 | 14th May 2012 :: Band celebrates promotion to The Grand Shield
The Co-operative Funeralcare Band North West, based in Crewe, had a fantastic contest result on Saturday 12 May, securing an invitation to compete in the 2013 Grand Shield to compete for a place in The British Open Brass Band Championship. They were placed 4th in the Senior Cup, in the 92nd Spring Brass Band Festival held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.
Musical Director, Jef Sparkes congratulating the band, said “There was a very strong field of 20 Championship Section bands from all over the country. The togetherness, hard work and commitment of every single member of the band was absolutely key to our success. I am so incredibly proud of every single one of them; they are a fantastic team.”
Band Manager, Alan Smart, said “The band’s promotion to the elite Grand Shield Qualifying Contest for The British Open is absolutely fantastic. This is the highest standard ever reached in the band’s 70 year history, and it means so much to all the band’s members and supporters.”
Events & Marketing Manager for the band, Jane Smart, said “The band is in concert at South Cheshire College, Crewe on Sunday 20th May at 7pm, and will be in fine form on the back of this momentous achievement. The ‘Circle of Life’ concert, featuring fantastic music from stage and screen, is in aid of St Luke’s Hospice and tickets are still available.”
The concert will start at 7.00pm on Sunday 20th May, at Centre Stage, South Cheshire College, off Somerville Street, Crewe CW2 7NL. Tickets are £5 for adults, £4 for concessions, or £10 for a family ticket (2+2) and can be booked in advance by calling Ceri Edwards at St Lukes Hospice on 01606 551246 Ext 2215, or via the band’s website at http://www.co-opbandnorthwest.co.uk.
Ticket requests and other enquiries can also be emailed to ceri_edwards@stlukes-hospice.co.uk. [Full Story] |
 | 10th May 2012 :: Championship Brass Concert - Boarshurst Band Club on 17 June 2012
The Championship Section Co-operative Funeralcare Band North West are making their inaugural appearance in concert at Boarshurst Band Club on Sunday 17th June at 8pm, as part of the Club’s ‘Championship Brass’ concert series.
Alan Smart, Band Manager and Bb Bass player, said “This is the first opportunity for some Band Members to appear in a traditional Sunday night concert at any of the Saddleworth Band Clubs. It will be a great pleasure for all our musicians to perform before a knowledgeable Boarshurst audience, and we are looking forward to it very much”.
Alan continued, “The band frequently competes on Whit Friday, but in recent years has remained in Tameside due to the extraordinary numbers of coaches in Saddleworth. I’m personally looking forward to returning to Boarshurst, where I’ve played in many bands over the years”.
Jef Sparkes, Musical Director, said “We will be putting a challenging and entertaining programme together to show off some of our soloists and the band’s overall quality of musicianship and depth of sound. We have talented and experienced players across all sections. The programme and performance will definitely not disappoint; we would like to be invited back!”
Jane Smart, Events and Marketing Manager for The Co-operative Funeralcare Band North West, hails from Denshaw and started her banding life in Delph Band. She said “2012 is the 70th anniversary of the Band’s formation, so we are mere babies in the context of Saddleworth banding. I’m looking forward to seeing family and friends, as for once we are local enough for them to come along”
Jane continued “This concert came about following a chance meeting with John Whittle at the North West Area in February. We both played in the Bluecoat School Band in Oldham a very long time ago, though I retired my trombone in 1994! John kindly invited The Co-operative Funeralcare Band North West to appear at Boarshurst, and I hope the evening is a resounding success for the club.” [Full Story] |
 | 8th May 2012 :: Children Go Free to Circle of Life concert for St Lukes on 20th May
The Co-operative Funeralcare Band North West are to perform in a TV, Film and West-End Musical-inspired ‘Circle of Life’ Concert, starting at 7pm on Sunday May 20th, at Centre Stage Theatre in South Cheshire College, Crewe.
The band’s Musical Director, Jef Sparkes, said “The concert, described as a ‘Family Musical Extravaganza’ is being arranged with St Luke’s Hospice, and the programme of music is absolutely suitable for all ages and musical tastes. No matter what age, from 5-105, there will be plenty to entertain the whole family, and it’s all in a great cause”.
Jef continued “ Elton John’s classic ‘Circle of Life’ from The Lion King will feature the band’s Bass Trombonist, Anthony Longden, in a rendition that has so-far been described in rehearsal as ‘fantastic’ and ‘hilarious’. It’s certainly unmissable!”
Band Manager, Alan Smart, said “It’s great to be back at South Cheshire College with the Band. The concert has been timed to start at 7pm, so it should still be light by the time people are heading home, just after 9pm. We hope this will encourage parents and grandparents to bring children to hear a Championship standard brass band in a relaxed and comfortable environment. A family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) is just £10, so effectively children are attending free of charge”.
Jane Smart, Events and Marketing Manager for the band said, said “The Public Health Team at St Luke’s Hospice are developing an innovative ‘Living Well, Dying Well’ approach to help break down taboos and support a change in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards death, dying and bereavement, so that Living Well and Dying Well becomes the norm. The concert is a celebration of this initiative, to help raise funds for St Luke’s, and it seems only appropriate that The Co-operative Funeralcare Band North West should feature in this Family Musical Extravaganza.”
The concert will start at 7.00pm on Sunday 20th May, at Centre Stage, South Cheshire College, off Somerville Street, Crewe CW2 7NL. Tickets are £5 for adults, £4 for concessions, or £10 for a family ticket (2+2) and can be booked in advance by calling Ceri Edwards at St Lukes Hospice on 01606 551246 Ext 2215, or via the band’s website at http://www.co-opbandnorthwest.co.uk.
Ticket requests and other enquiries can also be emailed to ceri_edwards@stlukes-hospice.co.uk.
Pictured : Members of the band in concert at Centre Stage in December 2011 [Full Story] |
