It was ‘into the dragon’s den’ on St. George’s Day as a third Newstead ensemble made
it’s public debut in front of a capacity audience at Kirkby Festival Hall on April
23rd.
The as yet unnamed group, featuring young players who have only recently started
to play, were rewarded with deserved applause for their contributions ‘Frere Jacques’
and ‘Piccolo’. Conducted on this occasion by Lynden Cooper the new group has been
brought about by the efforts of several experienced players from the Newstead Band
organisation including Abi Whyley, Mark Hanson & Phil White.
‘The performance was just one of many highlights at the annual community concert
organised by the Kirkby-in-Ashfield Rotary Club, which given the date, took a ‘Night
at the Prom’s’ format.
Paul Whyley led the Newstead Youth band (Nottinghamshire’s sole qualifiers for the
2007 National Brass Band Championships) in a spirited programme of popular music
whilst Newstead Brass, under the baton of Duncan Beckley, included Henry Purcell,
Ralph Vaughan-Williams and Paul Mcartney in an international selection prior to the
traditional finale including Rule Britannia, Land of Hope & Glory and Jerusalem.
