While not everyone enjoys the pandemonium in the build up to Christmas, all look forward to the celebration and holiday when there’s time to relax.None more so than members of brass bands!For bands it’s a hectic period playing carols, giving concerts and helping a multitude of businesses, churches and charities celebrate the festive period.

For the City of Chester Band and the City of Chester Training Band it all began in mid-November with the switch-on of Christmas lights in Hoole and the city centre.There then followed performancesby the bands individually and en masse taking in Mickle Trafford, Saughall, Willaston (Wirral), Winnington, the Lion Salt Works (both in Northwich), Knutsford, Chester Freemasons at “Cheshire View†and a concert in aid of the British Heart Foundation, held in St Thomas’s, Parkgate Road.The City of Chester Band was fortunate to be invited back to play carols on Piccadilly Station, Manchester on Saturday 12 December when it entertained passengers and shoppers with seasonal music.

Both bands are self-supporting and rely upon income earned over the Christmas period to ensure survival over the coming year (rehearsal room expenses, the purchase and maintenance of instruments and buying new music).Playing members give freely of their time.

A highlight at this time of the year is the Training Band’s end-of-year concert for members’ families and friends.This was held on Monday 14 December at St Luke’s, Huntington when the Band was led by Andrew Smithson, a keen player in the main band and a staunch supporter of the Training Band.During the evening presentations were made to David Craig (Player of the Month), Molly Chambers who was recipient of The David Else Trophy for the most improved player and to John Pattison as Band Person of 2015.

As the bands re-assemble after the holiday break it’s heads down for the City of Chester Band as it prepares to play in the NW Area Regional Qualifying Competition at Blackpool on 28 February.The Band will be performing in the Second Section playing the set test-piece: “The Mermaid of Zennorâ€, an original work for brass band by Philip Harper and commissioned by the Cornwall Youth Brass Band to mark its 60th anniversary. For both bands there is new music to prepare to entertain the public during the summer.

Anyone who fancies learning to play a brass instrument should contact Tony Blain on 07913109951.

The end of year concert for family and freinds was held at St Luke's on Monday 14th December. we had bells jingling and carols being sung for the last rehearsal of the year. Also the evening was also a presentation event for the Player of the Month which was won by David Craig (sorry no photo)Most improved Player won by Molly and Band Person of the year won by John Pattison.

The City of Chester wishes to announce the resignation of Josh Hughes as Musical Director.Josh’s personal commitments have led him to re-locate to Chorley, Lancashire.

The Band wishes Josh and his partner, Katherine, well with their future music-making and life together.Thanks go to Josh for his time, energy and commitment spent with City of Chester Band in recent months leading to a notable 3rd place finish in the second section of the NW Brass Band Association Championships held in Rochdale Town Hall on 25 October.

Further news about a replacement for Josh will follow in January.Meanwhile in the run-up to Christmas the Band is playing a series of concerts and carolling events, helping to raise funds for a number of local charities and organisations as well as itself (the Band is self-supporting).

On Sunday 1st November the Training Band held is annual Solo Competition at the Village Hall in Aldford. Due to illness and holidays the numbers who took part were low nevertheless the day went well and the overall winner on the day was Daniel Craig playing the Star Wars Theme. The two adjudicators Peter Dalton and Philip Mottershead were impressed with the sound and the fact he had only started playing in January this year. The day finished off with a Winter BBQ (hot food done in the oven). I would like to thank Peter and Phil for adjudicating on the day and for Paula for laying on the food and to other who helped out on the day thanks also to the main band players who came along to support the training band.

Applications are invited for the post of Contest Secretary, details of which are:

The main duties of the Contest Secretary are:

Registry (BBP)

• Main contact for BBP
• Ensure players are registered correctly and in accordance with Registry rules
• Liaise with the registry to check compliance to Registry Rules
• Liaise with the Welsh/Scottish registry if transferring players from Scotland/Wales
• Re-validate cards
• Cancel cards when players wish to leave or 40 player limit is reached
• Transfer players from other bands
• New player registrations

