WCB performing in Windsor, July 2023
Latest News
Posted on Tuesday April 9th, 2024
Are you a former member of Woodley Concert Band? If so, we would love to include you in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the band!
There's lots happening this year. Thereβs a special 50th anniversary concert, and we are planning a βcome and playβ day for current and ex-members as well as a BIG party ππ₯³
If you would like to know about the events, just fill in this form and we will keep in touch: www.woodleyconcertband.org.uk/former-member-registration/
We'd love to hear from you π€
Do we get a special mention for being a Woodley Band marriage, even though David Piper was only there for the beer?
Unfortunately I now live in Scotland.π₯
Shame my bestie Phil Shaw is layed up at moment π’
Anne Whiteside
Posted on Friday April 5th, 2024
Summer! ππ Well, maybe itβs not quite here yet, but we are getting ready to play on bandstands across Berkshire and South Oxfordshire as well as in Eastbourne.
And, as the band is celebrating 50 fantastic years of music-making this year π₯³π, we are very happy to be heading out and about. This summer, you can catch us in Henley, Windsor, Newbury and at Binfield Heath flower show, as well as in Eastbourne. Here are some pics of us in these places in previous summers π
Our programme includes music from great shows and films such as West Side Story, La La Land and The Magnificent Seven, the iconic songs of Shirley Bassey, some Big Band classics, Family Guy and lots more. We even have O Sole Mio to serenade you while you get your ice creams, well really, itβs while our conductor Claire looks forward to hers π¨π¦
See you in the parks, bring your picnic!
All the dates are on our website www.woodleyconcertband.org.uk/concerts/
Shame you are not playing at the Forbury bandstand in Reading π₯
Posted on Sunday March 17th, 2024
Well, it was an early start but worth it in the end - we achieved a fabulous PLATINUM award at the NCBF Festival UK National Finals - what a result!π
We were immensely proud of our performance today and are thrilled to have come away with the highest award in UK wind banding - amazing! Thanks to everyone that's helped organise today and in particular to our brilliant Director of Music, Claire, for coaching, rehearsing and conducting us to make it all happen!
Now, if you'll excuse us, this AWARD-WINNING wind band is off home for a little snooze after a very busy weekend...see you for more AWARD-WINNING music making soon..!.π€
I said to Claire last night "Good luck" then said that you didn't really need any because you are so very good! Well done to you all for a stunning performance last night & obviously a brilliant performance today. You, and we should be justly proud of being so fortunate to have such a great local band in Woodley.
Fantastic……. Congratulations Woodley Concert Band
Many congratulations WCB - great job
Congratulations π₯³
Fab stuff!! ππx
Well done. What was ya programme?
Many congratulations. XX ππ
Congratulations all! π
Well done!
Congratulations π₯
ππ
Many congratulations
Amazing!! Well done guys π€©β€οΈ
Well done … well deserved!
Many congratulations and well deserved for all those hours of practice and rehearsals week in week out -:)
Well done πβ€οΈ
Fantastic! Well Done all.
Hey! Well done xx
Many Congratulations.
Brilliant well done x
Posted on Sunday March 17th, 2024
What a fabulous concert!πΆ An amazing evening of fabulous music from Anything Goes to Amazing Grace and Broadway to James Bond - we had a great time celebrating the start of our 50th year!π Thanks so much to everyone that came along - we hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did!β€οΈ
Anyway...no time to rest on our laurels - today, we're off toNCBF Festival UKal UK national finals in Warwick and we can't wait (even if the coach is leaving less than 10 hours after we finished unpacking the van from the concert!). Keep an eye out for updates!
Splendid concert! Good luck for the NCBF today!
Congratulations on 50 years. Good Luck today.
As one of the original members from the Bernie Heaver days I congratulate you on your '50'.
Now platinum award winners congratulations π
Sorry to have missed it, back in September πΆπΆπ
Posted on Saturday March 16th, 2024
Just putting the finishing touches to the notes - it's going to be a great concert! Tickets available on the door if you've not got yours yet - we start at 7pm!
Posted on Friday March 15th, 2024
Yay, itβs our Spring Concert this Saturday! Weβve been rehearsing pretty hard and itβs going to be a really, really good one π
We are loving the range of music β from Bernsteinβs epic Overture to Candide to a great medley of Disney classic tunes. Plus thereβs a gorgeous oboe solo and a slightly crazy feature for the whole saxophone section!
