Music

A Time to Say at the Bigg Theatre

We are delighted to share that “A time to say Bocelli and Brightman” will be coming to the fabulous Bigg Theatre in Biggleswade on Saturday 17th August at 8pm. A musical tribute to classical singers Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, performed by Howard Ellis and Helen Power. Enjoy beautiful music from Italian opera, film, and theatre to classical chart hits. In Time To Say Bocelli & Brightman, Howard and Helen explore the stars’ solo careers and their famous duets. Click…

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Concerts in the Diary!

Finally, some concerts in the diary… hopefully, no more COVID related cancellations! The Brass Foundry – February 13th The Brass Foundry was setup last summer as a group to explore the capabilities of a larger Symphonic Brass Ensemble, and to try out arrangements that it’s founder, Edward Solomon had completed during lock down. Initially, a rehearsal group but it gathered momentum with the naming of the group, and formalising group objectives and rehearsal schedule. Initially, due to debut as a…

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David Quinlan - Trumpet

Dates in the diary..

Have we just had our last free Thursday night (all brass bands I’ve ever played with, rehearsed on Thursday night..)? Well, until yesterday’s press conference by you know who, I was more positive, let’s see, its go go go for now. At Hitchin Band we will be back to Thursday night, socially distant rehearsals from May 20th. There have been a few small group out doors gatherings but they are not for me really. We did do (potentially) our final…

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No Gigs

No gigs to announce..

Here we go, it’s 2021 and I have no gigs to announce. I say that, as January is usually when I post information here on the first few of the year, The City of London Symphonic Winds, followed by The North London Symphony Orchestra… with a usual post related to Brass Band Area Contests (I’m not missing having to attend eleventy-billion band rehearsals to be fair). I have so much sympathy, if that doesn’t sound too patronising for those who…

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One thousand miles for BloodCancer UK

Having signed up for the Prudential Ride London again this year for BloodCancer UK (formerly, Bloodwise), I had started the year with a training program in mind, penciled in a few sportive events (in fact, did the first of the year with UK Cycling Events). Then, Covid… To cut a long story short, the event has been cancelled. This is disappointing for lots of us cyclists, but really devastating for all of those charities that rely on such events (and…

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Music in Lockdown

Music during Lockdown

The last rehearsal I attended this year with Hitchin Band was (I think!) on 12th March. The planned rehearsals for the run up to the Area contest in Stevenage were cancelled due to the postponement of the Area contest. My last concert was on March 14th with Bloomsbury Chamber Orchestra. What, no concerts? By now, I would have performed in many concerts, with Hitchin Band and a few other groups that I play regularly with. I read today that my…

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Time to say... Bocelli & Brightman

Time to say…

When people find out that both my wife, Helen and I are musicians, then find out we’re trumpet players, and then find out Helen is a professional singer, the next question usually is do we get to perform together often. Well, the answer is yes we do from time to time, in bands (wind band, brass band and occasionally orchestra if MrsQ gets time to write out the transpositions, typical brass bander…), but I rarely get the opportunity to be…

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Another Band

So, last night I played with Hitchin Band for the first time, and this got me thinking, what is my “band count” up to now. Here goes.. the list as I can remember… St Patrick’s Brass Band (now City of Waterford Brass) Mount Sion Silver Band Massed Bands of Waterford New Ross Silver Band Clonakilty Brass Band (I seem to remember doing a gig with them) Manx Concert Brass Manx Youth Band Crosby Silver Band (I seem to remember a…

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CLSW Warren Barker Concerto

Warren Barker, Concerto for Cornet, Flugelhorn & Trumpet

Finally getting around to sharing this video.  I played this concerto earlier this year (June) with the City of London Symphonic Wind Orchestra, conducted by Adam Cooke.   I’d never heard of the work prior to receiving an email from music selection team at CLSW to say, we’ve found a trumpet concerto… so it went from, send it over to appearing on full in the next concert. It was quite a challenge to get into the style of each movement…

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NLSO – Dvorak, Bruckner and Beethoven

For the second concert of 2017 with North London Symphony Orchestra, we are delighted to present a programme including Bruckner’s dramatic 4th Symphony (Romantic), Dvorak’s sublimely melodic Violin Concerto (featuring soloist Mathilde Milwidsky, described by Maxim Vengerov as “an exceptional talent”), and Beethoven’s triumphal overture to “Fidelio”. Details & Programme: 7:30pm* Saturday 8th July 2017 St James Church, St James Lane, Muswell Hill, N10 3DB BEETHOVEN: Overture to “Fidelio” DVORAK: Violin Concerto (Soloist: Mathilde Milwidsky) BRUCKNER: Symphony no. 4 Conductor:…

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