2011 was another busy year for the band, with a full programme of concerts as well as school events continuing our work to promote music to young musicians. Rehearsals are well underway for our 2012 concerts, which start at Clacton’s West Cliff Theatre with “Mancini to Miller”, featuring new arrangements such as Harlem Nocturne, Mancini!, Salute to Spike Jones, Bugler's Holiday
and A Tribute to George Harrison, together with old favourites Phantom Of The Opera, Star Dust, Vilia and Big Bands In Concert.
- Sunday 11th March – 3:00pm – West Cliff Theatre, Clacton. Tickets from the Box Office.
We’re then back in Colchester to perform a concert with local secondary schools, featuring many of the pieces from the West Cliff together with pieces such as Born This Way, Bella’s Lullaby and Theme From Family Guy.
- Saturday 24th March – 7:30pm – Colchester (TBC).
The first of our Summer Concerts takes us back to the West Cliff for a themed programme entitled “Miller to the Musicals”, with the Sweeting Swing Band performing a programme of Big Band music to celebrate their 25th Anniversary, and us performing music including Kiss Me Kate, Copacabana, Les Miserables, Love Changes Everything and Mamma Mia among others.
- Sunday 17th June – 3:00pm – West Cliff Theatre, Clacton. Tickets from the Box Office.
The first half of the year concludes with a return to Coggeshall's beautiful St Peter ad Vincula Church, where we’ll be performing a full programme of “The Magic of the Musicals”, adding some new arrangements to the programme performed at the West Cliff, including Comedy Tonight, Send In The Clowns, Time Warp, Selections From Chicago, Lady Marmalade, Memory and The Sound Of Music. As you can see we’ve got some great music planned and are performing at some wonderful venues, so please come along to any of the above concerts if you’re up for an afternoon/evening of entertainment.
The band’s membership continues to include people of all ages from all walks of life, and new members are always welcome, especially as we are shortly losing a large number to University. As well as being great fun for its members and its audiences, playing in a band is also one of the best ways of improving your instrumental playing, so if you're interested in joining the band or just trying us out, look out for our termly Open Reherasals, join us at one of our weekend rehearsals or Band Training Days, or come and see us any term-time Friday evening at Heathlands school. There’s no audition, and the band’s uniqueness is that we have players from 7 to 70, so there’s always someone younger/older/worse/better than you.
Everything you need to know about the band (including details of all our events, how to buy tickets, and how to join us) is on this website, or you can call Graham on 01206 824157. We look forward to seeing you at some of our concerts…and wish of you a belated happy new year!
