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Brass Band Summer School - Bromsgrove
For details about future Summer Schools, please contact Philip Biggs on 01223 234090.
Brass Band Summer Schools have been taking place in various formats since the seventies and this particular course can trace its roots to a Boosey & Hawkes course that started in the early eighties that had several homes until settling into a college of Oxford University where the present format was designed. This was so successful it has been virtually unchanged for 16 years although the course is now held in Bromsgrove School.
At the invitation of Gordon Higginbottom, the organiser at the time, I became a cornet tutor at Oxford for the 1987 course. Fellow tutors were Jim Davies (Cornet), Gordon (Horn), Bob Childs (Euphonium), Steve Walkley (Trombone) with Jim Gourlay and Steve Sykes sharing the Tuba duties. Roy Newsome was the course director.
It soon became apparent that this was going to be a very successful course with an ideal format and super tutorial team. The course, which is held over 6 days every August, attracts delegates from all over the world, and has become an important fixture in the brass band calendar. John Hudson replaced Jim Davies, Steve Sykes became the sole Tuba tutor and Simone Rebello on Percussion was added to the team who formed a company to run the courses.
Every year was very successful, but a watershed was reached in 1998 when Gordon Higginbottom and John Hudson retired from the team and Oxford University told the company that they could no longer accommodate the course due to expansion of English language courses at the site during the summer. The company faced what seemed insurmountable difficulties and nearly decided to fold, canceling all future courses. However after lengthy discussions during the 1998 course it was decided that Philip Biggs would take over the administration and that from 1999 we would move to Bromsgrove School. Both decisions have proved to be very successful and the course strives ahead in popularity. The 2000 course had a record number of delegates and was perhaps the most successful to date.
Brian Taylor and Sandy Smith were drafted in as tutors and the final concert, which included a stunning performance of `New Jerusalem` by Philip Wilby, was a major success. The concert was only a small part of the week though, with tutorials, ensembles, student and tutors concerts, and a final day masterclass by Peter Graham taking place.
These were the musical contributions to the week - the social side was a different story and everyone went home with memories and stories to tell - some more printable than others, but everyone enjoyed themselves and already many bookings have been made for next year's course. If you are interested then contact me, or Philip Biggs direct who will furnish you with the appropriate details.
These are some photographs from the 2000 course and concert. Click on the picture for an enlarged view. Click `Back ` to return.
Roy Newsome conducts the final concert Massed Bands. August 2000.
The performing tutor's. From left to right, Brian Taylor, Sandy Smith, Bob Childs, Steve Sykes, Nick Hudson and Alan Morrison. Simone Rebello was also playing, but appropriately banished to the stage, sufficient distance away from the musicians????
The Tutor's minus Simone Rebello (who was probably playing tennis???)
An interesting mix-up here. Alan, Steve and Nick all seem to have picked up the wrong instruments which was the encore for the Tutors Concert.
By the hairs on your chinny chin chin. Louise Davis checks out Sandy Smiths shaving technique in the Summer School bar. Cheers Al!
