Three members of Chester Brass received a welcome surprise when they came to band rehearsals on Monday with Eve Spurdle receiving the David Else award for most improved player, Jessica Blain receiving the runner up for player of the year and Matthew McCleary Receiving the Margret Blythin Trophy for player of the year . Well done to all and keep up the hard work.

Members of the band got together for a Halloween Party at the weekend as you can see some didn't need costumes

This last Saturday 2nd October City of Chester Training Band (Chester Brass)held a concert at All Saints Church in Hoole to celebrate there 10th anniversary. The guest list was a mix of local dignitary's inc The Sheriff of Chester Clr Pat Lott and past members . The band under the direction of Mr P Mottershead played a wide range of music from the Great Escape to Tragedy. We also had a number of solos on the night from Aine Jackson Jacob Bentley Matthew McCleary and Jessica Blain we were also pleased to have Kirsty Blain along to play a couple of pieces. Kirsty started with the band in 2000 and still plays now when she come home from Uni. The Training Band were also joined by the City of Chester Band who performed a few songs to make the night a great success. The night included a raffle with prizes donated from Chester Race Course , Grosvenor Garden Centre and many more. Tony & Paula would like to say a big thank you to every one who made the night a success

At the beginning of the summer break two members of Chester Brass had a week long "work experience" with the Kings Division band at Preston. They did every thing form assault courses to marching and by some of the pictures I have received they had a great time of it all . I would like to send my thanks to the members of the Kings Band for showing the girls what a military band has to go though on a day to day level.

Philip who runs our website and used to play Tenor Horn with the band is cycling from London to Paris raising money for Help for Heroes and the Chester Heart Support Group this weekend. He will be cycling the 206 miles in 3 days! To find out more or if you'd like to sponsor him, visit the website at http://www.london-paris.org. Goodluck Philip and team!

Aine Jackson (M/B Baritone C/B Bb Bass) will be performing at the Town Hall in Chester on 12th October at 12.45 this is a result of her winning the Brass Section of the Chester Festival of Performing Arts . Â

Aine Jackson (M/B Baritone C/B Bb Bass) will be performing a recital at Chester Town Hall on Tuesday 12th October at 12.45. This is due to her winning the Brass Section of the Chester Festival of performing arts . Well done Aine.

Aine Jackson (M/B Baritone C/B Bb Bass) along with the NYBB will be performing at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester as part of the Festival of Music on Saturday 11th September at 2.15pm 

Chester Brass would like to say Thank you senior  band member  Simon Challender for his kind donation of a Besson 600 Cornet . We can assure Simon that it will be well looked after and kept very busy .

 

Tony 

It’s always good to have former members come down to City of Chester’s bandroom to meet old friends and play with the Band.  In recent weeks we’ve had visits from Kirsty Blain who has just ended her second year at Aberystwyth University.  Also, Ian Clowes, whose work often takes him away from home leading him to finish in his roles as Second Cornet and Conductor of Chester Brass. To mark Ian’s contribution to the Band, in particular his tremendous input into the Training Band (Chester Brass), Ian has been made a Vice-president of the City of Chester Band. Another visitor went much further back in time.  Alan MacDonald played with the City of Chester Band in the late 1960’s, a contemporary of Philip Mottershead (Musical Director).  Alan went on to play Flugel Horn with the Stockport-based Fairey Band.  With his home now being in Finland, Alan is currently working in Taiwan and is the Principal Trumpet of the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.  At the two rehearsals he came down to, Alan sat on the front row joining an already-strong Solo Cornet bench.  This encouraged Phil. Mottershead to select some challenging pieces (for a fourth section band that is) to rehearse: arrangements of Berlioz’s “Hungarian March” and Wagner’s “Introduction to Act III of ‘Lohengrin’.   Alan can be seen and heard playing the trumpet on Youtube. We look forward to further visits from Kirsty, Ian and Alan.Check out the band website for pictures