Newbury composer joins forces with championship Wantage band
Founded 50 years ago, Wantage Silver Band is one of the largest brass band organisations in the UK. It currently comprises nine bands, including three contesting bands, a non-contesting community band, a beginner/trainer/youth band, a big band, a percussion academy and even an oompah band! The membership work with talented musical directors to rehearse and perform music all over the country in concerts, events and competitions. www.wantageband.org
AS Wantage Silver Band continues to develop new relationships, this time a familiar local face has joined forces with the championship section band ahead of a busy year of exciting engagements.
Newbury-based composer, musician and educator Florence Anna Maunders is no stranger to Wantage Band having worked closely as colleague with some of the personnel in the band’s strong line-up.
As part of her new work with the organisation, the award-winning composer is now playing percussion with the band and has also taken on the newly-formed Wantage Percussion Academy as their musical director, filling the shoes of Cory Band percussionist Steve Jones.
As well as this, the winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society Prize in 2022 has been commissioned by the band, with generous funding from the Friends of Newbury Spring Festival, to compose a new work for the band to premiere at their concert in this year’s festival at the Corn Exchange on Thursday, May 18.
The band are delighted to have been invited to perform at such a prestigious music festival just down the road from their base.
Florence is currently writing for Tredegar Town Band and her music for brass band, most recently performed by Fulham Brass Band, has been featured on BBC Radio 3.
The band are looking forward to working on first drafts of the piece in coming weeks and collaborating with Florence to come up with something unique that will be a great addition to the brass band repertoire.
“I’m utterly delighted to have been commissioned to compose a new piece with the exceptional players of Wantage Band,” says Florence.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to collaborate on something new and amazing, which I’m sure is going to be an absolute sensation when it’s premiered at Newbury Spring Festival later this year.
“It’s always a pleasure to work with familiar and enthusiastic musicians and to have a premiere in my hometown – normally I must travel to somewhere like New York, Amsterdam or London.”
Associate MD Jon Pippen adds: “It’s a real privilege for all of us at Wantage Band to have the opportunity to work with such a celebrated and decorated composer as Florence. The commissioning of new music for brass and the development of our music and movement is so important and this project puts us at the cutting edge. I am very much looking forward to working on the music and its development in the coming months.”
Florence will appear with the band at their concert on Saturday, February 4, at Cornerstone Arts, Didcot (Tickets at www.cornerstone-arts.org), with Besson Cornet Artist Dewi Griffiths and guest MD Ian Porthouse.
