*
banner

NASUWT Riverside Band

Conductor: Prof Nicholas Childs
St Mary & St Cuthbert Parish Church
Chester-le-Street
Saturday 11th December


The NASUWT Riverside Band brought festive musical cheer to their local community with this polished concert under the baton of Prof Nicholas Childs.

Fresh from their performance at the Brass in Concert Championships, the Grand Shield and North of England champion reprised their Sage programme as well as dusting off some classic brass band and seasonal favourites. 

Praise

Wilfred Heaton’s ‘Praise’  opened proceedings with sharp-edged precision and sardonic flow, followed by the darker reflections of Verdi’s classic overture ‘Nabuco’, with excellent solo lines from flugel Fiona Taylor and solo horn Michael Duncan. A neat switch of genres saw Hoagy Carmichael’s ‘Stardust’  played with suave liquidity by Malcolm Gill.

Riverside’s ‘Heroes’  Brass in Concert set provided the focal point to the first half – the differing elements linked by the MD’s witty compere skills. Phil Tait’s ‘Live and Let Die’  left scorch marks on the eardrums, whilst Winston Churchill’s evocative words to accompany ‘Pacemakers’ made a thoughtful impression on the mind.

Phil Tait’s ‘Live and Let Die’  left scorch marks on the eardrums, whilst Winston Churchill’s evocative words to accompany ‘Pacemakers’ made a thoughtful impression on the mind.

In a nice touch there was a generous vote of thanks given to Riverside’s own Harry Banks and Tom Moffat, banding ‘heroes’ who have given so much only the band, but other good causes in the local area. 

All about Christmas

The second half was all about Christmas; a joyful melange spiced up and fashioned with neat musical packaging from ‘Midnight Sleighride’ and ‘Santa-claustrophobia’ to the classy duo of Michael Duncan and Tina Mortimer with ‘In the Bleak Mid Winter’  and ‘Rocking Carol’  respectively.

Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s ‘A Christmas Finale’  offered the pre-encore finale, with the audience warming hands and feet for the journey home with a joyful rendition of  ‘Jingle Bells’.

The concert was the first to be supported by Councillors from the Chester-le-Street area and it is hoped after the success of this year, it will become an annual event.

Richard Wallace

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



The Portsmouth Grammar School - Concert by The Black Dyke Band

Saturday 28 June • St Marys Church, Fratton, Portsmouth PO15PA PO15PA


Petworth Town Band - Fete in the Park with Petworth Town Band

Saturday 28 June • Grounds of Petworth Park GU28 9LR


Petworth Town Band - Farnham Brass Band and Petworth Town Band

Saturday 28 June • Farnham Carnival


Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band at Billingshurst Carnival

Sunday 29 June • Carnival through Billingshurst and concert at Recreation Ground RH14 9SX


Simon Langton Brass - Deal Memorial Bandstand

Sunday 29 June • The Strand, Walmer, Deal CT14 7DY CT14 7DY


Linthwaite Band

July 1 • We are a friendly 4th section contesting band with various engagements throughout the year, and currently have a vacancy for a cornet player (position negotiable) and are keen to fill the position. Please see contact details below.


Newport Borough Brass Band

July 1 • We are inviting applications for the position of Principal Cornet. . Would you like to be a part of the process to lead & shape the future of the band? Newport Borough Brass Band are looking for a dynamic Principal Cornet player to lead the team.


Newport Borough Brass Band

July 1 • We are inviting applications for the position of Musical Director.. The band are looking for a positive and dynamic leader who can further develop our players skills & aid us in our aspirations of reaching the 1st section.


Kevin Wadsworth


Conductor, adjudicator, teacher (ABBA)


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd