It’s been a busy 2009 so far for the Band, with plenty of contesting as well as a number of our regular jobs. 

January was a quiet month in terms of public appearances (after a very hectic lead-up to Christmas), although a lot of hard work was being put in at the bandroom in preparation for the Band’s appearance at the ‘Brass at the Guild Hall’ contest in Preston at the beginning of February.  The result was a little disappointing, but we took heart from the fact that we acquitted ourselves well, despite a couple of last-minute panics!  Also in February a number of members of the Band entered the North Wales Brass Band Association Solos, Duets & Quartets Contests held at the Galeri in Caernarfon, where some very creditable performances were achieved. 

After a quiet March and April it was on to May and a concert in Bethesda that saw the first public airing of some of the pieces that we had been working on with a view to playing them in the Rhyl Festival of Brass entertainment contest.  Our Musical Director’s choice of music went down well with the audience which filled us with confidence for our appearance at the Rhyl Pavillion.  Next up in May was the Annual General Meeting where, once the official business was done, the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Bands all performed separate items for an appreciative audience of supporters, before joining together for a rousing finale! 

June started on a social basis with a fundraising Quiz Night at the bandroom.  It was very well attended, with 10 teams of 4 pitting their collective knowledge against each other.  The eventual clear winners were the team called ‘Phone-a-Friend’, although I hope they weren’t doing so during the quiz!  On June 27^th two of our members represented the Band at an Armed Forces’ Day ceremony at Llangefni and this was followed on the 28^th by the Band competing in the Rhyl Festival of Brass contest. Our programme started with us marching to our seats as we played a New Orleans funeral march and finished with us all dancing away whilst playing a piece called ‘African Funk’.  Judging by their applause, the audience in the Pavillion certainly seemed to enjoy our programme, and it was the talk of the hall afterwards! 

July 4^th saw the Band appearing at Y Felinheli for a march followed by a short concert.  The rain held off for the parade, but the heavens had opened by the time we sat down for the concert, by the end of which it probably would have been more appropriate to play Handel’s Water Music!  During this month the Band also had engagements at the Amlwch Carnival (leading the final part of the parade into the Junior School and playing whilst the Carnival Queens were being presented), as well as in front of a large crowd at Newry Beach as part of the Holyhead Festival. 

The National Eisteddfod was held at Bala this year, and the Band took the opportunity to enter Section 3 of the brass band contest, held on August 1^st. It was definitely one of the better-organised events of its kind and the Band played particularly well, coming 2^nd and receiving a not-unsubstantial prize cheque in the process!  After travelling back home we had a social gathering in the evening, which rounded the day off well. 

However, there was no time for the Band to bask in the glory of the Eisteddfod performance as we had an engagement to fulfil the very next day at the Bangor Rotary Club Country Fair, held at Rhos Farm on Anglesey.  This particular engagement has been a regular on the Band’s calendar for a number of years and is always a very enjoyable event to take part in.  August closed with another of the Band’s ‘regulars’ – the annual RNLI lifeboat blessing at Trearddur Bay.  In 2008 this job was carried out in glorious sunshine, but this year’s event had to be moved inside because of torrential rain.  Nevertheless, this is another highly-enjoyable part of the Band’s engagement diary, for an audience that is always very appreciative. 

So, what does the rest of 2009 have in store for the Band?  Well, we’re now into rehearsals (in our newly-decorated bandroom!) for our annual concert at St Mary’s Church, Menai Bridge, on September 19^th.  We also have another social event planned for the beginning of October (a barn dance this time!), after which we will be preparing for the Remembrance Day Parade at Llangefni, followed by our next contest (the North Wales Rally on November 21^st in Mold).  December, predictably, will find us out and about all over the area, playing festive music for all the Christmas shoppers!

[Photos thanks to Brian Mottershead and Tom Lewis]