The inaugural Amersham Band Summer Course and Festival has been hailed as a great success after participants and audience members alike enjoyed a memorable extended weekend of music making.
Highlights
Speaking to 4BR, Amersham Band MD, Paul Fisher said: "This was one of the highlights of my time being part of this organisation. It was simply brilliant see people of all ages enthused by what brass bands in the heart of their community are all about."
Paul reserved a special thank you to star trombonist Peter Moore who stepped in at the last minute to replace Katy Jones who was unable to attend due to family illness.
"Peter was incredible and such an inspirational figure to everyone. We can't thank him enough. The youngsters were in awe — but then again, so was everyone else!"
Community celebration
Thursday evening saw what was described as a 'musical community celebration' evening, which featured members of four of our groups: Brass Blast (beginners); Brass Roots (Grade 1-5); AmJam (Daytime band for adults) and the Amersham Community Band, as over 100 musicians of different ages and abilities played to a packed out local church.
Friday evening was the turn of Amersham Concert Brass and Amersham Big Band, who took a half each and shared the stage with trumpet star Mike Lovatt — including a 'break out' solo in 'Sing, Sing, Sing' with Mike and drummer Brandon Howard Norris.
The next day the senior Amersham Band took to the stage with trumpeter and vocalist Georgina Jackson for a concert that blew the roof off in every way possible, whilst four-day event was rounded off on the Sunday with 25 young people who signed up for the summer course with soloist Peter Moore.
It was simply brilliant see people of all ages enthused by what brass bands in the heart of their community are all aboutMD, Paul Fisher
Exhausting but exhilarating
Paul added: "It was exhausting as it was exhilarating! Our thanks go to Amos Miller, Mike Lovatt, Ash Horton, Deidre Waller-Box, Malcolm Peach, Josh Gearing and everyone who contributed to the success.
The course has been an incredible success with such good feedback we are already planning the next event for 2025."
