Adrian is an accomplished musician with vast experience as a tuba player, teacher and conductor. Having recently returned after a 20 year stint in New Zealand, where he played with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Auckland Orchestra, Adrian is now a peripatetic brass teacher as well as Bass player with Grimethorpe Colliery.

We look forward to working with Adrian as the band looks to continue its progression. Adrians first band engagement with the band is at the Brackley Music Festival on Friday 29th June (see events). 

There are two key initial challenges for the committee. The first is to secure a MD who can help us build upon the excellent work that Simon Jones undertook with the band at the areas (see latest Brass Rubbings). Hopefully we will have some very positive news on this over the next couple of weeks.

Secondly we have some player vacancies and therefore the committee is also focusing on filling these, to allow us to build upon our positive area results and undertake more concerts / contests later in the year.

If you are interested in playing with the band please have a look at our vacancies page and contact us!

For the whole of Sunday’s opening hours at Sainsbury’s in Banbury, the band entertained the shoppers and raised much needed funds to help keep the band going through the winter.

The band and its helpers played shifts throughout the day, and Mr. Owens (Chairman Rhys to us) gave some of his school pupils a taste of performing in public when they joined us for a massive performance of Jingle Bells. The Mayor popped by to say hello, many shoppers commented on how nice it was to hear a proper band, and one even admitted to singing along to the carols as she went up and down the isles.

We then decamped, via the pub, to Brackley to play with the Junior band at this year’s community Carol Singing in the market square. As usual it was packed out and the players, John Bennett, the weather and Santa’s performances were all excellent.