The organisers of the forthcoming Sun Life Stanshawe Band reunion concert have released details of the programme for historic event.

Classics

The concert, which will be held on June 5th at St George's Hall in Bristol, will feature arrangements and original compositions from some of the bands former conductors, a world premiere, four solo features, and a range of classics that the band was closely associated with

Reunion

Philip Harper has composed a work to celebrate the evening, which the band will premiere. Called ‘Reunion’, it reflects the rise to fame of the band and cleverly borrows a motif from ‘Le Roi D’Ys’ Overture, which was the test piece for the band's 1990 British Open triumph.

Philip told 4BR: "I was delighted to be asked to write a piece especially for the concert, and it I can’t wait to hear it performed."

He added:"Sun Life was my first taste of top class banding, and to be able to turn the clock back for an evening and perform with some of the bands legendary players again will be fantastic."

French start

The concert will open with W.B.Hargreaves arrangement of Saint-Saens 'French Military March', a piece the band performed when it won the Granada Band of the Year in 1974.

'The Corsair', 'Serenade', 'Puttin on the Ritz', and 'Le Cid' will also be featured as well as 'Suite Gothique', a piece the band performed to win its first 'Area' contest in 1971.

The music trip down memory lane will continue with 'Cranberry Corners U.S.A', the world premiere of 'Reunion', and 'In Memoriam' (from Royal Parks), which the band performed to win the set test piece section of the 1985 European Championships.

'West Country Fantasy', performed by the band during the 1990 British Open 'lap of honour' concert, and Roy Newsome’s rarely heard arrangement of Dvorak’s 'Carnival Overture' will bring the concert to a close.

I was delighted to be asked to write a piece especially for the concert, and it I can’t wait to hear it performedPhilip Harper

Soloists

Four of the band’s ex-principals will feature as soloists for the evening, including the legendary Lyndon Baglin who will perform Stanley Boddington’s arrangement of 'Endearing Young Charms', Steve Walkley, who will play 'Alfie', Kevin Robbins, who will be playing 'My Love is Like a Red Red Rose', and Philip Randell who will play 'Apres Un Reve', which will be dedicated to Brian Higgins, one of the founder members of the band who sadly passed away last year.

Real buzz

Alistair Woodman and Jon Griffin, the driving forces behind the concert told 4BR: "We have been working tirelessly to organise the concert, and there is a real buzz amongst ex-players, supporters, and fellow bandspeople from across the South West and surrounding areas about hearing us once more."

They continued: "All the cogs are in place for it to be a memorable evening, and all that is left for us to do is to find some time to practice our own parts!."

Tickets

Demand for tickets have been high, but there are still some available and can be ordered on-line at www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk or via St Georges Box office on 0845 40 24 001.