Deanna Walker BEM & other news online

Banner of the West Bergholt Village BulletinThe latest Village Bulletin is now on-line and available for download/reading on-line on the Village Bulletin page.  News updates not previously reported here include:

Deanna Walker BEM

A West Bergholt woman has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours awards for her services to Higher Education.  Deanna Walker has been awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) for her work at the University of Essex where she is administrator in the Registry Department.  She joined the university staff 25 years ago in the Admissions Department working in several administrative roles before reaching her present position as Senior Academic Officer.  Her work has included mentoring junior colleagues which, she believes, also contributed to colleagues recommending her for the award.

Deanna is modest about her achievements. She says:

The award came out of the blue. When the letter came notifying me, I couldn’t understand why I was chosen as I just do an ordinary working job.

[More… in the Bulletin]

Concert Band’s Christmas Concert raises £1,500 for St Helena Hospice

The Concert Band’s 2013 Christmas Concert was a huge success, as one audience member commented:

the most enjoyable Christmas Concert I’ve been to in many, many years.

The report continues to tell how they have raised nearly £30,000 in recent years and about their plans for 2014.

[More… in the Bulletin]

Voluntary Group & Club Updates

Well, there were quite a few including:

  • Friends of St Mary’s Old Church;
  • Hillhouse Wood;
  • Care Network;
  • Friendship Club;
  • Women’s Institute;
  • History Group;
  • Bergholt Heath YFC;
  • Workers’ Educational Association;
  • Gardeners;
  • Indoor Bowls;
  • First responders;
  • Allotments;
  • Badminton;
  • Churches; and
  • Orpen Players.

[More… in the Bulletin]

Last, but not least, the weather

As if we needed reminding, 2013 was pretty much the wettest we can recall – the following chart tells you just how wet West Bergholt was:

2013 rainfall in West Bergholt

 

 

 

Wanting to play brass or woodwind?

In the run up to a planned concert focussed directly towards young people, the West Bergholt Concert band  will be holding band experience days where any brass or woodwind players can come along and try the band alongside experienced band members.

  • Saturday 15th October 2.30pm – 4.30pm, West Bergholt
  • Saturday 12th November 2.30pm – 4.30pm, West Bergholt
  • Saturday 26th November 2.00pm – 4.00pm, St Botolph’s

These events are a great opportunity to experience playing in a band in a relaxed and supportive environment and have proven to be great fun for everyone involved. If you’d like to join in the fun, please visit their website www.wbcb.org to reserve a place. They’ll also be holding their termly Open Rehearsal on Friday 30th September, which is again open to any brass or woodwind players.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Gershwin to Gaga

is the theme of the next West Bergholt Concert Band concert.  Featuring music from the likes of Gershwin, of course, Coldplay, John Williams, Stevie Wonder, Wicked & Gaga the concert will be held on Saturday July 16th, 7:30pm, in St Mary’s Church Hall to mark its re-opening.

As always, all of the band’s concerts are raising money for local & national charities. This year’s charities will include Myasthenia Research, Coggeshall Youth Work Trust, Clacton Family Support, Headway, Lepra and our local Church Charities.

To find out more check out the Band’s website.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Free Music Workshops

… with West Bergholt Concert Band on Saturday 16th October, 2:30-4:30pm in West Bergholt’s St Mary the Virgin Church.

A distinguishing feature of the West Bergholt Training Band is the regular Music Workshops, which the band holds. They are free and are open to all woodwind and brass players. There is no audition but you will need to read music. Members of the concert band will also be playing so you will have the opportunity to play interesting music with more experienced musicians.

The session will include a range of musical styles from jazz to light classics, pop songs, music from the shows.
The enjoyment does not end there. There is the opportunity to join the Training Band which meets on Friday evenings at the Heathlands School in West Bergholt. For more information on the bands have a look at our website, www.wbcb.org.

