IT was a busy but ‘tough’ year for Frome Town Band in 2021.
“Looking back on 2021 it was another tough year for Frome Town Band,” reports Kirstie Jones on behalf of the band. “It is the first year that we have 100 members in our 100 club, this helps support the tuition and exams for our beginners and intermediate players. You can find out who our 100 club winners are on the 100 club tab on our website.
“January to March, we witnessed another lockdown but we persevered, we continued to grow and rehearsed our music through Skype and Zoom. We even managed to put five of our intermediate players through their Grade 1 and 2 exams in which they all passed.
“In the summer term we eventually got back into our rehearsal space with small bubbles and it was great to be able to play as a unit again. We enjoyed Sunday afternoon practice busks in the bandstand, in which members of the public enjoyed listening to music while sitting on their picnic blankets.
“We supported Frome Lions and Carnival fetes and we performed in the bandstand for Frome Festival with all members of the band performing, for some of them it was their first performance to the public.
“The summer term also meant that we could start our schools’ brass programme, this had been in the pipeline just before covid struck back in 2020; we gained grants from Pride of Britain Award, FAST, Frome Town Council etc to be able to give Year 4 pupils at Berkley School brass tuition for 12 weeks which is free to the school.
“In September, we got together with the old Frome Town Band members to join them in a memorial concert for Tony Light, who was the musical director/conductor many years ago. We played a selection of old favourites with ‘The Floral Dance’ being one of the most popular choices. It was a unique experience that I am sure we will not forget.
“We also started our school’s brass programme in Vallis, and we are excited that we now have four new members which have joined the beginners band playing cornet and trombone.
“November/December is our busy season; we started off by joining in with the town’s remembrance service, Harley played Last Post to perfection and the band played ‘Abide with me’ and ‘Sunset’.
“End of November it was Frome’s Christmas lights switch on; we performed ‘Deck the Halls’ live on ITV News West as they interviewed the current and past mayors.
“We also remembered Terry Mounsher, who was a crucial member of the band. He started Frome Town Youth Band with Jim Boulter back in 1997. He taught and encouraged many past and present members of the band and we want to extend our condolences to his family. Harley performed Last Post at his funeral which was dedicated to the time that he put into the band.
“We supported Frome Lions Tree of Remembrance Christmas carol service, which was well attended. We entertained North Bradley WI and Keyford Heights for a mini Christmas concert, with Christmas music and carols. We performed a small carol service at Corinth and it was lucky that the weather stayed dry.
“Our Christmas concert was held again at Wesley Methodist Church; we were lucky that we could still go ahead and perform due to the new covid variant which cancelled Vallis School attending. Our Christmas programme design was won by Freddie in Mars class, Vallis School. We played some old favourites: We Will Rock You, When I Fall In Love, Come Follow the Band, The Clog Dance, Tinsel Tunes, Lonely This Christmas, Mary’s Boy Child, Do They Know It’s Christmas, White Christmas, Fairytale of New York and Silver Bells.
“During our concert we gave out our annual awards: Most Improved Female Award – Karen Coleman; Most improved Male Award – Phil Sefton; Best Newcomer Award – Thomas Marjoram; Musician of the Year Award – Nicki Warden; Stannard Award – Dalma Luttrell; Tony Light Award – Emilee Duggan.
“We would like to thank Rupert Kirkman from Frome FM, he recorded the event for us and we were one of three music groups who featured on his Boxing Day programme.
“The week before Christmas was slightly crazy; we performed carols outside to two nursing homes, Belmont Villa and Greenhill Grange. We then busked to raise funds to support the band at Asda and Christmas Eve in town. We greatly appreciate everyone who donated to us.
“Lastly to close 2021, members of the band played to patients and staff at Frome Community Hospital on New Year’s Eve. We thought that this would be a lovely way to see out the year and perhaps make it a tradition.
