‘Day of Brass’ a Roaring Success for Students in Warwickshire

This month saw the Jaguar Land Rover Band and Warwickshire County Music Services join forces to provide a brass educational day to over one hundred students from in and around Warwickshire.

Set in the wonderful surroundings of Warwick School, students from the ages of 8 to 17 took part in three bands directed by members of Jaguar Land Rover Band and Warwickshire County Music Services.  

Jeremy Dibb, Senior Manager for Warwickshire County Music Service commented, “We have run a number of Days of Brass for our students over the years, however we always felt involving a local band such as Jaguar Land Rover would really help to encourage and inspire the children with their musical education”.

“Even from early discussions with the band it became clear that they would be very supportive of this initiative and we were able to go from first thoughts to planning in rapid time.”

Simon Archer, Band Manager added “It has been a goal for us to find ways in which we can support the musical education of children in our community for some time. This can be particular difficult if you are not directly connected with the education system. Therefore working in partnership with Warwickshire County Music Service was the perfect solution for both parties.”

The day consisted of four separate rehearsals followed by an informal concert where each band performed their prepared pieces to over 300 family and friends.

The Jaguar Land Rover Band then joined the students to give a short lively programme followed by the highlight of the day with a massed performance of “The Magnificent Seven”.

 Dave Lea Musical Director for Jaguar Land Rover Band commented “It was a fantastic day! The students really did work hard which was evident in the quality of their final performances. It was a pleasure to part of such an initiative and I hope we can repeat very soon”

It was also clear the students also enjoyed themselves with comments from students and their parents including,

 “We are so lucky our daughter was a part of it and the icing on the cake was to hear Jaguar Land Rover’ 

“My son has been on cloud nine since he came home – thank you’

And making it all worthwhile was Thomas age 9 who stated “It will be a day I will never forget”.

The day was a roaring success for everyone involved. Ultimately we hope these students will be the next generation of brass players.

To see photos from the day visit here

For more information on Warwickshire County Music Services visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/musicforlife

Days of Brass with Jaguar Land Rover Band

Jaguar Land Rover Band and Warwickshire County Music Services are delighted to join forces to offer an educational day of brass music making. This will be held on Sunday 28th April at Warwick School, Guy Nelson Hall, Warwick CV34 6PP. 

This is the first in a series of brass days to be held to help the education and development of young brass players around the Midlands area. 

Set in the wonderful surroundings of Warwick School, the day will begin at 9.30am with registration and finish around 5.00pm after an informal concert of all the day's music. 

Due to the generosity of Jaguar Land Rover and the Warwickshire Music Education Hub we are delighted to offer this high quality Day of Brass entirely free. 

We anticipate running three bands, at junior (grades 1-2), intermediate (grades 2-4) and senior level (grade 4 and above). 

This is an amazing opportunity to learn and play alongside the members of the Jaguar Land Rover Band who were recently crowned the Midland Region Champions. 

for further details click here 

Meet the Jaguar Land Rover Band!

Each day this week different members of the band were interviewed on the Vic Minett show for BBC's Coventry & Warwickshire Radio.

Hear what Kevin Whittaker, Richard Batten, Lynette Wild and Simon Archer all had to say about being in the band! Click here 

JLR Band Crowned Midland Champions!

This weekend at Bedworth Civic Hall saw the Jaguar Land Rover Band drive away with the trophy as the Midlands Regional Champions of 2013. The band will now be representing the Midlands at the National Brass Band Championships to be held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on the 12^th October.

Although this is the third time the band has qualified to compete at the National Finals in London it is the first time in the bands history it has taken away the coveted top prize.

Champions 2013!

The accolade is even sweeter for the bands Musical Director Dave Lea as he celebrates his 25^th anniversary conducting the band. “There is no doubt this is a major highlight for me working with the band” comments Dave Lea. “We have a great team of the finest musicians and we are extremely proud to be walking on the stage at the Albert Hall representing the Midlands and Jaguar Land Rover. Although the band is an amateur organisation there is no doubt the players are of professional standard which is down to their hard work and dedication.”

Les Ratcliffe, Head of Community Relations for JLR added “We are immensely proud of our band for winning the Midlands regional contest and we wish them every success as they compete nationally at the Albert Hall. The band represents the best the Midlands has to offer and I would encourage everyone to support them in the great work they do for our community.”

The test piece chosen for the year was 'Harmony Music' by Philip Sparke. This is a notoriously difficult piece of music putting significant demands on both the band and soloists. Congratulations in particular to Paul White (solo cornet), Ian Wright (solo euphonium) and Lara Jones (solo horn).