You are certainly guaranteed to have an uplifting evening, full of the joys of spring π Details are on our website, and tickets will be available on the door. Donβt forget that if youβve never been to one of our concerts before, you can come for FREE - just phone our box office well in advance of the concert as these tickets are not available on the door.
www.woodleyconcertband.org.uk/spring-concert-2024/
Posted on Thursday March 7th, 2024
Saxophones β we love them! Which is why our WHOLE saxophone section is being featured in our concert on 16th Marchπ² We are playing a fun, energetic piece called Reed it and Weep (yes really) by the one and only Rob Wiffin.
Hereβs a picture of our saxophone section* smiling at the thought of itβ¦
You really should come and hear it π Full details of the concert are on our website, where you can also buy tickets: www.woodleyconcertband.org.uk/spring-concert-2024/
*sadly our baritone sax player missed the photo shoot!
Brilliant performance last night, and obviously again today! Well done all!
Looking good ladies & gents!
Hey Helen Purdon hope it goes well this evening, wish I could come and watch. Send me a recording. Play well. π·π·π·π·π·π·π₯°
Posted on Friday March 1st, 2024
Have you ever heard Gabrielβs Oboe? Itβs a beautiful, haunting melody from the film βThe Missionβ played on the oboe by Jeremy Irons.
Well, if you know it, why not come and hear it at our concert on 16th March played by our fantastic solo oboist Liz! And if you donβt know it β then you really should come and hear it π
Full details of the concert are on our website, where you can also buy tickets:
www.woodleyconcertband.org.uk/spring-concert-2024/
We're going to be there - looking forward to this, one of my favourite pieces of music!
Lovely piece of music. Elizabeth Chandler I'm sure you'll have the audience's emotions in the palm of your hands. π
Jeremy Irons? Huh! Good piece though. I've played it on cornet, trumpet and flugel.
Posted on Saturday February 10th, 2024
Tickets are now on sale for our Spring Concert! Itβs a bit special as itβs the first performance in our 50th anniversary year! π² ππ
The concert features the very best of different music styles and genres; this feels like a good way to begin our golden anniversary celebrations. To give you an idea of what to expect, youβll hear Bernsteinβs epic Overture to Candide, a medley of James Bond music, highlights from Disney and some stirring original wind band music from Philip Sparke. Whatever your taste, there will be plenty to enjoy!
Book your tickets now to come and join us for an uplifting evening - donβt forget that if youβve never been to one of our concerts before, you can come for FREE β full details and book tickets here:
www.woodleyconcertband.org.uk/spring-concert-2024/
Posted on Monday January 1st, 2024
Happy New Year!π We thought we'd start the year with one of our favourite memories from 2023 - WCB's annual minitour is a highlight of our band calendar and last year, we visited thCrich Tramway Villageay Village and the delightful riverside bandstand in Stratford-Upon-Avon. After performing on the charming Victoria Bandstand at Crich, the whole band enjoyed a ride on one of the vintage trams and we decided that it would be fun to make some music too! It might be a tiny bit rough around the edges (we were sight-reading!) but how often do you get to hear a brass quintet on top of an open-top tram?! Rothea Rag seemed like the perfect accompaniment...here's a brand new video (can you spot the perfectly-timed tram bell...?!)
I bet that was fun π
Brilliant
Posted on Thursday December 28th, 2023
How's the Christmas spirit?π Flagging a little?! Here's a little festive boost with a bit of Slade from our Christmas concerts... Merry Christmas Everybody!πΆ
Posted on Monday December 25th, 2023
πA very Merry Christmas from all of us at WCB - thanks so much to all those who have supported us this year, whether by coming to our concerts, being members of our Friends or Patrons schemes, being on our (free!) email list, or just by following us on social media!
πWe hope you have a lovely Christmas and keep an eye out for more WCB content coming soon...!π΅
Posted on Sunday December 24th, 2023
It's nearly Christmas!π It's a week since our fabulously festive Christmas concerts and only one day until the big day itself so we thought we'd make sure everyone's in the Christmas mood by sharing a little video of one of our favourite pieces from last week's performances - enjoy!βοΈ
Posted on Wednesday December 20th, 2023
We had a great time at our Christmas concerts last weekend - were you there?