Author: Peter Scott

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Imogen shines in Taunton

At the recent National Youth Brass Band course held in Taunton, our Solo Baritone player Imogen Fewster participated in the prestigious Harry Mortimer solo competition. This sees all the section winners of the Katie Ogden solo competition held in the spring course compete against each other. As you will appreciate this is a competition held between players who really are at the top of their game.

Imogen chose to play the Baritone Concerto by Martin Ellerby, a fiendishly difficult piece that demonstrates just how good a player we have in the band. Sadly she missed out on the top spot in the contest, but you will agree this is a stunning performance.

Imogen was once again successful in her audition for the solo baritone seat in the NYBBGB in what is the band’s 70th anniversary year. During the course the band worked with renowned trumpeter Louis Dowdeswell and performed the premiere of a specially commissioned piece, Hyperlink from the pen of Peter Graham. Hyperlink will be the test piece for the forthcoming National Championships held at the Albert Hall in October

Imogen with the other principal players at the NYBBGB Summer 2022 course
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Helping save lives in Acomb

After lockdown, the bands were only able to hold small rehearsals in our normal site and had to look for venues where they could hold more players. The Church of the Holy Redeemer on Boroughbridge Road stepped in and allowed us to use their church and church hall. When we discovered that they were looking to purchase a Community Public Access Defibrillator, the band returned the favour and put on a concert in the church as part of the fundraising efforts.

We are pleased to see that the Church has now been able to fund the deployment of the defibrillator and it is now available for use. It can be seen from the busy Boroughbridge Road and has been registered with Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS), meaning that any member of the public can access it, by calling 999 for instructions. The dispatcher will direct you to the defibrillator and will give you the key code for the cabinet. These are simple devices to operate and have voice instructions guiding you through how to use them. They are designed to be used by anyone and require no specialist medical training to use.

The fundraising efforts behind this defibrillator included our Senior Band and the Spirit of Harmony Men’s Barbershop Chorus. There was also help from the Pavers Foundation and Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity.

Rev. Simon Biddlestone, Vicar of The Church of the Holy Redeemer expressed his thanks to all those who had helped with the purchase and installation of the defibrillator, saying : “I’m delighted that there is now a defibrillator here. It’s good news for the whole community as anybody can use it. We hope that it never needs to be used, but if it does it could save someone’s life.”

The other sponsors for the defibrillator are:

Have you ever thought what you would do if you came across someone who had a cardiac arrest? Yorkshire Ambulance Service have produced a video that tells you exactly what to do.

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Christmas Concert Tickets on sale

Tickets for the Christmas Gala Concerts at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre will be on sale from the Joseph Rowntree Theatre box office from August 8th.

Don’t miss out on your chance to see this annual treat. We see every band in the organisation presenting their contributions for Christmas. How will the concert be rounded off this year? You are going to have to wait and see.

https://www.josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/concert/christmas-concert/1542/#schedules

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Vacancies – Solo Cornet

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY

The Shepherd Group Brass Band are seeking an experienced SOLO CORNET PLAYER to join our cornet section.

What we have to offer:

  • Championship level banding
  • Great concert-contest balance
  • Fun contemporary music and the latest arrangements
  • Some of the best rehearsal facilities in the country
  • One of the largest banding organisations around, as recently featured in the British Bandsman
  • A busy and lively social scene
  • Spring Festival Senior Cup, Blackpool

The band practices on Tuesday and Friday evenings in York – however, our members travel from all over Yorkshire so lifts could most likely be arranged.

For anymore information or an informal, confidential chat about the position, please contact Our MD Richard Wilton on 07973442249, richardwilton@nesyork.org

Alternatively Feel free to message us directly through the bands Facebook page. 🎺🎼🎺

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Concert Band rocks Regents Park

An image of the band on Regents Park Bandstand
Regents Park Bandstand

Wow, what a fantastic weekend for the Shepherd Group Concert Brass Band!

After an early Saturday morning start the band travelled down to Hemel Hempstead for their first concert of the weekend. The band performed on the Rainbow stage, a purpose built performance area in the middle of Hemel Town centre.

Crowds watching the Concert Band on the Rainbow Stage in Hemel Mepstead
The Band in Hemel Hempstead

Day two, we set off for Regent’s Park for the main event, our Concert in the Royal Park. With the sun shining and already a large crowd gathering, possibly in anticipation of a Yorkshire brass band.

People watching the Concert Band in Regents Park
An appreciative crowd

I think it’s only fair to say that the Concert that the band gave that afternoon was one that will live in the memory of the players for a long, long time. The playing was superb, the atmosphere within the band was unbelievable and the crowd reaction was described, by a park employee, as “quite incredible, never seen a reaction to a brass band like this one”. So, after the final notes of Sweet Caroline had drifted over the nearby lake, the band headed back to York. They showed just what the Shepherd Group of bands are all about and I’m sure, made many friends in both Hemel and Regents Park. A stellar weekend.

