BCB v AFC Bournemouth

BCB were privileged to play at AFC Bournemouth Goldsands stadium the night the team effectively sealed promotion to the Premiership. The band had been asked to play outside the ground prior to the match with a specific request for 'football' type anthems. The band were happy to oblige and for an hour before the match performed pievces such at Match of the Day theme, 'Ere we go' (Stars & Stripes Forever), The Great Escape, Congratulations, We are the Champions (maybe a bit premature in that one!), plus other suitable music. The crowd were in a buoyant mood and as the fans entered the stadium, many stopped to sing along, or to take 'selfies' with the band. A good night was had by all.

BCB performs at the West of England regional contest in Torquay

February/March is the time when all contesting brass bands set their sights on preparing for the regional contests that happen around the country during the month of March. The bands in the Championship (top) section were required to play a piece of music entitled the Torchbearer by Peter Graham.

BCB had to travel to Torquay to take part in the West of England regional contest, in the previous weeks Professional conductor Nigel Taken had been thoroughly preparing the band for this contest ensuring we were familiar with the direction he wanted to give, and that we could play our parts!

After a short rehearsal in Torquay on the Saturday morning we were advised that we had been drawn to play 13th (last). This meant that we would not be on stage until approx. 7pm.

We finally got on stage shortly after 7pm and produced a performance that both conductor and players were happy with, and a short while after it was announced that the adjudicators had placed BCB in 4th place, the band were extremely happy with this as not only was it an improvement on last year’s result but also meant that the band maintained its Championship status for another year.

This certainly made the trip back to Bournemouth an enjoyable one.

**Help Required**

BCB at the Pinewalk Bandstand - 2015 

BCB have had the priviledge of playing at the Pinewalk bandstand in the Lower Pleasure Gardens during the summer for the last 23 years.

Over the last 7-8 years we have seen the payments for playing in the bandstand made by the Bournemouth Council drop by more than 60%, but we have always been willing to continue to play for the enjoyment of the thousands of holidaymakers and the residents of Bournemouth. This year the council has advised that they are unable to pay any musical groups at all due to budgetary restrictions. We very much want to perform in the bandstand this year, but as an amateur group we rely on member subscriptions, concert revenue and donations to continue to exist.

We are approaching a number of local companies with a view to obtaining sponsorship for the performances, for which we would regularly advise the audience that the company is supporting us.

If you think you can help in any way please contact either This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

BCB's New Year Viennese concert. 

BCB welcomed in the New Year in their own inevitable style, performing their version of the New Year Viennese concert at the Regent Centre in Christchurch. This is the 19th year they have done so and it is a well supported concert.
The concert as usual featured music from composers associated with Vienna, such as the Strauss family, Mozart and Schubert, but also included the French composer Emille Waldteufel whose Skater’s Waltz is very much in line with those by the waltz ‘king’ Johann Strauss II.
The band opened with the Julius Fucik march – The Children of the Regiment, following that with the overture from the Mozart’s opera – Cosi Fan Tutte. The band’s soloists were in fine form with Rachel Bartlett (Flugel Horn) playing the Romance form Mozart’s Horn Concerto No.3, and Tony Hartley (Euphonium) playing Schubert’s Serenade.
The Strauss family was well represented with Furioso, Cuckoo, Moulinet polkas, the Klipp Klapp gallop, and the Persian March. There were further contributions from Mozart with the overture to Don Giovanni, and the fourth movement of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
At the 2014 concert a lady in the audience requested the band to play the Skater’s Waltz and while the band didn’t have the music at that time, an arrangement was made to enable the band to play it this year.
In typical New Year tradition, the band finished the concert with the Blue Danube before the audience joined in with Johann Strauss senior’s Radetsky March sending the audience home on a high note.

Comment from a member of the audience:
To the brass band of Bournemouth,
Thank you so much for such a lovely concert at the Regent Centre last Sunday (4 January 2015). My husband and I enjoyed every minute of it. We were especially moved by the Shubert Serenade. The soloist was divine; he conveyed such tenderness and emotion.
Are you back at the Regent Centre in June? If so please send me the dates. We would so enjoy hearing another concert by this innovative and talent band.

BCB at the 2014 Wessex Contest and the visit of the Muehlau band (Switzerland) 

The end of November 2014 was special for 2 reasons.

The band were hosting the visit of Musikgesellschaft  Muehlau (Switzerland) band and also attended the annual Wessex contest was held at the Life Centre Winton. The Visit of the Muehlau band renewed old aquaintances as BCB visit Muehlau in 2012. The band, over for a 3-4 day visit, stayed at the Avon Tyrell camping Lodge and were ably looked after by some menbers of the band during their stay. They also took part in the Wessex contest and also played an entertaining concert during the lunchtime break.

So, to the contest, 18 bands took part in this year's contest and BCB were pleased to be taking part having not attended for 3-4 years. Each band can choose their ow piece to play and it was down to this year's adjudicator Paul Holland to decide who he felt was the best band. 

In the weeks prior to the contest BCB had been working hard with their professional conductor, Nigel Taken on a test piece called ‘English Heritage’ by George Lloyd. On the day the band's rendition of ‘English Heritage’ brought a good response from the audience.The band were placed second in their section (Championship) and third overall.

The band are now busy preparing for their annual Viennese Concert at the Regent Centre Christchurch on 4 January (3pm). Book early as this is often a sell out concert.