanks to Pam Simpkins for providing
the pictures. If you're thinking ahead on the subject of possible entertainment
for next Christmas, please let us know.
Nov 2006 - A warm welcome to our new Conductor
Stonesfield
Silver Band has a new Musical Director - Simon Jones. A graduate of the brass
musicianship course at Salford University, his musical development has been
shaped through association with leading conductors, players, composers and
teachers over the last seventeen years. Simon joins the band with a broad
range of playing experience and after rewarding MD positions with two other
brass bands, where his leadership and motivation has yielded significant results.
We welcome Simon to the band and look forward to working with him to continue
our success and further the band's development.
Oct 2006 - The Band's 50th Anniversary Concert
2006
represented Stonesfield Silver Band's 50th Anniversary, and we celebrated
this in style with an Anniversary Concert on Saturday 7th October at Stonesfield
Village Hall. We welcomed a great many people who have been associated with
the band over the last 50 years along with a number of residents from Stonesfield
Village. Guests were treated to a concert by the band and an informal evening
of refreshments and chatting to old friends. It was a party to remember.
One central figure among the guests was Dorothy
Calcutt (click for picture), who became involved with the band in 1958,
almost at the beginning, and developed it with enthusiasm and energy over
the next thirty years.
Aug 2006 - Andy's fine duet
On
Sunday 27th August 2006, our multi-talented player and deputy MD Andy Goff
married fiancee Rowena Wilkinson (click the image for a larger version). The
ceremony and reception passed magically, aided by glorious weather and a beautiful
Shropshire location. The band helped out by playing during the ceremony itself
and providing a short concert to kick off the reception. We wish Andy and
Rowena a long and happy marriage. Band members please click here
to access the Bandroom area of the website for more pictures (click here
if you're having problems displaying the pictures).
Aug 2006 - A good day at St James's
On
the afternoon of Sunday 20th August 2006, the band provided several enjoyable
hours of entertainment for those taking in a bit of the British late summer
at St James's Park in London. Click on the image (left) for a full size picture.
It was quite a long job, but the weather stayed clear, and the enthusiasm
of the audience made it more than worthwhile. Click here
for more pictures of the event (click here
if you're having problems displaying the pictures).
Jul 2006 - The Duke of Marlborough's party
On
July 8th 2006, the band spent a very pleasant afternoon entertaining guests
of the Duke of Marlborough, who was celebrating his 80th birthday at his home,
Blenheim Palace. This spectacular venue played host to 250 of the Duke's fellow
octogenarians who he had invited to help him celebrate. Click here
for some pictures of the afternoon (click
here if you're having problems displaying the pictures).
May 2006 - Pictures from the 60s
Steve
Abbott played for Stonesfield Band in the 1960s. He is pictured
right with his friend Roger Evins on cornet. Click on the image for the full
size verson. Steve says, "I
left the band when my father died in late 1963 and I left Stonesfield in 1965.
I started work and have been in North Cheshire ever since. I often call in
to Stonesfield and stay with the Evins family.
"When the band first started it was called Stonesfield Youth Band, but as mums and dads were needed to support the band. They had a go and enjoyed it and they joined so it was changed to Stonesfield Silver Band. I have early newspaper cuttings of some of the contests. One of my last days memories of playing in the band was playing at St Pancras Town Hall in London after winning a contest at Devizes. A very hot day in London with wonderful memories.
"I retired early three years ago from the aircraft industry and now teach drawing and painting techniques at night school. I have a website as an entertainer - I cut silhouettes, but that is another story."
Feb 2006 - Podcasting? What's that?
Listen to audio broadcasts when and where you want by downloading them from the Internet. And there's a weekly podcast which you can subscribe to called "Brasscast" designed to keep you up to date with the world of brass bands, receiving around 20,000 download requests per month. Our band has provided material for our second podcast which took place on 26th February 2006 (we did our first podcast in June 2005). Click here to visit the Brasscast website for more details. Why not install software such as iPodder onto your computer and subscribe to Brasscast so you will receive the Podcasts automatically as soon as they are released.
Jan 2006 - Are you thinking of recording a CD?
Both of our CDs have been created using skills and equipment within the band. If you would like help recording your own CD, contact Dave on webmaster@stonesfieldsilverband.org.uk.
Jan 2006 - Would you like to learn a brass instrument?
We're intending to create a "Training Band" this year, whereby anyone who would like to learn can do so. If you or your child would be interested, please let Dave Bate know on chairman@stonesfieldsilverband.org.uk.
Nov 2005 - Leamington pictures
Click here
for pictures of our day in Leamington for the contest on 27th November 2005.
