News
Ian Page / 26th November 2011
Councillor Trudy Dean
Over the past 2 years, Councillor Trudy Dean has been an inspiration to the band, leading us into our now established routine of doing our best to bring music into local schools and to encourage children to learn musical instruments.
Trudy’s association with Eynsford Concert Band began in 2009 when we asked for her help in finding a venue for our world premier performance of “Herritage Suite”. Written and dedicated to the band by Dr. Nigel Clarke, the piece was inspired by the bronze sculpture by Sarah Cunnington entitled `Hope’, which is to be found on The Green in West Malling. With this in mind, Trudy set about ensuring that our premier performance of piece was set in the heart of West Malling. The performance took place on 10th October 2009 in the beautiful 500 year-old Tithe Barn.
Since then, Trudy has been instrumental in securing funding and creating the opportunity for us work with The Malling School to introduce pupils to music, to try out some musical instruments and to provide them with an opportunity to hear us perform.
We are very excited that Trudy has agreed to be our Honorary Patron and look forward to working on many future projects with her.
Read more about Councillor Trudy Dean
Brian Evans / 18th November 2011
In March of this year, at the BASBWE Festival in Bromley, we had the honour of giving the world premiere performance of “Looking In”, a new work for symphonic wind ensemble by the young Welsh composer Tom Davoren, in front of, amongst others, Nigel Clarke, Phillip Sparke and Kit Turnball . The piece was both enjoyable and challenging, and the premiere was universally acclaimed, with Phillip Sparke commenting in his review of the event “this composer seems to have already found his voice and it is an exciting one”.
We are delighted to hear that this work has led to Tom being shortlisted, in the Wind and Brass Band category, for the prestigious British Composer Awards 2011 given by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA).
The winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held at Stationers’ Hall on Wednesday 30 November. The ceremony will also be covered by Radio 3 in a programme to be broadcast on Sunday 4 December.
All of us in the Band would like to congratulate Tom on this achievement, and to wish him the best of luck on the 30th.
Brian Evans / 31st October 2011
John Hutchins
JOHN HUTCHINS has enjoyed connections with Eynsford Concert Band for many years and was appointed Musical Director in 2003. Sadly however, after more than eight years of leading our band to new heights of achievement, and of challenging us with new musical and performance opportunities, John has decided that this year will be his last in the role.
We are now delighted to announce that John has agreed to continue his long association with us by accepting the position of Conductor Laureate. In this role, and alongside our Honorary Patrons, John will continue to promote and support Eynsford Concert Band, as well as making occasional appearances in front of the band at rehearsals, and perhaps the odd concert in the future.
We are sure that you would like to join us in congratulating John on this appointment..
Read more about John >>
Brian Evans / 11th July 2011
On 10th July 2011, an audience of more than two hundred people enjoyed an afternoon of music making in the beautiful surroundings of Eynsford Castle last Sunday, when Darenth Valley Youth Music and Eynsford Concert Band joined forces to raise nearly £800 for the local church and village hall.
The concert commenced in glorious sunshine with Darenth Valley Youth Music, under the direction of Duncan Dwinell, playing a selection of light music, including “Instant Concert”, an amusing romp through more than 20 well known tunes in around three minutes.
The two ensembles then combined for a rousing rendition of Crown Imperial by William Walton, in celebration of the Royal Wedding earlier this year, after which the Eynsford Concert Band, under the direction of John Hutchins, played a selection of music from West End shows past and present, as well as much loved tunes from the world of films.
Brian Bennett, chairman of Eynsford Concert Band, said “we are always delighted to raise money for local charities and to support youth music in Kent, and thoroughly enjoyed performing with the highly talented children of Darenth Valley Youth Music at this lovely location.”
Our thanks go to Sara Neville and Carla Sinclair for the professional photographs that they took throughout the afternoon. A sample of these can be seen below, but please take a look at the full collection (with photos available for purchase) at their PhotoBox Gallery.
Louise Arkley / 29th June 2011
On the 25th June 2011, Eynsford Concert Band performed a very special concert, hosted by the Sevenoaks Town Mayor, to an enthusiastic audience and many local dignitaries at the Sevenoaks Community Centre.
Significantly held on Armed Forces Day, the concert provided a poignant reminder to us all of the difficulties faced daily by wounded servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan and other conflicts, raising in excess of £1,300 for the charity Help for Heroes.
The concert had a theme for each half. The first half held a regal air including pieces such as Jubilee Overture, Crown Imperial and the somewhat tenuously linked Robin Hood ‘Prince’ of Thieves!
The second half took on an interplanetary theme including performances of ET, Mars from The Planets and Starlight Express.
The ladies in the band wore evening dresses in Help for Heroes colours of Red, White and Blue as a tribute to the work of this very worthwhile charity.
This was the second year that our band has supported Armed Forces Day by performing at the Community Centre in Sevenoaks, and I am sure the band feel, as I do, a great sense of pride in being able to honour and remember our servicemen and women in difficult times.
Ian Page / 21st May 2011
Welcome to the new website of the Eynsford Concert Band.
Our new website has been designed to be a source of information for the public, our audience and our members.
We hope that you enjoy taking a look around our new style site and can spot some of the new features that will allow us to keep you up to date regarding the band’s news, planned concerts and other events.
Our new website has been built to provide the band with a more dynamic tool to help us administer the band and to make it easier for us to maintain content and updates. For you, our audience and friends, the site will provide you with:
- Listings of our planned concerts and events
- News and band updates
- Various video clips and pictures of our performances
- CDs and Tickets available for purchase through our new Online Shop
- The ability for you to provide feedback through the Contact Us page
We hope you like it and look forward to your feedback (and shop orders!)
Ian Page / 15th May 2011
After 2 years of association with the band and the recent dedication of `Heritage Suite’ to John Hutchins and the band, we are delighted that Dr. Nigel Clarke has agreed to be an Honorary Patron of Eynsford Concert Band. We are thrilled to formally recognise the continued support, vision and guidance that Nigel provides to us and we look forward to working with him extensively over the coming years.
In response, Nigel commented:
“I am very proud to be asked to be Honorary Patron to this wonderful musical organisation. Without doubt they are one of the best community wind orchestras in the country. I am very much looking forward to supporting (the Kent based) Eynsford Concert Band in all its future music projects. Today, more than any other time in recent years, community music making is crucial to sustaining the musical fabric of Britain.
Nigel Clarke 03/05/11
Ian Page / 7th May 2011
After more than 8 years of leading our band to new heights of achievement and challenging us with new musical direction and performance opportunities, we were all sad to hear that John has decided that 2011 will be his last as our Conductor.
As the band searches for someone to take his place (tough boots to fill to say the least,) John promises us that he won’t be going far and we may see him help with the odd concert here and there.
The band is now looking for a new Musical Director/Conductor to join us, challenge us and help lead us through the next chapter of our evolution. With this in mind, we are looking for someone who can:
- Support, grow and extend the Eynsford Concert Band’s legacy of artistic achievement and elevate its musical standards
- Develop the band with new musical ideas whilst maintaining existing audience expectations
- Conduct rehearsals on Tuesday evenings in Eynsford Village, together with performances and concerts throughout the year
- Conduct occasional weekend workshops and other activities to prepare the band for concerts
- Select repertoire for concerts
- Attend Committee Meetings, specifically to help with artistic development and long term continuity of the band’s musical activities
- Support the Committee with occasional administrative responsibilities as needed, to include involvement in the audition process for new players.
If you are interested in applying for this position or would like further information, please Contact Us
Published job description: Conductor Job Description
