Newstead Brass brought down the curtain on a busy festive programme with their annual ‘Newstead Plays Big band’ concert on Sunday, January 3rd celebrating a successful 2009, rewarding the ‘players of the year’ and looking forward with enthusiasm to 2010.
This was the band's 10th annual end of year concert, the series having begun with an end of millennium concert in 1999, and was split into four sections, 'big-band', 'pops' (featuring the music of Queen), 'Latin-American' (including appropriate attire by the band), and 'finale'. The band's items were interspersed by fine playing by 'Imperfect Fifth', a young saxophone quintet from South East Derbyshire Music Centre. Despite the poor weather, there was a large and appreciative audience for the concert, which included the presentation of the band's annual awards. Player's player of the year went to Ashley Clegg, in recognition of his astounding performances as both xylophone soloist and wider percussion playing for the band and his appointment as principal percussionist of the National Youth Brass Band. Duncan Beckley made the musical director's award to Michael 'Fred' Cordon, citing his consistently high standards throughout the year "from rehearsal to bandstand to the stage of the Royal Albert Hall."
The concert concluded a busy festive programme for the band with large and capacity audiences attending a string of concerts. The band appeared alongside the Alan Johnson Singers, Hucknall Operatic Society, Radcliffe on Trent Male Voce Choir and had the privilege of welcoming Russell Gray as guest cornet soloist. Funds were raised for the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, the NSPCC and the Mayor of Gedling’s chosen Charity ‘Nottinghamshire Leukaemia Supporting Myeloma’.
The band wish all their friends and supporters a Happy New Year and look forward to continued success in both concerts and contests in 2010.
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