Mike and the CB on the Regents Park Bandstand
All ready to entertain.
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Sean Chandler joins Shepherd Group Band

We are delighted to announce that Sean Chandler has joined the bands Cornet section.

Sean hails from Liverpool but has now settled in York, here’s a little bit about him.

“I had a brilliant teacher in Secondary School who encouraged me to join the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain when I was 15. After 5 successful and enjoyable years performing with the band all over the UK I left and went to study at Salford University. I then qualified as a Music teacher at Liverpool Hope University. I’m now a qualified teacher to deaf children through Edinburgh university and lead workshops with Youth Music, Music and the Deaf and of course, Yorkshire Youth & Music.

I’ve had some amazing experiences as a player, with Goldie’s Band at Buckingham Palace, and plenty of other bands and places.”

Richard Wilton our MD commented, ‘Sean’s personality is infectious and the dynamic he has brought to the band-room in such a short space of time is incredible. He brings with him so much quality and strength to the team. I’m absolutely delighted he’s made the decision to join the Sheps family and I’m sure he’ll be an inspiration to over one hundred of our youngest members too.”

We all wish Sean a long, happy and successful time at Sheps.

Sean Chandler
Sean Chandler
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Easingwold Proms Concert

Poster image showing concert details
Easingwold Proms Concert Poster

The Senior Band are back at the Galtres Centre to present the ever popular Proms evening with our good friend Jessa Liversedge. Tickets are available from the Galtres Centre box office.

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A welcome in the City!

We can confirm the news that our good friends at Cory Band will be joining us again in York on November 19th. This is a great opportunity to see the Cory Brass In Concert set on the same day as their performance at the Sage in Gateshead. This will of course be followed by a roof lifting joint performance from Cory and the Shepherd Group Senior Band. Keep an eye out for details of the venue and tickets.

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We have a Concert Band Quiz winner!

The Concert Band ran a recent quiz in order to raise funds to help out with the costs for the upcoming appearance of the band in Regents Park. The quiz inquisitor was of course Mike Pratt and those of us familiar with his efforts on the coach to Durham and Blackpool will not be surprised tat there were football questions in there.

The answer sheets have all been submitted, marked and scrutinised and the winner with a superb score of 46 correct answers out of 50 is Jayne Janes. We will be contacting Jayne directly with the deatils of her prize. For those who were not quite as accurate, the correct answers are all listed here. Thanks very much to all those who took part, every little helps.

Pop Groups and Artists

1 Oasis

2 Crowded House

3 Elbow

4 Joy Division

5 Dire Straights

6 Kanye West

7 Taylor Swift

8 Fleetwood Mac

9 Blue Oyster Cult

10 Iron Maiden

11 Elkie Brookes

12 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

13 Neil Diamond

14The Drifters

15 Bonnie Raitt

16 Thin Lizzie

17 Alice Cooper

18 Simply Red

19 Dr Dre

20 The Who

Beers and Lagers

21 Fosters

22 Stella

23 Landlord

24 Budweiser

25 Carlsberg

26 London Pride

27 Tennants

28 Old Speckled Hen

29 Bishop’s Finger

30 Moretti

Yorkshire Towns and Cities.

31 Leeds

32 Skipton

33 Doncaster

34 Selby

35 Filey

36 Ben Rhydding

37 Brighouse

38 Settle

39 Bedale

40 Pickering

British Football Teams.

41 Aston Villa

42 Exeter City

43 Stevenage

44 Fleetwood

45 Preston

46 Elgin

47 Mansfield

48 Hamilton

49 Stoke

50 Oxford

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A new ambassador in the band.

Imogen Fewster

We are delighted to hear that our solo Baritone Player Imogen Fewster has been appointed as a Young Ambassador for Mercer and Barker mouthpieces.

Imogen started her playing career in the Shepherd Group Academy band and has progressed through our band organisation and is now our Solo Baritone player. She is a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and has been the Principal Baritone player with the NYBBGB since 2021. This year Imogen won the Euphonium/Baritone section of the NYBBGB Katie Ogden solo competition and will represent her section in the concerto final at the forthcoming NYBBGB summer course playing the Ellerby Baritone Concerto.

We are so proud of Imogen and listening to her rehearsing her concerto piece in the bandroom before a recent rehearsal, the band were in awe at the virtuosity on display.

George Barker, one of the founders of Mercer and Barker mouthpieces said “We are looking forward to working with her and all the young ambassadors in the future. She’s a fabulous player”.

More details on the Young Ambassadors can be found on the Mercer and Barker Website along with details of their range of mouthpieces.

The website address is https://mercerandbarker.com

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