On Saturday the 6^th of June, we had the privilege of giving a concert at St Mary’s Church, Bishopstoke in aid of Brain Tumour Research. The concert was organised by Wendy Dale, in memory of her husband Malcolm, who sadly passed away last year due to this condition.

We started off in the traditional way by playing the march The Contestor, followed by the overture Nabucodonosor, which includes the wonderful Chorus of Hebrew slaves. Our soloists for the evening were George Arnold who played Queen of the Night’s Aria from the Magic Flute and Graham Jones, who played Phillip Sparke’s Song for Ina. Our musical songs included a selection from Cats and Somewhere, from West side story.

Two pieces of film music, Soul Bossa Nova from Austin Powers and dancing with Wolves were interspersed with traditional Brass band music.

We rounded of the concert, the band on this occasion conducted by Paul Chapman, with a tribute to those who have given their lives in the service of their country. In Flanders Fields, Hymn to the Fallen and The Greatest War themes provided a rousing end to the concert.

We are pleased to be able to announce that £1040.00 was raised for Brain Tumour Research.

The band look forward to playing at St Mary’s again in the future and we thank Wendy and her team for their kind hospitality.

On Sunday 10th May, Otterbourne Brass gave a concert at Chandlers Ford Methodist Church. The Programme contained the usual mix of brass band favourites and music from other genres including Blue Rondo a la Turk, Mephistopheles, Soul Bossa Nova and David of the White Rock.

The Band also included items from the programme they will be performing at the SCABA Entertainments Contest on the 17th May in Crawley. The soloists on this occasion were Becca Charters, who played the cornet solo Willow Echoes and Graham Jones who played the Euphonium solo Song for Ina.

The Band’s principal cornet, Sonja Charters, also presented our MD, Gareth Pritchard, with a present on behalf of the band as this was Gareth’s last concert with us before he moves overseas. The band would like to wish Gareth, Sue, Gavin, Rachel and Stephanie all the best for their new life in the US.

Next Thursday 2nd April at St Luke’s Church, Hedge End will be our Brilliant Brass concert – just the ticket to get us in the mood for Spring. With a programme including Floral Dance, Pie Jesu, Galliard Battaglia and Old MacDonald Had Some Brass.

For anyone with older children on inset days, they are welcome. There will even be some instruments for them to have a go on at the end.

Plus a quick CONGRATULATIONS to our star repiano Cornet Player, who just found out she was awarded a distinction in her Grade 8 Cornet exam… and before GCSEs, too! Well done, Becca Charters

Otterbourne Brass performed its first concert of 2015 at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church.

A varied programme that had something for everyone’s taste was the general feedback from our enthusiastic audience. The marches “Mephistopheles” & “Praise” were played. David of the White Rock and Men of Harlech featured with it being so close to St David’s day!

The two solos on this occasion were performed by Sonja, who played “The Paragon”, and Graham who played “Song for Ina”.  Our overture was the “Jubilee Overture” by Philip Sparke. the same composer of The London Overture, whose test piece we will be playing at the West of England Regional Championships in March. With 4 movements from “Windows of the World, Blue Rondo a la Turk and Soul Bossa Nova also featuring, both audience and band members alike left the church in high spirits!

On a beautifully sunny Mothering Sunday, 30 March 2014, Otterbourne brass, conducted by Gareth Pritchard, performed its Spring concert at Chandlers Ford Methodist Church.

Despite it being Mothering Sunday the band attracted a good audience who were treated to a varied programme of music.

The concert commenced in traditional fashion with a rousing performance of T J Powell’s “The Contestor” followed by music from the Broadway favourite Mack and Mabel.

The audience were further treated to four fine solo performances of Ae Fond Kiss (Helen Davis), La Belle Americaine (Graham Jones), Beneath the Willows (Nicky Robbins) and Londonderry Air (Chris Davies).  The concert was rounded off with Goff Richards’ “toe tapping” Songs of the Quay.

The band are very proud of the standard of playing at the concert, given that they only had two weeks to put together and rehearse the programme following the West of England Brass Band Championships competition in Torquay.  It was clear from the appreciative applause throughout that the band’s hard work over the past fortnight had paid off.

Next Concert is at St Andrew Methodist Church, Eastleigh on Saturday 26 April 2014 at 7.00pm.

On Sunday, the 30th June, Otterbourne Brass entertained the crowds at the Otterbourne village fete for the very first time.

In the blazing hot sunshine, the band played a variety of music, including traditional brass band favourites and music from the shows.

The band can next be heard in concert on Sunday 7th July at 2.30pm at Otterbourne Village hall. Tickets will be available on the door and there will be tea and cakes served in the interval.