If you play a woodwind or brass instrument and would like to have an enjoyable afternoon of music, make a note for 2:30pm, 16 October, St Mary the Virgin Church, West Bergholt.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Open Rehearsal with Popular Local Band

West Bergholt Concert Band, one of the areas busiest & most popular bands, is holding its next open rehearsal on Friday 24th September at Heathlands School, West Bergholt.

The band’s musicians of all ages & abilities invite local woodwind & brass players to come and join them for the rehearsal with either the Training Band at 6:00 pm (Grades 1-4) or the Concert Band at 7:00 pm (Grades 4 & above).

The rehearsal will feature the band’s wide repertoire, with music from Toy Story & Spiderman together with pieces by Holst, Queen, Ellington and Lloyd-Webber and as always will be held in the band’s relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

If you cannot make Friday 24th September, the band rehearses every Friday night from Friday 3rd September and new members are always welcome. For further details, please see our website www.wbcb.org.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Blowing their trumpets…


Last Saturday (25th April) the West Bergholt Concert Band hosted a free afternoon workshop with local secondary school pupils, continuing its commitment to encourage young musicians to pursue their skills and talent. In the evening the pupils joined with the Band to perform a concert in aid of Muscular Dystrophy at St. Botolph’s Church. The evening was a great success, attended by the Mayor and her Consort and local MP, Mr Bob Russell; all expressed their appreciation and enjoyment of the evening. Mr Russell has now attended six of the band’s concerts in recent years.

The Band has two concerts coming up in its summer programme, featuring Last Night of the Proms classics plus ‘Swing’ favourites:

  • Saturday June 23rd (7:30pm) – Westcliff Theatre, Clacton (*)
  • Saturday July 14th (7:30pm) – Stoke By Nayland Golf Club

(*) Concert with the Cavender Singers – in aid of the St Helena Hospice

Further details and ticket availability can be viewed on the band’s website www.wbcb.org or telephone Graham 01206 824157.

The Band is always happy to welcome new members, any player of a brass or woodwind instrument can try out – just turn up at one of their rehearsal evenings at Heathlands School, West Bergholt on any Friday evening during term-time from 6-7pm for Training Band and 7-9pm for Concert Band. The band is particularly interested in welcoming younger musicians into the Training Band.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Concert Band School Workshops – 2nd March


The West Bergholt Concert Band is very keen to encourage young musicians to develop confidence in, and enjoyment of, playing their instrument in a larger ensemble. The Band was formed over 30 years ago to provide musicians of all ages with an opportunity to come together to make music in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and, in doing so, the Band has enabled many young musicians to develop their skill and love of music making.

In fulfilling this commitment, the band organises free workshops with local schools to provide youngsters with the opportunity to play alongside more experienced players who will guide and mentor them and give them a taste of playing in a band. These workshops are led by Graham Wilson, the musical director, who has encouraged and led many youngsters in the Training Band over the years. The latest workshops took place at St Mary’s Church West Bergholt and included pupils from Bishop William Ward Primary, Great Horkesley, St Mary’s Lower School, Copford and Heathland’s Primary, West Bergholt. The series ended on Saturday afternoon when, after a final rehearsal, the young players performed with existing members in a small concert performance for family and friends.

From previous workshops those who have enjoyed the experience go on to join us and become members, gaining valuable skills in sight reading and musicianship, helping to develop and improve their confidence and playing ability. As a member of the Training Band the young musicians will perform alongside the Concert Band at many of the concerts performed annually in aid of charities and good causes at venues across North Essex. Our next venture with local schools will take place on Saturday 25th April at St Botolph’s when we will work with local secondary school pupils in an afternoon workshop, the pupils will then perform with us during the evening in a concert in aid of Muscular Dystrophy.

