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Welcome to Chalgrove Band

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Chalgrove Band is a Second Section brass band from Oxfordshire in the south of England. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings at 7:45 and on Sunday mornings at 11am. Our rehearsal room is the Village Hall, Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, OX44 7TE.

We're a friendly bunch, so give us a call or email someone from the "Vacancies" page, or use the form on the "Contact Us" page if you'd like more information. 

Players offer help

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On Saturday 31st March, two of Chalgrove's players were out and about helping out some top section bands around the country.

Dave at the Olympic Stadium

Our "award-winning" bass player Dave Bate was at the Olympic Park in London helping Aveley & Newham band make history by becoming the first brass band to perform in the Olympic Park in London. The band provided entertainment for the 5000 athletes taking part in the inaugural five mile run around the venue. The event, organised by the National Lottery, was the first time members of the public had been allowed into the Olympic Stadium. Despite the cold weather, the day was a huge success all around. We have not yet heard if Dave took part in the five mile run or his completion time - we will endeavour to keep you informed.......

Steve Clapton (right) with Leyland Principal Cornet Iain CulrossMeanwhile Principal Cornet player Steve Clapton helped out the famous Leyland band at Ipswich Corn Exchange. Conducted by our friend and advisor, Richard Evans, the current Brass in Concert and North West Regional Champions gave an entertaining program, including two of Richards trademark 'swagger marches', to a very enthusiastic audience. The band featured five of their world-class soloists during the evening, and also invited Steve to join the front row cornets and trombones in a stand up feature of "I've Got to Get You Into My Life".  The band concluded their programme with a super - but very tricky -  arrangement of the "Finale from Francesca Da Rimini" by Thaikovsky. Other members of Chalgrove band attended the concert and a very enjoyable weekend away was enjoyed by all. Steve would like to thank Leyland for inviting him to play and for making him feel so welcome, and to Richard for giving him his band tie!

A day to remember with Chalgrove Band

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Raph Ison, Chalgrove Band President, with Viv Jackson, Solo Euphonium

On Sunday the 18th March I had the privilege to hear the Chalgrove Band play at Stevenage in the “London and Southern Counties 2012 Regional Qualifying Contest”. The music for the competing bands was an interesting, but difficult piece entitled “Cross Patonce” by Goff Richards (1944-2011). Original composed for the Pilkington Open Championship in 1990, it depicts the heraldic ‘Cross Patonce’ of the Pilkington Glass Company.

The Chalgrove Band, under its conductor Terry Brotherhood, had worked hard for many months both individually and collectively to get to grips with the challenging rhythms and different time signatures that occur throughout this piece to display its unique musicality.
 
Having previously heard the beautiful, slow, second movement, which opens with a solo from the euphonium (Viv Jackson), I was eager to hear what the band did with the first and third movements. I listened to twelve of the sixteen bands throughout the day, all of whom played with enthusiasm, but I was left in no doubt that Chalgrove had given a glorious performance of the highest quality, whatever the final outcome might be.
 
The results of the competition were announced in reverse order starting with Ware Brass Band who were placed fourth. The members of Chalgrove thought that this announcement confirmed a lower place for them and became convinced of this when Littleport Brass were placed third. Then the announcer said, “In second place: Chalgrove"; the atmosphere changed immediately. For about thirty seconds or more I heard nothing but applause and ecstatic shouts of joy from the members of the Chalgrove Band, as it began to register that they would now be going to the National Championships at Cheltenham at the end of September.
 
The “Tidebrook Place Challenge Cup” for second place together with a cheque for one-hundred pounds was presented to Chris Ison (2nd cornet), the band’s Contest Secretary, already seated on the stage with representatives from the other bands.
 

Ralph celebrating with the rest of the band!

Chalgrove Band’s success did not end there, for after the announcement that the winning band was Thundersley Brass, Chalgrove was awarded the “Len Smith (St Alban’s City Band ) Memorial Trophy" for the best Bass Section. This was a particular honour, for it was a new trophy and Chalgrove is its first winner. The trophy was presented to Dave Bate, Steve Sizeland, Alan Wilkes and Matt Ager of the Bass Section.
 
Well done Terry Brotherhood and all the members of the Chalgrove Band for coming second in your first appearance in the Second Division. Cheltenham here we come!
 
Ralph Ison
Chalgrove Band President

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