We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded £2,000 to fund the refurbishment of as many of our stock of instruments as possible to ensure that they are in excellent condition for when you come along and give them a blow.

Yes, that's right. If you are a brass player but don't have access to an instrument then do get in touch. We have a large collection of instruments that are available to members of the band and we'd really like to attract some new faces to come and give them a go. Our collection includes cornets, trombones, baritone horns, flugel and basses. 

The work is planned to take place over the coming months and we'll update you as the work progresses.

After the success of the 'Songs of Praise' concert a few months prior our 'Summer Concert' took the same format with audience members able to enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea in between the musical entertainment.

The band performed a diverse programme including music from film and TV such as 'Happy Days' and 'No Time To Die', pop tunes such as 'Karma Chameleon' and 'Uptown Girl', closing with 'Sweet Caroline' which the audience enjoyed so much we played it again as an encore. A couple of hymns were thrown in as these had proven popular at the last concert, giving the audience a chance to to get their singing voices in gear.

Brackley & District Band are always grateful for the wonderful welcome that they get at St Peter’s and our thanks once again goes to those responsible for organising this concert.

We are looking for a new Musical Director to work collaboratively with us to continue our musical development, promote the success of the band and most importantly have fun making music together.

The successful applicant will be responsible for preparing the band for a variety of engagements including garden parties, fetes, parades, community events, formal concerts and contests.

The Band rehearses on Friday nights between 7.45 and 9.45pm at the Band Club in the centre of Brackley (NN13 6DF).

Closing date for applications is 30 June 2022, with a view to the successful applicant beginning in September 2022. To apply, please send your CV together with a covering note to brackleyband@gmail.com.

Photo credit - VHB Photography

We were delighted to be awarded 7^th place in our section (Fourth Section). We hope to continue to build upon this, attract more players and be in an even stronger position for next year.

If you are not familiar with the banding world, you might wonder how it is that Bands can compete.

Bands from across the region come together annually to compete at this contest because it will determine their position in the league tables for the forthcoming year. There are several leagues, much like in football, except that in Banding the positions are determined not over an entire season of games but by this is one performance, at one contest, on one day. A contest for which many hours of home practice and rehearsal time will have been spent in perfecting the performance of the chosen test-piece for that year. Each band plays the same piece and this is selected and announced a few months in advance of contest day.

It can be a very exciting and also a very nerve-racking experience for both conductors and players alike and everything depends on the opinions of the two adjudicators who determine the placings. They are situated within a small curtained area so that they cannot identify which band is playing and they listen to each performance before ranking the bands in the order in which they believe reflects how well the band played.

Not only did we come away with a very pleasing result but it was also a great day out and one of the first times, other than for a drink in the Band Club after practices, that we have been able to be out and have a bit of social time as a Band.