Local musicians – and budding musicians – will be interested to know that North London Brass is starting an exciting new community music project, a City of London Brass Band, launching on 15 January 2014 and based at St Giles’ Cripplegate, the church in the Barbican.
The vision is to develop an ensemble that represents the rich diversity of the people who live, work, study in and visit the City. We are a traditional British brass band in format and we want to work alongside the Church in supporting the whole community and developing something original and amazing for local people.
City of London Brass Band is coached by experienced professional musicians and forms part of the North London Brass Network of established bands in Putney, Muswell Hill and Enfield. Although it expects to start as a modest local ensemble, the wider Network has lots of players, spanning all ages and experience, and the group certainly aims to bring its Massed Bands to perform from time to time in the Barbican.
The organisers believe that every ‘town’ deserves its own town band and the community of the Barbican and the City of London should certainly be no exception. There are more details about the North London Brass group philosophy and what it does on its website at http://www.northlondonbrass.co.uk
Thus North London Brass would like to persuade local musicians of all backgrounds to come and join up – indeed, to come out of retirement if you’ve let it lapse! – and for people to come and learn and grow with the group. It is looking for people who play or who are willing to learn cornet/trumpet, flugelhorn/tenor horn, baritone, trombone, euphonium, tuba or percussion. So, if this appeals, please do get in touch asap to help them with their planning.
Rehearsals will be on Wednesday evenings during academic term time at St Giles’. There will also be plenty of opportunity to perform with the other North London Brass bands and our existing engagements include places and events such as The Royal Hospital Chelsea, Wesley’s Chapel, The London Marathon, The Royal Air Force Museum London, Alexandra Palace and Dean’s Yard Westminster Abbey.
Do visit the North London Brass website, send an email or telephone to find out more and to register your interest. Please also spread the word amongst friends, family and neighbours, especially those who don’t have access to the Internet.
