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.