You can hear the bands winning performance here

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Christmas at Coventry Cathedral

The Jaguar Land Rover Band was once again delighted to support 'Christmas at Coventry Cathedral' by BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. The cathedral was at capacity with 1200 tickets issued months ago. Traditional Christmas readings by BBC radio presenters with music from Coventry Cathedral boys choristers and the JLR band with carols for all ensured Christmas is just around the corner. 

you can listen to the service at 6pm on Christmas Eve, 6am and 1pm Christmas Day on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire 94.8FM & 103.7FM.

Click here for more photos 

Celebration Concert for Coventry Cathedrals Golden Jubilee

Two weeks after taking part in the National Brass Band Finals at the Albert Hall in London the band was back in its home town for a concert to celebrate the Cathedrals Golden Jubilee.

Courtesy of CPPhoto

The band presented a challenging programme ranging from the classics to the big band. There was a number of highlights throughout the evening one of which was Leslies Condon's 'City of Three Spires'.

The middle movement was especially moving as it depicts the night of 14th November 1940 when Coventry was victim of the German blitz campaign during which 600 people lost their lives and the old Cathedral was turned into rumble.

Although the music clearly demonstrate the horrors of that night, the sound of the cornet pronouncing the all clear leads the music to the hymn tune 'St Michael' (the name of the cathedral) which slowly turns horror into peace as the new cathedral appears out of the ashes.

Another highlight of the evening was the finale where the band was joined by the Cathedrals Assistant Director of music Laurence Lyndon-Jones as he joined the band on the cathedrals organ for Saint Saens Symphony no 3 in C minor Op78 - The finale of the Organ Symphony.

The full programme
Fanfare ‘La Peri’ – Paul Dukas 
Music from the film ‘Jurassic Park’ - John Williams ‘Cry Me a River’ – Arthur Hamilton (Soloist Paul white, Cornet)‘Sing Sing Sing’ – Louis Prima ‘Swedish Folk Song’ – Peter Graham Finale from the ballet ‘Pineapple Poll’ – Arthur Sullivan ‘Georgia on my Mind’ – Hoagy Carmichael (Soloist Andrew Bates, Flugel)‘City of Three Spires’ – Leslie Condon 
INTERVAL 
Jublilee Overture - Philip Sparke ‘Morceau Symphonique’ – Alexandre Guillmant (Soloist Kevin Lea, Trombone)Montagues and Capulets (from the ballet ‘Romeo & Juliet’) – Serge Prokofieff March ‘Seventeen come Sunday’ from The English Folk Song Suite – Ralph Vaughan Williams ‘Who wants to live Forever’ – Brian May ‘Benedictus’ (from ‘The Armed Man’) – Karl Jenkins (Soloist Ian Wright, Euphonium)Auld Lang Syne – Traditional Scottish Finale from Symphony no 3 in C minor (‘The Organ Symphony’) – Camille Saint-Saëns 

The band received many congratulations from an appreciative audience. We now look forward to playing in the cathedral again on the 22nd December for the BBC's Coventry and Warwickshire Christmas carol concert.

For more photos courtesy of CPPhoto click here

JLR Band compete at the National Finals of Great Britain

This Saturday saw the Jaguar Land Rover Band take the stage at the Royal Albert Hall with the top 20 bands from around the UK to compete for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. Playing Howard Snell's transcription of Ravels 'Daphnis & Chloe' the band excelled to deliver one its most memorable performances.

In the end the band was awarded 15th place perhaps a little harsh for the performance however it is always an honour to take part in the National finals and play at the Royal Albert Hall.

The band would like to thanks all our friends for all the messages of support and for the fantastic support from our sponsor Jaguar Land Rover and to congratulate the winners Fodens.

This was a day the band will cherish for along time.

Results
1. Foden's, Allan Withington, 17
2. Brighouse & Rastrick, Professor David King, 11
3. Cory, Philip Harper, 6
4. Tongwynlais Temperance, Steve Sykes, 18
5. Fairey, Russell Gray, 5
6. Co-op Funeralcare, Allan Ramsay, 19
7. Whitburn, Erik Jannsen, 16
8. Flowers, Paul Holland, 12
9. Black Dyke, Dr Nicholas Childs, 14
10. Leyland, Michael Bach, 8 
11. Seindorf Beaumaris, Gwyn Evans, 9
12. Desford Colliery, Martin Winter, 2 
13. Tredegar, Ian Porthouse, 3 
14. Bournemouth Concert Brass, Major David Barringer, 15
15. Jaguar Land Rover, Dave Lea, 4 
16. Rothwell Temperance, David Roberts, 7
17. Felling, Stephen Malcolm, 20
18. Zone One, Richard Ward, 10
19. Barton Town, Nick Sheppard, 1 
20. Staines Brass, Melvin White, 13