As a Band we are always open to welcoming new members and if any one is interested in finding out more about workshops or joining the band then our web site www.wbcb.org has all the information and contact details. We have a dedicated ‘school’s page’ with information for teachers regarding workshops and other initiatives.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Join in with the music…

West Bergholt Concert Band are holding open rehearsals where aspiring members would be welcomed.  In their 30th Anniversary Year the band are particularly interested in expanding theirBrass and Woodwind sections.
The Open Rehearsals are taking place at Heathlands School, New Church Road, West Bergholt on Friday 23rd January at:

  • 6-7pm for Training Band (suitable for Grades 1-5) and
  • 7-9pm for Concert Band (Grades 5+).

To find out more see the band’s website or email them for full details!
  

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Concert Band ‘Open Rehearsal’

The Band is actively seeking new members and is hosting an Open Rehearsal on Friday 19th September from 6pm. Players of woodwind or brass instruments of all ages and abilities are welcome to join us to get a taste of who we are and what we do and enjoy making music in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The Band has raised thousands of pounds for charity and entertained audiences in venues such as the Westcliff, Clacton and St. Botolph’s, Colchester, playing for the Mayor and other local dignitaries. We have also been working hard with young people through school workshops and concerts to encourage young musicians to develop their skills. Playing in an ensemble builds confidence, sight reading skills and experience and offers the opportunity for budding musicians to share their enjoyment of music making with other like minded people.

Awards for all Lottery Grant
Earlier this year the Band was successful in receiving a grant to support its objective – offering music making for all. The Band actively encourages musicians from all walks of life, young and old, to join together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere to make music.

Founded in 1978 by a local peripatetic music teacher the Band has gone from strength to strength raising money for charity and entertaining audiences across North Essex and Suffolk. The Award has been used to purchase new equipment to ensure that the Band can continue to provide musicians in the Colchester area with the opportunity to pursue their amateur and professional musical interests whilst continuing to support local and national charities.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Concert Band 30th Anniversary Year

The West Bergholt Concert Band recently announced this to be their 30th Anniversary Year. As reported in the Village Bulletin:

Welcome to the band’s 30th Anniversary! We’ve certainly got an exciting year ahead, with seven concerts of our favourite music at our favourite venues, with musicians from seven local schools joining in with the fun!

We’ve already started the year’s activities, with Training Band leading a number of weekend workshops for local primary schools, which have proven a huge success.We’re then into our first full concert of the year, featuring music from Phantom Of The Opera, Dvorak’s New World Symphony, Big Bands In Concert, Hoe-Down from Rodeo, and, ah-hem, The Stripper. That’s what happens when the band get to request their favourite pieces!

Sunday 16th March – 3:00pm – West Cliff Theatre, Clacton (in aid of the Royal British Legion)

After a short break for Easter, we’re then performing another “Instant Concert” with four Colchester secondary schools as a commemoration of the band’s founder Sid Cooper, who taught at those schools. The programme includes music from Sinatra, The Sound Of Music, Gershwin, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto (Adagio), Joseph, Mars…and Deep Purple (the band’s choice again!).

Saturday 19th April – 7:30pm – St Botolph’s, Colchester (in aid of the Shelley Centre for Therapeutic Riding)

The rest of the year is equally busy, with our “Summer of ‘78” concerts featuring music linked to the year the band was started, such as Copacabana, Grease, Star Wars, Abba, and Bolero.

Saturday 14th June – 7:30pm – West Cliff Theatre, Clacton (in aid of St Helena Hospice) – with the Sweeting Swing Band.

Saturday 12th July – 7:30pm – St Botolph’s, Colchester (in aid of Essex Air Ambulance (TBC))

As you can see, we’re looking forward to our best (and busiest) ever year, so if you’re after a fun afternoon or evening’s entertainment and a programme of great music…come along to one of the above !

Everything you need to know about the band (including concert details and directions, and how to join us) is on our website (www.wbcb.org), or you can call Graham on 01206 824157. We look forward to seeing you at some of our concerts…and wish you a belated happy new year !

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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