Saturday 8th February 2020

MASTERCLASS

with

Colin Hales

   LRSM, BMus (Hons), MMus

 

Tenbury Teme Valley Band is pleased to announce that it has organised a Masterclass conducted by Colin Hales-an outstanding experienced musician with a magnificent military background.

Born in Scotland, Colin moved to the Portsmouth area in 1977 and with great encouragement from his trumpet playing grandfather and musical parents, began learning the cornet in the local primary school training Brass Band. He was later selected to perform with the Hampshire County Youth Brass Band on Soprano Cornet and the local Brass Band, Solent Concert Band, as Solo Cornet.

After a relatively straightforward audition, he joined the British Army in February 1991 and his first position was with The Band of The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME Band), located near Reading in Berkshire.

In 1999 Colin decided to undergo a career change, and applied for the Student Bandmaster Course held at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, Twickenham. He passed through a stringent and robust selection process and together with five other musicians from other bands within the Corps of Army Music, and three from overseas, began the three year course in September 2000.  Throughout, he continued with his trumpet studies and was a part of the seven-person Fanfare Team chosen to perform from the organ loft of St Paul’s Cathedral at Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Upon successful completion of the course in 2003, and in addition to being awarded several prizes; best Wind Band composition, best Arrangement of poplar music, best at Brass and Woodwind arranging and a BMus (Hons) degree, Colin was posted to Swanton Morely, Norfolk, as Bandmaster of The Band of The Dragoon Guards.  Subsequent assignments were the Queen’s Division (Minden) Band near Royston, Cambridgeshire (2006), The Band of The Royal Corps of Signals, Blandford, Dorset (2008), and the Royal Artillery Band and Orchestra in Woolwich, London (2010). This post concluded with his final Master’s Degree conducting examination in May 2012. This was followed by a period of non-musical duties as a Military Stabilisation and Support Group, Team Second in Command. Following a 6 month deployment to the Nahr E Saraj district of Helmand Province, Afghanistan, he was assigned back to the highly privileged musical position as the Bandmaster of the Life Guards Band; the most senior band in the Army.

Colin completed the five month long Mounted Dutyman course (famously known as The Household Cavalry’s ‘Riding School’) in October 2013. The Life Guards Band combined with the Blues and Royals Band in Windsor in September 2014 to become the Band of The Household Cavalry. During the subsequent three years as Bandmaster on horseback he was at the very heart of all the most prestigious and famous ceremonial events there are; the highlight of which was the Mounted Band’s performance for Her Majesty The Queen’s 90^th Birthday celebrations in Windsor Great Park. As if that wasn’t enough, he also managed to fit in the time to lead the Military Wives Choir of Sandhurst as their Musical Director. Sadly only for one year throughout 2016, it was a role he enjoyed immensely. The Household Cavalry Band is where he happily remained until retirement from the Army in March 2017.

Now fully embedded in rural Herefordshire, Colin continues to enjoy his music, working freelance as a conductor, tutor, trumpet player, composer/arranger and mentor at a variety of locations across the region and as a cornet player in the Band of The Royal Welsh. He is the founder of Hereford Fanfare Trumpets, a small team of herald trumpeters, available for performances at any function imaginable nationwide.  He shares his country cottage with his wife of 23 years, Tonya, two daughters, Libby and Abi, two cocker Spaniels, Ella and Mindy, five ducks and four chickens.

Music for a Summer Evening (Charity Concert)

 

It was a magical evening at Tenbury Ormiston Academy when Tenbury Teme Valley Band entertained a wonderful capacity audience at their annual charity concert. The band delighted everyone with a varied repertoire of pieces. Among the many highlights were solo performances by Mansel Leake (trumpet) and Laura Pocknell (clarinet).

The bands’ guests included an excellent appearance by local adult choir, Choral Diversity, who performed an impressive selection of songs, conducted by their talented Musical Director- Beth Melling. Further entertainment was provided by primary school choirs from Tenbury and Cleehill and a group of older children-‘KJ Performance Company’. The choirs were conducted by a very lively Kevin Bryant and their enjoyment and enthusiasm was very evident.

 

The event raised nearly £700 for two local charities-Matt’s Mission, which raises money to provide holidays and wishes for children who have a life threatening condition, and The Pamela May Trust, which has built a specially adapted narrow boat to enable disabled and disadvantaged groups to experience a special canal journey.

 

Musical Director of Tenbury Teme Valley Band, Mary Smith, said, “It was an amazing evening and everyone gave a fantastic performance to a very appreciative audience. I am so proud that we have raised so much money for such good causes.”

 

The band’s next local event will be a concert at Coreley Memorial Hall on Saturday 28^th September at 7.30 p.m. Band rehearsals will resume on Saturday evenings at Tenbury Primary Academy from 14^th September starting at 5.30 for the ‘Academy’ and 6.30 for the main band.

 

 

Tenbury Teme Valley Band is excitedly preparing for its annual Summer Charity Concert to be held at Tenbury Ormiston Academy on Saturday 6th July 2019. There will be many new repertoire pieces to entertain the audience.

The band will be performing with Choral Diversity, Clee Hill Community Academy Choir, Tenbury C of E Primary Academy Choir and KS3 Choir.

Choral Diversity is a contemporary Choir from the West Midlands who meet on Thursdays at Leominster Golf Club, Ford Bridge, HR6 OLE at 7.30pm. They are conducted by the very talented Beth Melling. The choir is in demand at numerous prestigious events and raises vast amounts of money for charity.

 Kevin Bryant is the accomplished conductor of the three childrens’ choirs, from Tenbury and Clee Hill, who always provide fantastic entertainment for their audiences. 

 

The Pamela May Trust and Matt’s Mission

All proceeds from the concert will be donated to two charities-The Pamela May Trust and Matt’s MIssion.

 

The Pamela May Trust is raising considerable amounts of money for a new narrow boat specially adapted for people with disabilities. It is known as ‘The Pamela May 2’ Community Trip Boat.

 

Matt’s Mission Children’s Charity-Making Smiles Glow is a dedicated children’s charity that raises funds to ”make smiles glow” providing Wishes, Gifts and Family trips to life limited, sick and disabled children. There is also adapted holiday home respite available in Skegness.

‘Granting wishes to sick children with an illness and disability, providing respite in a sensory hub free of charge and also our adapted holiday home respite. Funeral support and advice hub. Lapland and Disney Land trips every Christmas and regular visits to Hospital and Hospices.’