New dawn for Ca­stlebar Concert Band

MAKING WAVES Members of the Castlebar Concert Band, which is looking for new members and holding an open day next week.

The year 2017 may be the breaking of a new dawn for Castlebar Concert Band, which has been performing under various names since the 19th century. A stalwart of the Castlebar performing-arts scene, Castlebar Concert Band has been going from strength to strength in recent years, performing locally and internationally.
The band is now looking to attract new members, and is holding and open day for interested individuals, families and friends to attend a free open evening on Tuesday next, February 7, in St Patrick’s BNS, Castlebar, at 8pm. Experienced musicians and beginners alike are welcome to attend to learn more about the instruments, the classes and the ongoing work of Castlebar Concert Band.
Behind the scenes there has been a drive to reinvigorate the group. Two new initiatives have been instigated. A new musical director has been invited to contribute, and a Training Band for beginners has been set up.

New musical director
Castlebar Concert Band has been developing in skills, experience and confidence in recent years thanks to the wonderful work of musicians and musical directors alike. Last September, the committee took the initiative to invite professional musician and workshop collaborator, Mary Curran, to step into the role of musical director.
Mary has worked as a full-time musician with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. She’s also is a central member of the WhistleBlast Quartet, which provides musical-education programmes to schools and communities, and performs and entertains in a professional capacity all over the country.
In tandem with the Castlebar Concert Band musicians and committee, Mary hopes to reinvigorate the repertoire, while also providing instruction in technique and practical exercises for enhance existing skills. “I am hoping to add to the wonderful work carried out by the band in former years,” she explains. “We are developing a new repertoire and welcome new players … Musicians who play or are interested in woodwind, brass and percussion are most welcome.”
Mary is looking forward to ‘new ideas and developing all aspects of the band’. “There’ll be an emphasis on hard work and good fun,” she says. “I believe music is a great confidence builder for young people and their families: it’s therapeutic, team building, challenging, relaxing and good fun.” Mary herself took up music when her local orchestra in Belfast was looking for a French horn player. She had no previous experience in this instrument at that time.

Training Band
Another exciting Castlebar Concert Band initiative was spearheaded last year. Beginners and improvers can learn about musical team work by partaking in group classes on Tuesday evenings from 7pm in St Patrick’s BNS. The new Training Band was established late last spring and is currently run by Debbie Clarke and Michelle Hynes. Both women have been highly involved in Castlebar Concert Band for many years, and have a wealth of experience and education between them.
The Training Band has already performed for Culture Night and Christmas in SuperValu, Castlebar, as well as playing in this winter’s Christmas pantomime in Castlebar. Many of the members had never performed in public before. The Training Band’s goal is to introduce musicians to the world of group rehearsal and performance in the hope of feeding into the more established Concert Band at a later date.
Many people may believe that a concert band is only for people who already play a brass or woodwind instrument. They may not realise the breadth of the repertoire, which includes classical themes, marching band music and much 20th century fare, from jazz to pop, from film scores to television. The band is currently working on ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’, alongside Dvoraks New World Symphony, which may give a flavour of what is to come.
The committee members are looking forward to building the band, and have indicated that there are some exciting projects on the horizon, including opportunities for international performances. The band also takes great pride in local work too including regularly performing at MacHale Park and football match fixtures, and in a marching band capacity for various occasions and festivals. There are currently discussions regarding performing lunchtime concerts over the summer period in the Castlebar region.

Castlebar Concert Band caters for beginners and musicians of every level. Every Saturday, music classes are available at St Patrick’s NS, Castlebar. For further information on all the concert band’s activities, head along to open evening on Tuesday, February 7, at St Patricks NS.