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.

This Saturday, 19 September, the City of Chester Band will be performing at the Birkenhead Festival of Transport, see http://www.bheadtransportfest.com/ . Exhibits will include a full-size replica Spitfire, part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The Band will be performing at 13:45 and 15:45.

On Sunday 6 September the City of Chester Band returns to the bandstand in Vale Park, New Brighton under the musical direction of Josh Hughes. The Band is taking part in a massed bands concert, in partnership with Port Sunlight Lyceum Brass and Allerton Brass. The concert starts at 14:30. Vale Park (see: http://www.valehousecafe.co.uk/) is a delightful park close to the river Mersey, perfect for listening to some fine music sitting out in a deckchair enjoying the last bit of summer.

The City of Chester Band has kept working throughout the summer without a break as Josh Hughes prepares the Band to take part in the North West Brass Band Association’s contest in Rochdale Town Hall on Sunday 25 October. Since January the Band has been graded as a second section band and the Band is keen to ensure it maintains its status while aspiring to improve its grading. Josh Hughes said: “As part of the Band’s development and training for the contest I have reviewed the concert repertoire introducing more challenging pieces which also have great entertainment valueâ€Â. This strategy is behind Josh Hughes’s choice of music for the Sunday afternoon concert as he works towards establishing the Band’s status as a second section band.

So you’ve got your A-level results and are coming to Chester University to study and have played in a brass band. You may be intending to widen your interests (for example playing draughts or researching the pubs of Chester) but if the money runs out or you start getting withdrawal symptoms there is a remedy: the City of Chester Band. This friendly second section band rehearses on Monday and Wednesday evenings and our band room is close to the city centre. New members are welcome. For further information contact Josh Hughes, our MD, on 07845252122.

If you’d prefer to just keep your lip in you may like to consider joining the City of Chester Training Band which meets on Monday evenings during term times. Contact Tony Blain, Co-ordinator, on 07913109951.

No rehearsal this evening.

Congratulations to two members of the Training Band have just passed their grade 2 Cornet exams David got a Pass and Daniel Craig Got a Merit with a little help from their tutor Kirsty Blain.

This Second Section band has big plans and needs your help to achieve them. Rehearsals are under way in preparation for the Rochdale Contest in October with Preston and Blackpool contests coming up in the spring of 2016 followed by the French Open in June 2016 (French Open Champions, Third Division 2014). In addition we have a number of engagements booked from September onwards. Although a mixed ability band, we are determined to maintain and improve upon our current status. To this end we invite enquiries from folks who believe they have the motivation and enthusiasm to help achieve our aims. We would particularly like to hear from front row cornet and tuba (Eb/BBb) players.

The bandroom is situated in the centre of Chester within walking distance of the railway station, and a few minutes off the M56. Free parking is available on rehearsal nights (Mondays and Wednesdays). Our bandroom is very handy for anyone coming to study at Chester's university this autumn.

We are pleased to be working under the infectious enthusiasm of one of the country's youngest contest-winning MDs, Josh Hughes. If you're interested please send a message to Josh ([email protected]). We look forward to hearing from you.

Sunday 19 July sees the City of Chester Band returning to Saughall All Saints' Church to accompany the singing of hymns in the open air (if raining, in the church).  The service will begin at 3:30 pm.

The day started dry and bright at the bands second performance at the garden centre and then the sky's opened and it was a mad dash to get everything under cover but it turned out to be a great final performance before the bands summer break with solos from Rob and Zac . A big thank you to Rob /Mandy & Donna for helping out.

THe Player of the Month Award for June goes to Molly Chambers for her Hard Work and Perseverance.