Musical Extravaganza to celebrate Life of Byron

 Newstead Brass join with Hucknall’s Torkard Ensemble for the first time in a musical extravaganza celebrating the life of Lord Byron on the final day of this year’s Byron Festival. The apt venue is the Ada Lovelace Theatre in the John Godber Centre, Ogle Street, Hucknall and the event begins at 7.30 pm on Sunday July 12th.

 The Byron Festival takes place from Friday 3rd to Sunday 12th July and celebrates the life and links of Lord Byron with a mixture of specialist talks and community events.

The Musical Extravaganza will close the 10 day festival in fine style with music ranging from the Romantic era of Byron through to the present day. Admission is £5 and advance tickets can be obtained by calling at the John Godber Centre or calling 0115 963 9633.

A Newstead Brass spokesman commented, “We’re delighted to be part of the Byron Festival again and celebrating the links between Newstead Abbey where Byron lived and Hucknall where he is buried. We’re looking forward to sharing the concert with the Torkard ensemble who have gone from strength to strength since they were founded five years ago. It should be a fitting conclusion to the annual festival.”

No tears as Newstead Brass perform for CRY Charity

Celebrate the longest day as Newstead Brass join with Ashfield Workplace Choir and soprano Sarah Vernon for an evening of Midsummer Melodies in Kirkby-in-Ashfield on Saturday June 20th .  The concert has been arranged by Kirkby Rotary Club in support of CRY, a charity working to reduce Cardiac Risk in Young people.

Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) aims to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death.  Every week in the UK at least 12 young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions. CRY supports young people diagnosed with potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions, offers bereavement support and organises heart screening programmes and funds medical research. Patrons include Sir Ian Botham, Joe Root and Pixie Lott.

Midsummer Melodies takes place at St Wilfrid’s Church, Church Street, Kirkby in Ashfield on Saturday 20th June, starting at 7.15 pm.  Admission is £6 and advance tickets can be obtained from Kirkby Rotary Club members or Neil on 07831 691326.

Newstead brass are one of the area’s leading brass bands and will be providing a varied programme of popular music conducted by Duncan Beckley. They are the current Oxford and Leicester Open Champions.

The Ashfield Workplace Choir started in 2013 and were winners of the Nottinghamshire Hospice Choir of the Year 2014 with their musical director Thea Avison.

Sarah Vernon is a former member of Cantamus and winner of the 2010 Carlton MV Choir ‘Music Makers’ award. She is currently studying at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

A Newstead Brass spokesman commented, “St. Wilfrid’s a wonderful church with acoustics that support the wonderful sound of brass and choral singing.  We’re delighted to be working with Kirkby Rotary Club and hope that the church will be full to maximise the donation we can make to the work of CRY.”