Star of the show at Chalford’s Christmas concert was 13-year-old euphonium soloist Stephen Parker, winner of the band’s ‘Young Player of the Year’ award.

Confidence

Stephen lives in Nailsworth and started playing while a pupil at Foxmoor Primary School, and his debut solo, ‘Merry Christmas Darling’, was note perfect and played with confidence, style and a splendid tone.   

As usual, the main hall at Stroud Subscription Rooms was full, the 400 tickets having sold out in the first day of going on public sale, with Musical Director Steve Tubb dedicating the concert to the memory of Maureen Wear, who died in November. Maureen was the wife of the former MD, Ken Wear.

Stirring

Voted ‘Player of the Year’ was flugel player Katie Godwin) whose fine solo ‘Away in a Manger’ was a feature of the senior band's opening slot, which also included their first performance of the stirring ‘Glorifico Aeternum’, written by Salvation Army composer Dean Jones.

Music making can be a serious business, but to keep youngsters at it Steve makes sure that bandroom rehearsals are also fun.

Pear tree

Two of the young characters who make the most of this are Academy Brass members Harry Baker and Sam Williams, who were brought to the front of the stage for a game. 

Whenever the Academy came to ‘A Partridge in a Pear Tree’, during the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ they tried to throw a dummy partridge into a mock-up pear tree. Harry won but they both got a present!

Conducted by their trainer Bev Godwin, the 24-strong ‘stars of tomorrow’ Junior Band played ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and ‘Silent Night’ and Eb bass player Liam Barnes was named ‘Junior Player of the Year’.

Comedy spot

There were 52 youngsters on stage when the youth and junior bands combined for ‘Jingle Bells’, and the hilarious and clever as usual, the comedy spot - which has been going for 30 years - went down a treat. 

Appearing as the Marcel Marceau Mime Academy, Steve Tubb, Derrick Witts, Bill Williamson and Amy Tubb used just gestures and written signs to convey a medley of well-known songs: A unique troupe indeed.

70 players

70 players in the combined bands then crowded on to the stage for some more carols and seasonal music with a beat, including Darroll Barry's arrangement of ‘Holly and the Ivy’ in the style of Ravel's ‘Bolero’. 

The finale was ‘A Broadway Spectacular’, with Steve's arrangement of The Pogues' ‘Fairytale of New York’ as an encore.

The concert was excellently compered by Pete Hendy, and the raffle run by band treasurer Peter Evans and his wife Doreen raised £500 for band funds. 

Ronald Gardiner