Carols for Charity 2009
Following our successful Christmas concert at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall, Malvern Hills District Brass Band had a busy schedule of caroling in 2009, entertaining the public throughout December raising £1375.34 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Thank you to all who came to support us at the concert and thanks again to the concert's sponsor, Messrs Harrison Clark, Solicitors, Worcester.
Most Improved Player 2009
December 2009
Appraised by MD, John Swindells as 'Most Improved Player of 2009' our 2nd Baritone player, Paul Sargent, was presented with this year's trophy at the end of the band's recent Christmas concert at Huntingdon Hall.
Morgan Centenary Festival
August 2009
Morgan Centenary Festival / © Chris Wilsdon
The Morgan Motor Company has built cars by hand in Malvern since 1909. As a local band, we were delighted to be involved with their centenary celebrations, playing at Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday 1st August and Sunday 2nd August for the Morgan Centenary Festival.
Rain came, as forecasted, on Saturday but didn't dampen spirits, as we performed to a most appreciative audience in the afternoon, premiering a piece composed specially for the occasion, by our own MD, John Swindells.
There's often a one to two year waiting list for prospective Morgan buyers, so the piece, "A Morgan Fantasy", was written in three movements to reflect the ideas of Sunrise over Malvern, setting the scene for traditional production at the factory and receivership by 'The Happy Owner'.
Between performances, the band took advantage of Sunday's better weather to enjoy the rest of the event's exhibitions and entertainment, which culminated in a Night at the Proms with the ESO; Tenor, John Hudson; Soprano, Natasha Marsh; the St Michael's Singers and 20 minutes of fireworks!
Give a Dog a… Phone
May 2009
'Ernie' is a very talented member of the band. He's specially trained as Kate's Support Dog and is obviously very popular.
In January, he met Noel Edmonds and launched an appeal on live TV for people to donate their old mobile phones, in aid of the Support Dogs charity. The campaign went very well and Ernie has thanked the band for its help, collecting used handsets at recent concerts.
Mike Pawson Wins Best Soloist Prize
May 2009
Competing in the fourth section at Weston-super-Mare, the band were commended for our performance of Henry V. We didn't win a trophy but everyone was delighted to see our Soprano Cornet player, Mike Pawson, receive the 'Best Soloist Prize', which he clearly deserved.
Carols for Charity 2008
March 2009
Raising £1366.28 for the Midlands Air Ambulance (formerly County Air Ambulance), the band had a busy month of caroling in December, performing at a variety of festive events in Great Malvern, Worcester and the Malvern Hills District.
Our Christmas concert at Huntingdon Hall was especially well received, with compliments from the audience, including Chris Jaeger (Chief Executive of Worcester Live) and John Phillpott, who wrote a generous review for the Worcester News.
Success at the Wychavon Contest
September 2008
With an 'excellent choice of music' and 'effective band sounds' we came sixth in the Fourth Section of the Wychavon Festival of Brass on 21st September and second in the open-section competition between local bands, behind the Band of the West Mercia Constabulary who were placed fourth in the Second Section.
Given 20 minutes (and no longer) to perform any selection of music, brass bands came from all over the country to compete in this increasingly popular 'entertainment contest'.
The adjudicator, Brian Buckley, complimented MD, John Swindells, for his control of challenging moments and to everyone's delight, awarded the section's prize for Best Soloist to our Flugelhorn player, Hazel Duncan, for her rendition of 'The Way We Were' (Hamlish, arr. Golland). If you've been to any of our park concerts this summer, then you may have heard this piece and will appreciate how well Hazel plays it.
“This is a lovely end to a busy summer season”, said John Swindells, “It's the band's 30th anniversary next year and we intend to go from strength to strength.”
Our next concert, a Christmas 'Brass Spectacular', will be on Saturday 6th December at Huntington Hall, Worcester but you can hear us before then on Remembrance Sunday (9th November) in Malvern. A ceremony of wreath laying at the war memorial in the Library grounds will precede a service in Malvern Priory.
A Warm Welcome to our new Musical Director
May 2008
Following many appreciated years of service from Mike West, we are pleased to introduce our new Musical Director (MD), John Swindells.
A Yorkshire Man, John was born in Harrogate in 1978 and studied Music at Sheffield University. On gaining a PGCE from Cambridge University, he held several teaching posts before turning freelance in 2006. Today he teaches trumpet/cornet and piano, is a keen organist and active composer of choral and organ music as well as scores for brass band.
He has played trumpet with various ensembles including the Sheffield Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. On moving to Worcestershire, John became Head of Training for the Malvern Chase Brass Band whilst also joining MHDBB on solo cornet and as assistant conductor.
John said “It is a real opportunity to have been given the MD of this well known local band. We have a real mixture of talent and I hope to make everyone enjoy banding and reach their playing potential.”