ONE hundred and thirty-five years of band playing is certainly something to celebrate and that is exactly what Woodfalls Band is doing this year by holding a special anniversary concert in Salisbury Cathedral.

The concert, on Saturday, September 5, has as its headline soloist internationally renowned trumpet player Crispian Steele-Perkins, who will play both the Haydn and Hummel Trumpet Concertos to brass band arrangements.

Supporting soloists will be Darren Bartlett, formerly a member of the Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army.

The concert has been themed as a Last Night of the Proms event and it is fitting that the band has chosen the Haydn Trumpet Concert as this is also being played at the Royal Albert Hall’s Last Night of the Proms.

Mezzo-soprano Christine Bryan, whose home is in Salisbury and who has performed Last Night of the Proms with the Liverpool Philharmonic, will lead the Proms finale of Rule Britannia.

Woodfalls Band under conductor Melvin White will also play a variety of instrumental pieces including Boellmann’s Suite Gothique and Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals.

Tickets are available by calling 01722 320333 or the Music Room in Catherine Street on 01722 3222678.

Donation news

Following on from the Journal’s story of August 6, regarding the band’s loss of sponsorship from South West Trains, the Woodfalls Band was delighted to receive a considerable donation from John Underhill, managing director of Doccombe European Ltd, to help finance the concert.

The band has also set up a Friends of the Band scheme and would like to sign up 135 supporters. Membership can be from as little as £15 per year, and offers a variety of incentives. Details from Brian Easterbrook on 01722 710074.