Musical Director Wanted!
Recently the position of Musical Director has opened up. We are looking for someone who is passionate about brass music and community bands, and can take the band forward as it continues to hone it’s skills. We are a non contesting band based in Stretford, Manchester. We welcome players of all abilities, ages and backgrounds. We play a diverse repertoire of hymns, marches, carols and classical music at local venues and events. Enquire within at our vacancies page!
Band Update – Dec 2021
Following a long enforced break due to the Pandemic, the band is now back rehearsing on our usual schedule. Tuesdays and Thursdays 8-10pm at Sevenways Methodist Church in Stretford. New players and anyone wishing to just come down for a blow are more than welcome. We hope to see some new faces soon!
New Musical Director appointed
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Delbridge-Smith as our new Musical Director. Adam brings a wealth of experience from a rich history of banding, currently in his second year at RNCM as a trumpet student. We look forward to working with Adam in 2020 and going from strength to strength.
Band update – Into 2020
After a busy Christmas period which culminated in playing at a Sale Sharks home game, the band is looking forward to a productive and busy 2020. Moving into a new year gives us the chance to reflect on some of the highlights of 2019 and assess our goals for the coming year. A particular priority and focus for us in the coming months is recruitment, specifically a new Musical Director after the departure of Alistair Harrison at the end of the year. An MD sets the direction of the band in rehearsals and is the focal point in any performances. We are lucky to have had some fantastic MD’s over the last decade and plan to hold auditions in January.
Christmas Concert 2019
Remembrance Concert 2019
New Musical Director arrives
Stretford Band are pleased to announce that Alistair Harrison has been appointed as Musical Director. As a cornet player Alistair brings experience of playing with local bands.
The Band is looking forward playing under Alistair’s direction. A new programme of engagements are being planned.
2019 – new year, new us
A whole new year!
Rehearsals continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Sevenways Methodist church in Stretford. If you fancy a regular blow with us, or want to come along as an irregular guest let us know, we will be glad to see you.
Like many non-competing bands (and many competing ones too) we have vacancies in every section at the moment, so don’t ever fear there will be no room for you. Even without a full complement, the band makes a great sound and has a tight ensemble that makes it worthwhile coming along.
See you there!
New events posted
We have added more details of our Christmas bookings to the Events page. Please have a look and come along and see us.
Remembrance Concert 2018
Remembrance Concert 2018
PAST PERFORMANCES
Band update – Summer season 2018
Well, the summer is nearly finished and the leaves are beginning to turn and fall off the trees, so I thought it was probably time for a review of our summer.
First off of course, Ken Hamnett joined us as MD. Ken settled down to work very quickly and had the band playing military marches, hymns and all the old staples of band music, getting us ready for the season.
Once we had a few pieces under our belt and concert-ready, a few new (old) pieces came out from the library, including Finian’s Rainbow and a Gerschwin melange which were fun to play. We are looking forward to showcasing these in December.
Like many bands, we had a bit of a break in August due to holidays, but are back at rehearsals and raring to go. We are preparing our Remembrance performances and have some excellent pieces on the stands.
Please don’t forget, we always have room for new players and are delighted for anyone to come and “have a blow” with us.
Farewell to Stephen and welcome to Ken
The concert at the Cresta Court hotel was an eventful one for us. We were playing for the Rotarians’ dinner, and it was Stephen’s last event with us and Ken’s first.
The band played a selection of music including some Glen Miller, some well-known marches, a well-loved piece by Vaughan Williams (English Folk Song suite for those who are interested) and some “last night of the proms” music which of course included the hornpipe.
We said a fond farewell to Stephen who has left us now to pursue his brand new career as an army musician. We wish him all the best – he can call on us for a reference any time – and of course he will be welcome in our bandroom at any time. We are expecting photographs of you with your new band, Stephen! Stephen and the band grew together and produced performances to be proud of.
Stephen has officially handed over to Ken Hamnett, who has been taking the band on Tuesdays for a little while now, and has already started to put his stamp on the band. Ken, aged 77, has a wealth of experience in different bands, having started out in the army as a percussionist. We are keen to get down to business with him now and build on the work that has already begun.
Ken’s first “solo” with us will be on 17th June at Capesthorne Hall, during the Cheshire Bazaar event. We’ll be playing in the grounds. Come and say hello!
Joint concert in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support
The concert with Bolton Hoover Band on 7th October was extremely successful.
Both bands looked smart – Stretford in our familiar blue jackets and striped tie and Bolton sporting their bright red concert jackets. The ranks of music stands showed both Bolton and Stretford banners, and the stage was set.
By the time the concert began, it was standing room only. We were all delighted to see this, and in fact when Stretford Band President Kate Green arrived, she was hard pressed to find a seat!
The music conducted by both Craig Mann and Simon Robertshaw in turn, was wonderful – to hear the full sound of a brass band playing their hearts out is stirring to say the least,a nd there was a wide variety of music from old favourites such as “Ellan Vannin” through specialist brass band pieces and tone poems all the way to the children’s favourite, “Beauty and the Beast”.
In the end, we raised over £650 for MacMillan and we would like to thank each and every one of you for making this such a success.
We’re already looking forward to next year – Bolton’s turn to host!
Video of Moss Park Allotment Society
We received this video from Moss Park Allotment Society where we had a great evening playing a proms concert. It was a wonderful place to play, and there are some great photos here for everyone to enjoy. It’s about 20 minutes long and gives a great flavour of the evening. We’re looking forward to next time already.
Stretford Band Concert 1st July 2017
Capesthorne Hall, 9th July 2017
This was the last job of the season, and a great one to play at. The weather was perfect, we had a gazebo to shade us, and the crowd was cheerful, what more can we ask! There was a wine tent and an ice cream van – banding heaven.
We were conducted by Stuart Shepherd, son of our current solo cornet Duncan, and grandson of one of our former MDs, who was keeping up the family tradition in fine form. The band played a selection of favourites including Ellan Vannin, which was greatly appreciated by those natives of the Isle of Man who were present.
We’re already starting preparation for our next season, which begins with our joint concert with Hoover Band Bolton, led by Craig Mann. We hope you will come and join us for what is shaping up to be a fine, fine evening. It’s on October 7th at Sevenways. Look out for the posters. See you there.
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