nottingham – Carlton Brass

A spooky discovery

22nd October 202114th January 2022 By Dave RuttNo Comments

We do like to have a pint or two after rehearsals at The Willowbrook in Carlton. The beer is always good & they do like to decorate for an occasion. The Halloween props are great! Igor We have solved a mystery that’s stumped us for a while last night: where have the missing band jackets gone? Igor here also signed for us on percussion for the Area next year ...

New faces

14th October 202114th January 2022 By Dave RuttNo Comments

We've been having a terrific last few months finding our lips again, and we've managed to find some new friends along the way. We have an almost full band now (just need a cornet or two) and are delighted that these new players have agreed to join us. New members We are pleased to welcome: Katherine Spencer on trombone, Eve Foley on cornet, John Newberry on Euphonium, (er, what is Ken doing there?) Craig Anderson on Bb Bass and Tony Magee on Eb Bass. Not shown, but also very welcome along, is Heather Denholm on cornet. Craig is back for his third stint with the band, and it is great to see him again. Tony lives in Fife, but that hasn't stopped him making his way to rehearsals (although his local job helps). Ken Dunkin is representing the old school of Carlton Brass, having joined the organisation before any of the other members of the band were even born. He's still bringing his superb...

Tony Wilson Returns

8th September 20218th January 2022 By Dave RuttNo Comments

Carlton Brass are very happy to announce that Tony Wilson has agreed to be the band's Musical Director. Tony has been immensely helpful during recent months, picking up the baton and enabling rehearsals during the current difficult times. He has enjoyed conducting us and we are delighted that he has agreed to take us through to the 2022 Regional Content next March, with a view to staying on beyond that. Tony has previously conducted the band during one of our most successful periods, bringing the band from the fourth section back in 1999 all the way through to the first section. No other conductor has earned more first places for Carlton Brass, and we will be aiming for further podium finishes once the contest season restarts. He brings a wealth of musical experience and an abundance of enthusiasm that will help motivate the band, whilst having lots of fun along the way. Tony acknowledges that a lot of hard work lies ahead,...

Back in the Bandroom

25th August 20218th January 2022 By Dave RuttNo Comments

2020 was a bit rubbish, wasn't it? The last eighteen months have been hugely difficult for everyone during this global pandemic, and while it is far from over we are starting to see some relaxation of the restrictions that have limited our banding activities. The priority during Covid has always been the safety of ourselves and our loved ones. While we have not been able to play together for the longest time we have understood the reasons for staying home - playing a brass instrument inside with 25 other people was not safe. We have been at home practising on our own since our last performance in March 2020 at the Regional Championships. We have had to put aside doing the thing we love for so long, but for very good reasons. Burton Joyce Village Hall We haven't been entirely inactive though. In-between lockdowns it was possible for us to rehearse outside, and while this has meant being at the mercy of the...

Ready for the Regionals

6th March 202010th January 2022 By Dave RuttNo Comments

The 2020 Area contest is just around the corner - tomorrow! - and we will be finishing off our preparations of the test piece (Tom Davoren's excellent Legacy) tonight. We've had some excellent rehearsals recently under the direction of Geoff Wood - along with the assistance of Tony Wilson - and we are primed to give as good a performance in Bedworth for many a year. The band is sounding great! Gary Glover - solo euphonium Helping us get to this stage are a number of new players, some of which we have seen before. We have been looking for a solo euphonium player for a little while and we are really pleased to welcome Gary Glover to the band - again. Gary has previous form with Carlton, both as a player and as musical director. He is an exceptional musician and we are very pleased to have him back with us. Trombones Our trombone section has also been bolstered with two new...

Salute to Euph

31st October 201911th January 2022 By Dave RuttNo Comments

Carlton Brass are currently looking to fill some big boots: those of Barrie Tupper, our Solo Euphonium for the last ten or so years. Barrie has moved across to our friends at Foss Dyke Band in Lincolnshire, and so we have a spare seat. Barrie may not be the tallest Euphonium player but he has a big sound and the ability to charm the birds down from the trees (according to our late MD Walter Ritchie). We don't have many trees near our bandroom but you will find a warm welcome and functioning central heating. Our Solo Euphonium seat could be yours. We are a friendly band with a sensible calendar of concerts and contests, frequent trips to the pub and the knowledge that we haven't had Blaydon Races out of the cupboard in many a year. We are also looking for a percussionist and front row cornet player. Barrie used to bring along the husband and wife team of Louise Jackson and Dave...

New Direction

30th October 201911th January 2022 By Dave RuttNo Comments

Carlton Brass are looking for a conductor: we are in need of a musical director able to take us into next year's Regional First Section contest and beyond. Interested? We are ideally looking for someone relatively local to Nottingham with experience and enthusiasm to guide our band towards a successful and enjoyable 2020. We have only a few gaps in our ranks, our own band room and a desire to continue enjoying our musical adventures with a new conductor. We were sad to lose Gary Glover to work pressures recently after a short but enjoyable stay with us. We wish him all the best with his own musical business and hope to see him in front of a stand again when time permits. We have been lucky in recent weeks to have been looked after by some good friends of the band. Geoff Hawley has been so helpful with both rehearsals and a recent concert, while Kieren Dean, Ewan Robson and Sharon Stansfield...

Concert: St Paul’s

22nd September 201910th January 2022 By Dave Rutt Comment Closed

The Carlton Band Organisation has a long history - nearly 120 years now - and we are proud of our heritage. The first band emerged in 1902 from the Netherfield Railway, and while the train link is no longer with us we still play in the same Nottingham district. The main band - Carlton Brass - moved into our new band room late last year on Meadow Road, Netherfield. The train line is nearby and our link to Netherfield is secured for many more years. Our organisation also has an amazing second band called Burton Joyce Community Brass (BJCB) who share rehearsal space with the main band while also rehearsing once a week in Burton Joyce. They have been encouraging local budding musicians to their cause for many years and have a diverse mix of old and young. There is a growing set of learners too. Yesterday afternoon saw our whole wonderful organisation get together for a free concert at St Paul's Church...

Concert – St Paul’s, Carlton

29th May 201810th January 2022 By Dave RuttNo Comments

Saturday night saw Carlton Brass put on a fabulous concert at St Paul's Church in Carlton. We have been wanting to arrange a concert for a while and the church were kind enough to allow us to use their beautiful building. This was the first concert the band has performed here for a few years - a church only a few hundred yards from where we rehearse. We wanted to play all the music from our up-coming trip to the French Open, along with some other crowd-pleasers. A lovely, appreciative audience enjoyed two hours of quality brass band music where we celebrated 100 years of the Royal Air Force (Into The Sky, Elegy), enjoyed some Jazz trombone (Cry Me A River), forged a magical sword (The Saga of Tyrfing) and celebrated the Three Tenors (Trio Con Brio). Here was our programme: March: ORB (Anderson) Mack and Mabel (Herman, arr Wilkinson) Carnival of Venice (arr Del Steigers) - cornet solo: Andrew Allison Glow (Whittaker,...

St George’s Day

18th April 201610th January 2022 By Dave RuttNo Comments

This Saturday is St George's Day, and Carlton Brass will be helping the great city of Nottingham celebrate this event with a selection of music. We'll be playing two sets in Market Square between 2PM and 4:30PM - full details can be seen at the Nottingham Post. Do come along to listen. The second set will be mostly patriotic 'proms' music, so don't forget your St George's Crosses....