Cotswold Edge Festival of Brass
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Wotton Silver Band
  • Events
    • Learner Band
    • The Mini-Fest
    • Jazz Cafe
    • Registration
    • Competition Rules
  • More Info
    • Contact us
    • Gallery
    • What next?
  • News

Cotswold Edge Learner Band

21/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Following on from feedback from parents and players, we are pleased to announce the launch of our brand new Cotswold Edge Learner Band!
Picture
Rehearsals will take place every Monday evening from 30th October and will be held at St. Bart's Church, Lower Cam from 6.30pm to 8pm.

The Band is open to anyone but is aimed at beginner to intermediate players.  It will cost you just £2 a week to cover our expenses and will be run by Alan Swain, with help from the rest of the team.

​​Complete beginners are also welcome and instruments are available if you need.  Parents and siblings are actively encouraged to take part!
0 Comments

Cotswold Edge Brass Festival Summer Festival

12/7/2017

0 Comments

 

8th & 9th July, 2017

Last weekend saw the return of the popular Cotswold Edge Brass Festival.  What began just last year as a day of lessons and a concert has now grown to be a whole weekend of fun.
First of all there was a competition for ensembles and soloists taking place at the British School in Wotton-Under-Edge.  Alan Swain, one of the organisers and local professional trombonist, said:
"The idea behind the competition was to give the local brass players something to aim at and to build momentum in the weeks and months before the festival.  It's a necessary part of learning or maintaining brass playing that we need to practice. Giving the children a piece to practice for the competition is a really good way of keeping the enthusiasm going."
The solo competition winner was Matthew King of Thornbury Area Youth Music and the ensemble was won by a group from the British School itself.
Saturday evening was a real highlight of the festival this year which saw the beautiful Wotton Town Hall transformed into a Jazz Café with musicians performing from Welsh National Opera and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.  They had come together to perform easy listening hits with their informal group 'The Mexican Connection'.  The show was stolen, however, by husband and wife duo from the West End of London: Danny Marsden, trumpeter extraordinaire from the band of 'Wicked the Musical' and Louise Marshall, just back from singing with Jools Holland at Glastonbury who provided a hot night of Jazz whilst lending some glamour to the happy proceedings.  This Jazz Café was a first for the festival but judging by the smiles on the faces of the packed audience members it won't be the last!
On Sunday, after a sweltering night of jazz, the fun started at Rednock School in Dursley.  Chris White-Horn, organiser, said 
"The original idea last year was to give local brass players of all ages and abilities a chance to be inspired, educated and connected.  After the last festival we asked for feedback and we were cheered to realise we were onto something badly needed in this area, namely a chance for people to come together to make music, share tips, learn from professionals and above all have fun in this informal atmosphere."
The finale of the festival, the same as last year, was a Gala Concert with the Wotton Silver Band at Lister's Hall in Dursley.  The participants of the day got to show off their new skills and showcase pieces they had worked on with the tutors throughout the day.  In addition the crowd were entertained by other soloists including local Euphonium wizard and organiser Philip Anderson buzzing around the 'Grandfather's Clock'. The exciting climax was the celebrated 'Story Time'.  This piece featured all participants but no written music, only music and sounds composed on Sunday.  The story featured a man with wobbly legs after visiting Uley Brewery, a cheeky gingerbread man and somehow Darth Vader, who was over visiting the Berkeley Hunt! A suitable and fun way to end what was a very successful festival.  Bruce Davies, organiser and Principal Cornet of the band said:
"We are really pleased with this year's festival and are happy to give the local brass players this opportunity."
The next festival is at Stroud Sub Rooms on 4th February and will feature the celebrated Flowers Brass Band.  Some of the participants will be performing this Saturday at the Dursley Carnival.
0 Comments

Thank You!

11/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Last weekend's Mini-Fest was a great success, with nearly 50 players!  The team had lots of fun in organising and running the day and are very grateful to all the players, supporters and volunteers! We are always looking for new ideas - ways to fundraise, different events to run or ways to better publicise the event.  Please do get in touch with any feedback you may have, either positive or negative, either by return email or through the website or Facebook.

Save the Dates!
8th and 9th July, 2017

We are planning something bigger and better in the summer over a whole weekend, including workshops & masterclasses, a social event and a solo & small group competition!

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter Pages as well as the website for the latest information.
0 Comments

Brass Mini Fest!

26/11/2016

0 Comments

 

5th February 2017

   We had such a great time at our Festival in the summer that we're going to hold a mini festival in February.

   The day will run from 10am until 4pm and will include masterclasses, tuition and a mini concert. The cost of the day is just £5.  Head over to our website for full details and to book your space.

   We were formed in 2016 to provide fun, informal and inspiring day for all ages, all brass instruments and all abilities.

   Our aims are to foster enthusiasm for brass music making in the young musicians of the South Gloucestershire area and to encourage youngsters to join local groups.

   The festival days focus on masterclasses on a wide variety of topics, including how to get the best out your performance, exam and audition hints and instrument-specific techniques, as well as coming together for ensemble rehearsals and a performance.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK YOUR SPACE ON THE REGISTER PAGE
0 Comments

DURSLEY SEES NEW FESTIVAL OF BRASS SUCCESS

29/6/2016

0 Comments

 
   More than 200 people came from across the Cotswolds to join in the first ever “Cotswold Edge Festival of Brass” taking place in Dursley last weekend at Rednock School and The Chantry Centre.

   Participants ranged from 8 to 80 years old and were of varying abilities; some were experienced players whilst others were complete beginners.

   The participants were split into three groups for the workshops during the day where they were given expert tuition from three professional musicians. Alan Swain, who teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, tutored the advanced group whilst Philip J. Anderson, a visiting music teacher across many of the local schools throughout Gloucestershire & Wiltshire took the intermediates. Chris White-Horne, a tutor with Thornbury Area Youth Music got the beginners group off to a flying start. Each group was given advice and guidance on their playing whilst rehearsing a piece of music for the evening entertainment.

   The Festival was also joined throughout the day by players from Wotton Silver Band as well as world class professional brass musicians from the Welsh National Opera who gave some experienced guidance to the groups.

   The Festival culminated in a fantastic concert at The Chantry Centre with pieces being performed by each of the three Festival groups as well as the audience being treated to concert items from both the Wotton Silver Band and soloists from the Welsh National Opera.

   The day’s highlight for those taking part was being able to play in an ensemble, some of them for the first time.  Bea, age 8, said: “Everyone was really, really nice and I feel like my playing has improved. I loved being part of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the concert and hearing Fnugg!”

   Philip Anderson and fellow tutors helped the groups learn and practice their performance pieces. He added: “The Cotswold Edge Festival of Brass was designed to enthuse people of all ages to try a brass instrument, or to develop their skills. The concert was a fantastic mix of the three groups from the day, the local Silver Band and professional musicians, who all gave their time for free. We are delighted to have created something so special in our community and look forward to doing it again next year!”

   Bruce Davies, organiser and principal cornet player at the Wotton Silver Band, says “Our vision is to promote brass playing and collaboration between music group of all levels.”
​
   The Cotswold Edge Festival of Brass was also featured as one of the “BBC Music Get Playing” Come and Play events which have been taking place across the Country.
0 Comments

    Archives

    October 2017
    July 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    June 2016

    RSS Feed

Picture

Contact

Contact
​Registrations

Documents

Safeguarding
Downloads
Competition Rules
© COPYRIGHT 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
✕