| Music School - Apprentice Band Plays at Halfpenny Pier, Harwich (05/12/09) | |
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On Saturday 5 December the Apprentice Band played at Halfpenny Pier, Harwich for the arrival of St. Nicholas - the patron saint of children and seafarers. He was accompanied by his helper Black Peter and were brought to the pier by Harwich Lifeboat. After their arrival St Nicholas and Black Peter adjourned to St. Nicholas Church in Harwich, with a hoard of children and parents in tow, where a short informal service was held followed by the giving of sweets to all the children present. The Apprentice Band also went along to the church and played during the giving of the sweets. |
| Music School - Christmas Concert 2009 (29/11/09) | |
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A full set of concert photographs may now be viewed in the Gallery under Music School - Xmas Concert 2009. The Music School Christmas Concert was held at the Methodist Church, Main Road, Dovercourt on Saturday 28 November 2009. The concert comprised band, ensemble and solo items. All of the performers gave their all and made the event, attended by an audience of around 50, a memorable concert. Well done to everyone. |
| The Good Old Days Concert - 1 November 2009 (02/11/09) | |
 On a wet and dreary Sunday afternoon the Westcliff theatre rang to ‘The Good Old days’ concert entertaining 200 plus theatre goers. All performers were dressed in a fine array of period costumes which set the scene dramatically. The band played a variety of pieces ranging from marches, a Mary Poppins selection and swing to old favourites such as ‘Oh You Beautiful Doll’, ‘Rule Brittania’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory. The band was augmented by friends from Clacton Amateur Dramatic Society with Fred Gregory acting a Master of Ceremonies, Bob Sangwell delivering two fine monologues and Sandra De Roy and Vicky Tearle leading the audience singalongs. Another feature was ‘The Policeman’s Song’ featuring young Samuel Bolton. All in all it was another successful concert. Well done everyone More photos in the Gallery under Concerts. |
| Cd Now Available to Buy Online (15/09/09) | |
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| MUSIC SCHOOL RECEIVES FUNDING (08/09/09) | |
 Prior to their AGM on Monday 7th September 2009, Harwich Connexions presented money to various local organisations. Our Music School were chosen to recieve a cheque for £200. The picture shows Caroline, Jane, Alice and Peter receiving the cheque from Connexion's Chairman. |
| SAMUEL BOLTON (02/09/09) | |
 A recent new entry to the apprentice band is Samuel Bolton. Samuel, who is 12, is blind and also moderately autistic. Samuel has a perfect ear for pitch and an excellent memory, which he uses to quickly to learn new tunes. Samuel has already passed grades 1 -3 piano with merit, but has always been interested in the trumpet sound. He first started learning the cornet in March 08 and quickly took to the instrument. He has just passed grade 3 with distinction, and is now working to take his grade 4 piano and cornet exams at the end of the year.Samuel joined Music School last year and enjoys the apprentice band. His aunt says “joining the apprentice band has been a very positive experience for Samuel. From the beginning Samuel was welcomed and accepted by both staff and current pupils. This excellent nurturing musical environment has allowed Samuel to work and socialise at a level par with his peers, something he has little other opportunities to experience.” |
| BAND STAND REVIVAL (31/08/09) | |
The Old Band Stand at Harwich in Cliff Park has not been used for many years and members of the Main Band and Music School band of the harwich Royal British Legion joined forces to perform an afternoon of music on Sunday 30th August. The mixture of music was appreciated by many passers by who wer commenting on "how nice it was to see the Band Stand in use again". We had to agree and certainly hope that this will now become a regular venue for the band. |
| OPEN AIR BAND CONCERT IN THE OLD BAND STAND DOVERCOURT (27/08/09) | |
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The Harwich RBL Saturday Music School Band will be playing an afternoon of music at the Old Band Stand in Dovercourt. This Band Stand has not been used for many years and the Council have granted us permission to use it after many years of neglect. Let's hope this is the start of a revival for the Band Stand and an annual event for the Music School. The concert will be from 3pm - 5pm Sunday 30th August. |
| A SUMMER OF SUCCESSES!!!!!!!!! (04/08/09) | |
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Our Musical Director, Antony Sanders, entered 29 pupils from both the Harwich Royal British Legion Saturday Music School and Chase Lane Primary School, at which he is a music teacher, for their 'brass' practical music exams at the end of the summer term. To match Peter’s earlier success at grade 5, a further 18 students form the Music school as well as 11 from Chase Lane all passed giving a 100% success. Well done Antony, for all the hard work and commitment put in by you, the students and music teaching staff at the Music school and Chase Lane. RESULTS AS FOLLOWS: (those marked with an asterix are Chase Lane pupils and do not currently attend the Music School but we are hoping that one day they will) Chloe Jay -Cornet Grade 4 Pass Alice Waterman -Cornet Grade 4 Merit Samuel Bolton -Cornet Grade 3 Distinction Benjamin Lewis -Tenor Horn Grade 3 Pass Bethany Pollard -Baritone Grade 3 Pass Charlotte Potter -Baritone Grade 3 Pass Riley Pollard -Cornet Grade 3 Merit Nylisha Ramplin -Tenor Horn Grade 3 Pass Hannah Rigg -Euphonium Grade 3 Pass Hannah Rose -Tenor Horn Grade 3 Merit *Rosie Bantick -Cornet Grade 2 Pass Ashley Leek -Cornet Grade 2 Pass * Daniel Poole - Cornet Grade 2 Pass Simon Probert -Tuba Grade 2 Pass Georgia Suley -Cornet Grade 2 Pass Shannon Taylor -Tenor Horn Grade 2 Merit Daniel Waterman -Cornet Grade 2 Merit * Summer Challis -Tenor Horn Grade 1 Pass * Chloe Chandler -Tenor Horn Grade 1 Pass * Kayleigh Kent -Trombone Grade 1 Pass * Lucy Moore -Flugel Horn Grade 1 Pass * Ella Reynolds -Trombone Grade 1 Distinction * Katie Stratton -Baritone Grade 1 Pass * Willow Surman-Wells -Baritone Grade 1 Merit * Emma Welsh -Cornet Grade 1 Pass Liam Willis -Tenor Horn Grade 1 Pass * Nakarin Yodart -Baritone Grade 1 Pass CONGRATULATIONS!! |
| YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!!!! (24/07/09) | |
 Several of our Band Music School members who currently borrow their instrument from their Primary School will have to return them to the school this summer leaving them with no instrument to continue with the band. Having studied on their chosen brass instrument for the last three years this is a big loss, firstly they have progressed in their musical abilities on a personal development level and secondly they will lose the chance to be a part of the bigger world of brass banding through attendance at the music school. We have appealed through our local newspapers and adverts on the radio and are now appealing to you our readers of this website. Do any of you have or know of anyone who has an unwanted or unused brass instrument, cornet, tenor horn, Baritone, Euphonium, trombone or Bass that you could donate to the band for our students to use? Please contact Jane Gibson 01255 851365 or Antony Sanders 01255 851123. |