“We are lucky that we are able to perform as a community band and support Frome. We welcome any new or experienced players that would like to join us, please get in touch. We would like to extend our best wishes to everyone for 2022.” “Looking back on 2021 it was another tough year for Frome Town Band,” reports Kirstie Jones on behalf of the band. “It is the first year that we have 100 members in our 100 club, this helps support the tuition and exams for our beginners and intermediate players. You can find out who our 100 club winners are on the 100 club tab on our website.
“January to March, we witnessed another lockdown but we persevered, we continued to grow and rehearsed our music through Skype and Zoom. We even managed to put five of our intermediate players through their Grade 1 and 2 exams in which they all passed.
“In the summer term we eventually got back into our rehearsal space with small bubbles and it was great to be able to play as a unit again. We enjoyed Sunday afternoon practice busks in the bandstand, in which members of the public enjoyed listening to music while sitting on their picnic blankets.
“We supported Frome Lions and Carnival fetes and we performed in the bandstand for Frome Festival with all members of the band performing, for some of them it was their first performance to the public.
“The summer term also meant that we could start our schools’ brass programme, this had been in the pipeline just before covid struck back in 2020; we gained grants from Pride of Britain Award, FAST, Frome Town Council etc to be able to give Year 4 pupils at Berkley School brass tuition for 12 weeks which is free to the school.
“In September, we got together with the old Frome Town Band members to join them in a memorial concert for Tony Light, who was the musical director/conductor many years ago. We played a selection of old favourites with ‘The Floral Dance’ being one of the most popular choices. It was a unique experience that I am sure we will not forget.
“We also started our school’s brass programme in Vallis, and we are excited that we now have four new members which have joined the beginners band playing cornet and trombone.
“November/December is our busy season; we started off by joining in with the town’s remembrance service, Harley played Last Post to perfection and the band played ‘Abide with me’ and ‘Sunset’.
“End of November it was Frome’s Christmas lights switch on; we performed ‘Deck the Halls’ live on ITV News West as they interviewed the current and past mayors.
“We also remembered Terry Mounsher, who was a crucial member of the band. He started Frome Town Youth Band with Jim Boulter back in 1997. He taught and encouraged many past and present members of the band and we want to extend our condolences to his family. Harley performed Last Post at his funeral which was dedicated to the time that he put into the band.
“We supported Frome Lions Tree of Remembrance Christmas carol service, which was well attended. We entertained North Bradley WI and Keyford Heights for a mini Christmas concert, with Christmas music and carols. We performed a small carol service at Corinth and it was lucky that the weather stayed dry.
“Our Christmas concert was held again at Wesley Methodist Church; we were lucky that we could still go ahead and perform due to the new covid variant which cancelled Vallis School attending. Our Christmas programme design was won by Freddie in Mars class, Vallis School. We played some old favourites: We Will Rock You, When I Fall In Love, Come Follow the Band, The Clog Dance, Tinsel Tunes, Lonely This Christmas, Mary’s Boy Child, Do They Know It’s Christmas, White Christmas, Fairytale of New York and Silver Bells.
“During our concert we gave out our annual awards: Most Improved Female Award – Karen Coleman; Most improved Male Award – Phil Sefton; Best Newcomer Award – Thomas Marjoram; Musician of the Year Award – Nicki Warden; Stannard Award – Dalma Luttrell; Tony Light Award – Emilee Duggan.
“We would like to thank Rupert Kirkman from Frome FM, he recorded the event for us and we were one of three music groups who featured on his Boxing Day programme.
“The week before Christmas was slightly crazy; we performed carols outside to two nursing homes, Belmont Villa and Greenhill Grange. We then busked to raise funds to support the band at Asda and Christmas Eve in town. We greatly appreciate everyone who donated to us.
“Lastly to close 2021, members of the band played to patients and staff at Frome Community Hospital on New Year’s Eve. We thought that this would be a lovely way to see out the year and perhaps make it a tradition.
“We are lucky that we are able to perform as a community band and support Frome. We welcome any new or experienced players that would like to join us, please get in touch. We would like to extend our best wishes to everyone for 2022.”