Contests

• Ensure players due to play are registeredCompleting Contest Entry Forms + payment (cheque from Treasurer)
• Own Choice contests – ensure all documents completed and taken to draw (e.g. unstamped score, stage plan, day transfer form)
• Book Bus + give invoice to Treasurer (where necessary)
• Book Rehearsal Room + ensure payment made(where necessary)
• Ensure Contest rules are understood and adhered to
• Communicate percussion made available/contest percussion instructions
• Distribute band person tickets/wristbands
• Attend Draw
• Communicate arrangements to players/guests before and on the day
• Ensure all players/guests are picked up and returned home
• Collect bus contributions
• Collect comments following results
• Ensure trophy forms are filled in and returned where necessary
• Ensure trophies are returned to contest organisers the following year as instructed
• Whit marches – ensure route and runner arranged, contact slips, copy solo cornet part and payment available to runner
• Day transfers (form + provide card) where Chester players are playing for other bands

Anyone interested should contact Kate Harland ([email protected]) as soon as possible. An extraordinary meeting of the Band will be held during rehearsal on Monday 9 November.

Weeks of rehearsals paid off for Musical Director, Josh Hughes, and members of the City of Chester Band when they achieved third prize in the Second Section of the NW Brass Band Association Championships held in the Victorian Gothic Grade 1-listed Rochdale Town Hall on Sunday 25th October.

First prize went to Besses Boys Band (from Whitefield, Manchester) while the second was awarded to Chester's friendly local rivals, Royal Buckley Town. This was the second contest the Band had played in at this level since returning to the Second Section in January, 2015. The Band was presented with a trophy, to be kept for 12 months, and a cheque for £150.00.

In this competition there was no set test-piece for each section and Josh Hughes decided upon Purcell VariationsÂ, composed by Kenneth Downie in 1998, which takes as its theme Purcells hymn tune: Westminster AbbeyÂ, written c.1680. Thirty-six bands from across N Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire competed in five sections.

The Band will now prepare for taking part in Chesters act of remembrance on Sunday 8 November, followed by a series of seasonal concerts in and around Cheshire. Once again the Band will be returning to play Christmas carols on Piccadilly Station in Manchester, serenading Saturday afternoon travellers and shoppers. The contesting season resumes in the spring. On Sunday 1 November members of the City of Chester Training Band will be taking part in an informal Solo Competition to be held at Aldford Village Hall, CH3 6JG starting at 12 noon. For further information contact Tony Blain, tel: 07913109951.

We came third in the second section at the North West Brass Band Association Championships in Rochdale today.

More to follow...

The City of Chester Band is busy preparing to play in the NW Brass Band Association Championships which are being held in Rochdale Town Hall on Sunday 25 October. In this competition there is no set test-piece for each section and Chester’s Musical Director has chosen a piece which challenges every part of the Band. Thirty-six bands from across N Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire will be playing in five sections. City of Chester will be playing in the Second Section and will face challenges from nine friendly rivals including Royal Buckley Town and Silk Brass from Macclesfield.

Over the summer several former players have returned while some have joined from other bands, including students who have just arrived at Chester’s university. The Band ranges in age from 12 to 78, a great blend of youth and experience.

Many of the pieces of music to be played on Sunday 25 October are original compositions for brass band written by contemporary musicians. Brass bands at all levels are prominent in commissioning new music from established as well as up-and-coming composers.

The City of Chester Training Band recently held an Awareness Day on Chester’s Town Hall square when passers-by, young and old, were invited to try playing a brass instrument. See photo attached. On Sunday 1 November members of the Training Band will be taking part in an informal Solo Competition to be held at Aldford Village Hall, CH3 6JG starting at 12 noon. For further information contact Tony Blain, tel: 07913109951.

The 2015 Solo Competition, scheduled for Sunday 4 October in Aldford Village Hall, has been postponed after it was found that Aldford is on the route of the Chester Marathon with traffic disruption likely throughout the afternoon. Training Band Co-ordinator Tony Blain is looking to re-arrange the event during November.

The City of Chester Training Band is looking for a conductor to replace Ian Clowes who has had to finish due to work commitments. The Training Band, established in 2000 as a feeder band to the City of Chester Band (graded Second Section), undertakes a number of engagements in its own right throughout the year. The conductor is assisted by two instructors who give personal tuition.

The mixed-ability Training Band comprises young people aged 7 to 70. Rehearsals are held on Mondays in term times between 18:00 and 19:30 at St Luke’s Church, Huntington. Several former Training Band members now play in City of Chester (main) Band.

For further information please contact: Tony Blain, Training Band Co-ordinator, whose e-address is: [email protected], tel: 01244 398468.