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Wow what a year 2016 was for the Band. It started off with appointing our new conductor Peter in January. We then hit contesting time and came 2nd at the North of England Brass Band Championships, which meant we qualified for the National Finals in Cheltenham for the second year running.
Devastation hit when sadly Ray Evans passed away in April. The Band pulled together and continued into the summer performing in lots of prestigious locations such as Fountains Abbey, Durham Cathedral and Ushaw College. We enjoyed performing with DMA Band in the Durham Hymns project. September came along and we were proud to represent the North East at the National Finals as we came home being the 19th best 3rd section band in the country. This is something we are proud of. We then hit the recording studio in November and started recording half of our new CD. Christmas arrived and the Band have been extremely busy raising money to go towards the day to day running of the Band. The Band continues to be very popular with the general public with lots of bookings for 2017. We would like to say a big thank you for all the support everyone has given the band throughout 2016 and Here is to a healthy and prosperous 2017 to all of our followers and supporters. We look forward to the challenges being promoted to the 2nd section will bring and all the opportunities awaiting us this year.
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A Massive Congratulations to Lindsey (1st Horn) and David (Percussion) on their Engagement31/12/2016  The Band would like to say a massive congratulations to Lindsey, the Band's 1st Horn Player and David, one of the Band's Percussion Players on their recent engagement. David popped the question in the Lake District. We would like to wish them all the best for many years to come.
Thursday and Friday Night (22nd & 23rd December) saw the Band performing Christmas Carols at Sainsbury's, in the Arnison Centre at Durham. The video below is a little message from us tonight. A big thank you to everyone who dropped something into out collecting buckets over the last two nights. We really do appriciate your donation. Tonight saw the Band perform at their last formal concert of the year at Stanley Crook Parish Church and we were joined by the Crook and Weardale Choral Society, a choir we have worked very closely with for a number of years now. It was a very enjoyable evening and the Band would like to thank everyone involved who organised the event and special thanks to Stanley Crook Parish Church for their hospitality. It is always a pleasure to play in such a lovely church.
The Banmd has been playing at the Locomotion Museum in Shildon this weekend as part of their Santa's Christmas Special Weekend. This was the second weekend in which the Band were here performing for all of the visitors. A busy final week for the Band begins on Tuesday Night as they are performing at Stanley Crook Church with the Crook & Weardale Choral Society.
We think Santa was running a little late today as he crash landed into the Locomotion on Saturday Morning
 The Band would like to congratulate Chris Gallon, our 1st Trombone player, and his wife Lindsay on the Birth of their Baby. Jane Elizabeth was born at 10:10 yesterday morning weighing 7lb 3oz. The Band look forward to meeting her soon.
The Band has been playing at the Locomotion Museum in Shildon this weekend as part of their Santa's Christmas Special Weekend. The Band really enjoy performing to the visitors, giving them Christmas Joy. The Band are here again next weekend. A big thank you goes to Kym for helping us out on Saturday and to Fiona and Dave for helping us out on Sunday. We really do appriciate it. Today saw the end of a busy weekend for the Band with another 2 jobs which were at Pittington School's Christmas Fayre this morning and Bearpark Community Centre this afternoon for their Christmas Lights Switch On. There were lots of positive comments from all the parents and staff. A massive thank you goes to the Band from Lindsey, the bands chairman and 1st Horn player, for playing at her school today. Today saw the start of a busy weekend for the Band with 2 jobs in Durham Market Place for the Christmas Festival this morning and Birtley Masonics this evening for their Ladies Night. A Massive Thank You goes to all the general public who put a donation into our collecting buckets this morning at the Christmas Festival. It was also a very enjoyable private job tonight at Birtley Masonics. The audience were on top form tonight as usual. Our Conductor , Peter Elcoat and President, Michael Evans officially presented Ray Lee with his unique 30 years service award certificate. The Band would like to thank Hannah Lacey for doing a fantastic job making the certificate and for putting Pure Imagination on the bottom, a personal favourite of Ray's. A big thank you also goes to Wayne for stepping in last minute to help us out tonight. It is very much appreciated. The Band would also like to give a warm welcome to our newest signing Nicola Mckeague on 1st Baritone. Today was her first official jobs with the band at the Durham Christmas Festival and Birtley Masonics. We would also like to welcome Jodie Bland to the Horn Section. She is currently at Durham University studying Music. Tomorrow sees the Band performing at Pittington Primary School, 10am till 12pm, and Bearpark Community Centre, 4pm till 5pm. |
