Wokingham brass band’s music will serenade cats and kings – Wokingham.Today

A MUSIC group’s June concert will combine twin themes.

Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band says its programme will be both fun and celebratory, containing music to serenade both felines and monarchs.

Called Cats And Coronations, the concert features, amongst others, The Tiger Of San Pedro.

Amy Wells, from the group says: “ It’s a jazz piece, not something that brass bands often like to tackle, but Saint Sebastians does a great job of playing it.

“We’re all really, really excited to be performing a mid-year concert, after not having done so for a while.”

Cat-themed music has been on the group’s minds since they took a programme of work to Wychavon Festival Of Brass.

“We’ve been rehearsing the pieces for six months now, but the cats theme really took off at the Wychavon festival last year,” Amy said.

“It’s an entertainment competition, which is different from area contests.”

At area festivals brass bands are compared and assessed against their individual performances of the same piece.

“But with performance competitions, there’s lots of different music, and you can choose your own programme,” explained Amy.

“We went with cats.

“We loved the programme, and have been looking for an opportunity to play it in concert.”

The audience at Cats and Coronations concert will be able to enjoy a range of music that begins with royal pieces.

“The first half includes Horizons, Pilgrim’s Progress, Albion Treasures, Bacchanale, Vivat Regina, Trombone King, and The Coronation March,” Amy said.

The second half of the concert includes performances of Memory, and Old Gumbie Cat, both from the musical, Cats.

“We’ll also play The Circle Of Life, from The Lion King, and our jazz piece, Tiger Of San Pedro,” she continued.

Each of the numbers will be given a short explanation by the band’s musical director, John Watts.

“John always introduces the pieces, and for this concert he has a story lined up to entertain, that will link the music to a most wanted Wokingham cat,” Amy added.

The band of around 25 performers includes players whose ages range from 17 to 90.

“We’re quite a young band as they go,” said Amy.

“We take players of all ages, and all levels from grade two or three upwards.

“If they can read music, anyone can join in and learn the ropes.

“We currently have an 11 year old, who is taking part in rehearsals.

“We love to encourage people to play, whether they are starting out, or returning to brass.

“And we’re quite social.

“Most concerts end up with us all enjoying time together in the pub, or over a curry.

“It’s fairly traditional behaviour for brass bands.”

In the coming months, Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band has a stream of engagements, including The Whit Friday Band Contests in early June, which sees 100s of bands congregate to play in Saddleworth and the surrounding villages, in the North of England.

They will also play light hearted summer music in Wokingham’s Peach Place for Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 24, at borough school fairs throughout the Summer, and at an entertainment contest in Witney, Oxfordshire, in October.

“We’ll also be reviving our December performance of The Snowman, where we play to accompany a screening of the film,” said Amy.

“It will be at Wokingham Baptist Church as in previous years, but with this time with two performances on the same day.”

Those interested in seeing it should mark December 16 in their diaries, but to hear the band’s Cats And Coronations concert next month, audiences can book their places now.

“It’s suitable for all the family,” said Amy.

“It may be slightly on the late side, but my three year old will be there.

“She loves coming to our concerts.”

The event takes place at Wokingham Baptist Church, on Saturday, June 10.

Doors open at 7.30pm, with tickets available for £10, or £5 for under 18s.

Under 5s enter free of charge.

The event is supported by Share Wokingham.

For tickets and information, call: 07544 774528 or visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/stsebswokingham