Abbey Brass has rounded off a successful year with six Christmas performances across the Island.
The Island’s newest brass band brought festive cheer to hundreds of concert-goers at Newport Salvation Army Church and Wootton and Binstead Methodist Churches.
Small ensembles from the band also played at carol concerts in Ryde, Ventnor and the children’s ward at Mountbatten Hospice, Newport.
Croucher: Our name is slowly getting out there
Band chairman Andy Croucher said,
“This has been our busiest year since we were formed in 2021.
“We have come a long way since then – we are pretty much up to full strength with 26 members, we now have new uniforms we are getting more and more requests to perform concerts across the Island, so our name is slowly getting out there.
“We have also revamped and boosted our social media presence.”
Fundraising concerts
Another highlight of the year was playing to a large audience at Trinity Theatre in Cowes, raising hundreds of pounds for the theatre’s roof appeal. The band has been invited back for a repeat performance next autumn.
In October the band played a special programme of sacred music – to a capacity audience – in the stunning setting of Quarr Abbey.
“It’s been an exciting and busy year under our musical director Phillip Littlemore who took over at the start of the year.
“Phillip has experience of playing with some of the top brass bands in the country and is also an experienced conductor and adjudicator.
“His knowledge and enthusiasm is helping the band go from strength to strength as we look forward to another eventful and busy year.”
More information about the band can be found on the website.
News shared by Simon on behalf of Abbey Brass. Ed
