Author: admin

Playing for two of the Open University graduation ceremonies was the band’s first 10 piece performances of 2023. A couple of rehearsals beforehand left us feeling confident for the mammoth blow ahead. Held at the amazing Milton Keynes Theatre, the auditorium was almost full and it was quite daunting playing to such a large crowd as a smaller group.

A fantastic day was had by all at Milton Keynes Brass on Sunday in preparation for the London and Southern Counties Area Competition on 18 March.

Milton Keynes Brass achieved second place and also won awards for Best Bass Section and Best Cornet for Principal Cornet Matt Ball. With three weeks remaining until our Area Contest, a chance to improve the piece some more there are exciting times ahead.

Milton Keynes Brass are pleased to announce that Shaun Pope and Luke Colvin have recently joined the band on 1st Baritone and EEb Bass respectively. With Kathy Gifford on the Solo Cornet bench and Paul Fensom returning from Norway to help on Percussion, the band is looking forward to the Regional Brass Band Championships in March.

We returned to Hanslope Church for their annual Christmas concert on Saturday 3 December and were joined by the Hanslope School Choir. 

The church was full, but we managed to fit in a special guest from the North Pole who delivered some early Christmas presents to the children there. 

Midway through the Christmas build-up, the band had a very busy Sunday.

After many requests from Milton Keynes and further afield we had to prioritise our regular performances and returned to Milton Keynes Village for the Christmas Lantern Parade.

While the rest of the band was in the cold playing for the Parks Trust, 6 players were keeping warm with hot chocolate and mulled wine inside at the village hall.

Over 50 people competed for the coveted title of Milton Keynes Brass Quiz Champions last night with the Middle of the road team declared overall winners and The Originals winning the wooden spoon. Well done to everyone who took part.

Like other bands, Milton Keynes Brass took part in the Remembrance Parade at Newport Pagnell on Sunday 13 November. Thanks go to Pete Castle for the photograph of the band.

Thousands of people came together to celebrate Milton Keynes receiving City status on Saturday 8th October at Station Square and as part of the celebration Milton Keynes Brass joined players from the RPO, MK Community Choir and the Youth Choir to perform the MK Anthem once again.

Milton Keynes Brass competed at the Bolsover Festival of Brass in October 2022. These are the four pieces we played in the competition. Silverado, Sugar Blues, Mid All The Traffic and When The Saints Go Marching in.