This year seems to be getting away from me...

… each month passes and I get further behind!  Never mind – things can only improve!!!

Massed Bands concert

On Sunday 7^th June there will be a Massed bands concert at the Sage in Gateshead, featuring Kirkbymoorside Town Band along with Fairey’s and Ferryhill Town Bands.  The concert is at 2.00 p.m. and tickets cost £14.  There should be a limited number of seats on the Kirkby bus so if you would like to go please sign up asap on the list in the Bandroom.

Solo Contest

We are re-introducing the Solo Contest.  For those of you (most?) who don’t remember this wonderful event, it is a fun evening of music and socialising when as many members of the band as possible get up and play a solo piece, either unaccompanied or with a pianist or backing tape.
 Alternatively, get together with some friends to play an ensemble.  There will be 3 sections for Solos (up to 1 year’s playing, 1 to 3 years’ playing and open) and two for ensembles (Novice and Open)

The Contest will be at the Sports Club in Swinton from 6.00 on Saturday May 16^th and the bar will be open throughout and will be a fun evening for everyone!  So get practicing!!

Birthdays

                                                     

Ha ha – There is no escape from standing on your chair! 


Happy Birthday (belated or otherwise) to: 

Mike S.`              3^rd April
Mary S. ``          20th April
Megan             6^th May

As usual to anyone else I have missed – 

                             Happy Birthday!  

Area Contest

Well done everybody!  What a fantastic result! Thanks, Nigel, for an immense amount of hard work!  Well done to all those who gamely got to all their rehearsals despite coughs, wounds, slipped discs, exams etc.  And not least thanks to Dorothy for keeping the whole show organised and to Dennis for infinite patience as he brought the coach in and out of Darlington all day!

Fundraising!

Mrs Potter and Suzanne have kindly volunteered to run a stall at the successful Table-top sale at Hovingham over the late spring bank holiday.  This will be on 25^th May.  They are looking for Bric a brac, handicrafts and cakes to stock the stall (Please, no jumble!)

Items for the stall may be left in the Bandroom on Wednesday nights to be collected on Saturday evenings.   Cakes on the day please. Please help make this venture a success.

This is just the sort of thing we need.  Our playing members are all helping fund the band by their commitment in  playing out.  Please see if you can persuade you friends and families to take an active role in fundraising with ideas and actually doing things!  Please!

Band Dinner

As ever a good time was had by all, though numbers were somewhat down on previous years.  Many thanks to Steve for organising the occasion and to Julian for running a very successful disco.  As not everyone who earned an award was present and some have not yet received their awards a full list will be held over till next issue!

Holiday List

The Holiday List is up on the notice board.  Please fill in absolutely any dates when you know that you will be away that may affect either band practices or engagements.  This helps Nigel to plan practices and Dorothy to try and find players to take your place in advance!  The sooner Dorothy can start looking the easier it is for her to ensure we have a full band for all engagements!

TIP OF THE MONTH......

As we approach the summer months (so they tell us!) make sure your band waterproof is in your jacket or instrument case – I reckon they may get a look in this summer!

Whit-Friday contests

Last year we joined the hordes of bandspeople who made a beeline for Saddleworth on Whit-Friday and had a great night out, although our results weren’t actually very good.  This year we aim to have just as much fun and hopefully do a little better!

If you want to do it – and it really is an amazing experience - please remember, you’ll need to be ready to leave Malton about 1.00 p.m. on Friday 5^th June and we’ll probably get back to Malton at about 2.00 a.m.  So now is the time to get the day off work!

We don’t need registered players for these contests so if you know people who would like to play for us do ask them along and give their names to Dorothy! While we can only play 25 players on the stand we can march with any number – so a bigger band means that people get a chance to listen to some of our performances and get in the drinks! 

Last year the band included players coming from all over the country and we’ll hope to see some of them back this year.  Assuming we have space we also welcome supporters to come along for an evening of music and merriment! 
This year we are going to ask everyone to make a small contribution towards the cost of the coach as the long booking is a pricey affair.

The contest format is that we play an easy march as we march through each village followed by a contest march on the “bandstand” We need to do at least 6 contests to get an overall placing but there is usually plenty of time for a drink and to chat with other bands while we wait to play.  It’s a fun night out and something everyone should experience sometime!

Engagement Lists

It would help Dorothy a great deal if you could go through it, mark the jobs that you definitely can or can’t do and give it to her so that she has an idea of who we’ve got for each job.  She will then give it back to you so that you can put it somewhere where you can consult it!