Hitchin Band News

Hitchin Band has appointed Craig Patterson as Musical Director.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hitchin Band is pleased to announce the appointment of Craig Patterson as Musical Director following the planned departure of Martin Hurrell.

Please see our press release for full details.

More changes in membership

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We're sorry to announce the departure of Mary Waudby. Mary has been unable to provide the level of commitment she wanted to due to work and has therefore decided to leave us.

We wish Mary all the best in the future.

We are pleased to announce the arrival of David Scott to the band on cornet. David has a strong banding background and is a welcome addition to the band.

Area Result

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

At the Area contest held in Stevenage this weekend, we managed to come 9th in the Third section.

Although we would have liked to come higher, we are pleased to be solidly placed in the middle of the section and in a good place for next year's challenge.

More Joiners

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It might be a quiet time of year in general on the banding front, but we've still managed to pick up two new players.

Coming in on 2nd Trombone is Ben Frost and on the cornet back row Hisa Matsuki

In the run up to the Area contest, the most important contest of the year, we now have a full (and in some parts) overflowing band.

We welcome them both.

Hitchin Band Win Prize at Butlins Mineworkers Festival

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On a mild but damp weekend, Hitchin Band went to the seaside and came 4th in a National Competition!

The annual Butlins Mineworkers Open Brass Band Festival was held on the weekend of 18 to 20 January at Butlins Skegness. Due to the decline of the mining industry, the competition is open to all brass bands from across the country and not just mining bands.

Playing "Symphony for Brass" by Russian composer Victor Ewald, Hitchin came 4th in their section, beating bands from traditional strongholds such as Yorkshire and the North. With the first four bands separated by a point each, the competition was a close one.

Band Musical Director, Martin Hurrell (assistant principal trumpet with the BBC Symphony Orchestra) said:

"I am very proud of the band and the effort they have put into this music over the past few weeks. The result speaks for itself and is very well deserved."

The weekend was not just about the competition. It was also an opportunity for the band to enjoy themselves with a weekend away together after a very busy Christmas period.

The band is now looking forward to building on this result at the Regional competition, held in Stevenage in March. A good result there could mean an invitation to the Brass Band National Finals later in the year.

Waitrose Carol Playing - �951.84 collected

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks to the generosity of customers at Waitrose Hitchin, we collected an amazing �951.84 towards the band funds!
Thanks to Waitrose for allowing us to entertain their staff and customers as well as collecting!

Leavers and Joiners

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past few months there have been a number of changes in band personnel:

Apart from Ida moving away, we have also said goodbye (for now) to Kyle Shiels (trombone) and Adam Ilot (Cornet), both of whom have gone off to university.

Coming back from university to play with us again is Ruth Lowe (Cornet).

Recently joined on Euphonium is Ted Stacey and back with the band after several years break is Alan Hooker on baritone.

We have also had James Parkinson join us on Horn – not exactly a replacement for Ida – he's not as pretty!

Chris Ankers joined us on EEb Bass after seeing us at our Sponsored Blow. There is no truth in the rumour our collectors said if he didn't put money in, he had to play bass!

As a result of some of these arrivals and departures, a number of players have changed instrument or position in the band. Take a look at our current lineup for details of who is now where!

Remember you can see this new lineup at our QMT concert

Visit by the KKM Sponsheim Band

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As a reminder, our Queen Mother Theatre concert on Saturday 6th October will feature our friends from the KKM Sponsheim band. They will be performing the first half and Hitchin Band will be performing the second half.

Whilst here, they will also be performing on Saturday afternoon in Hitchin Market Square (2:30pm) and on Sunday afternoon at Hertford Castle (from noon).

A successful blow with a monsoon ending!

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Saturday 21st July Hitchin Band undertook a sponsored blow in the centre of Hitchin to raise funds - and it only rained for a short time....
Read more about our successful event here

Photos can be found in the photo gallery

Do you shop on-line? Then help raise funds for the band by simply using an extra click or two of the mouse!

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new fundraising opportunity which allows you to raise money for the band without spending anything more than normal (and in some cases it may save you money with special offers!).

Take a look at our fundraising page.

Patrons scheme

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Hitchin Band now has a patrons scheme which allows you to support the band as well as obtain tickets to our own concerts at a reduced price.

See the Patrons page for details.

Police choirs and Hitchin Band Charity Concert for Macmillan Cancer Support

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Hitchin Band, Hertfordshire Constabulary Choir and Essex Police Choir performed a joint concert at All Saints Church, Hertford on 2nd June 2007 to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Having done Christmas concerts for Macmillan before, this was the band's first summer concert to help them raise funds.

We are pleased to say the concert raised around �3000.

Queen Mother Theatre Concert – May 2007

Sun, 06 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

One of the largest audiences we have had at the QMT since starting our twice-yearly series were treated to an exceptional evening of music and fun.

The music ranged from the Welsh traditional David of the White Rock through Gordon Langford’s West Country Fantasy and Priere a Notre-Dame from Suite Gothique to the bright and cheerful Breezin’ Down Broadway. The evening finished off with the well known march Aces High.

The band was conducted and compered for the occasion by Martin Hurrell.