Lympstone Band head to the French Open contest

We will be off to the French Open Contest held in Amboise, Loire Valley this weekend to compete in the 1st section competition again two local French band and one from Belgium. It will be a busy day on Saturday with a march contest, main contest and an outdoor concert in the town centre. We will be playing Moorside Suite, Holst which is the set test piece along with 2 other pieces which is judged by no less than 4 adjudicators!

Wish us luck!

www.openamboise.com

Death of former Chairman

We are saddened to hear of the sudden and untimely death of our former Chairman Tony Adams. Tony was Chairman and Solo Cornet of the band for several years through the 1990's during what was a transitional period in the band's long history. An orchestral trumpeter at heart, Tony lead from the front and was at the helm in the years leading up to Lympstone's triumph at the 1999 4th Section National Championships in Harrogate. Tony also played in symphonic ensembles in Exeter including the Exeter Symphony Orchestra, and was more recently playing cornet with the City of Exeter Railway Band but had to leave due to the pressure of work commitments with his Exeter based packaging company.

His passing at the age of 60 is very sad news indeed, and the members of the band and the committee send their heartfelt condolences to his wife Maureen.

October 2009 update

We hope to have Charlie back in the near future but in his absence we have begun rehearsing for the SWBBA Contest on the 7th November where we will play in the highest section. Since the Last Night of the Proms concert we have been fortunate to have our Soprano player Paul Luford and Daryl Powell of the Royal Marines Band, Plymouth taking rehearsals. The band would like to thank them both for their time.

The bi-annual 'Classics Galore!' Concert will be taking place on November 14th at the Great Hall which is organised by the FORCE Cancer charity. If you would like to support us at the charity concert tickets are available for £15 and £12 from Dick Passmore on 01392 832405.

Last night of the Proms

Yesterday saw the band perform a Proms Concert organised by the Rotary Club of Exmouth at the Exmouth Pavilion. The band, in the unfortunate absence of usual MD, Charlie Fleming, were led on the night by guest conductor, Brian Minear.

The band treated the capacity audience to a wide range of repertoire in the first half from the traditional march, Ravenswood to get proceedings underway to the transcription of Brahm's Academic Festival Overture. There were band solos from Paul Luford (On with the Motley), Sandie Heyworth (Over the Rainbow) and Tom Harris (Share my Yolk) split among popular pieces such as Klezmer's Karnival and La Danza. We were joined on stage by local soprano, Val Howels, who performed I'll Walk with God and Panis Angelicus.

The second half began with the mighty 'Heroic March' from An Epic Symphony - a piece that has bought the band some success already this year. Before the traditional last night of the Proms music there was time for Light Walk, featuring the flugel playing talents of Tim Fairweather. The band then performed, with gusto, Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Jerusalem and Pomp and Circumstance. The enthusiastic audience participation, added to the band's performance and the return of Val Howels as Britannia provided a wonderful climax to another great evening of music making. The Rotary Club were so pleased that we have already been asked back next year.

The band would like to expres their thanks to the work put in by Brian Minear to make sure the concert was a success and to Dave Coles, Joy Richards, Carol McEwen and Tom Chester for helping out due to certain band members being on holiday.