Ware Brass

Following an extensive search over the last few months, Ware Brass are delighted to annouce that they have appointed Jonathan Lockwood as their permanent MD.

Jonathan was born in Chatham Kent and started his brass banding career in the local Salvation Army band on Cornet. Not long after his 16th birthday Jonathan joined the Military as a musician and quickly switched from Cornet to Tenor Trombone and subsequently to the family instrument of Bass Trombone. In his 22 years as an Army Musician he has served in many bands from the Blues and Royals (Now the Household Cavalry Band), The Grenadier Guards and has been in the Welsh Guards Band since 2016 where he now sits as principal Bass Trombone. Jonathan has been lucky enough to have been able to perform on many big state occasions from Trooping the Colour and also the Queen’s Funeral. His MD career is still in its infancy, but he has worked with many bands in the L&SC area including Epping Forest, City of Cambridge and Soham Comrades. Most recently he has been MD of Corby Silver Band in the Midlands Area. He is married to Stephanie and has two children – Imogen and Theodore.

Saturday 16th December 2023 – Christmas Concert, Allenbury’s Social Club, Harris’s Ln, Ware SG12 0DJ 19:00 – 21:30

Come and join us for an amazing evening of your favourite Christmas music featuring favourites such as Santa Baby, Let it Snow, Santa is Coming to Town, Sleigh Ride and many more … There will be a fully licensed bar in the relaxed setting of Allenbury’s Social club, so you can enjoy an Xmas tipple while you listen to the music. Tickets are selling fast and only £10 – so make sure you don’t miss out and get yours today from https://warebrasschristmas2023.eventbrite.co.uk/

Its that time again – November Show Time !! This year the theme is 100 Years of Disney. It’s on Saturday 18th November at Ware Drill Hall, show time starts at 18:30 !! Tickets are available from https://warebrassdisney.eventbrite.co.uk. Hope to see you all there !!

At our AGM last Monday we handed out awards for the Musical Directors award and the Bands Person of the year as voted for by the members.
The results were as follows:

Butcher Trophy – Musical Director’s Award
This award was presented by our MD – Mark Ager, to our 1st Horn player, Sarah Munn. Sarah stepped up to play Solo Horn at the Oxford Contest and played several Solo’s as part of this. In addition – as we all know this has been an incredibly difficult time for Sarah and she has continued to perform amazingly!! Well done Sarah !!

Charles Bayford Trophy (Bands Person of the Year)

This award is voted for by the bands members. There were many nominations including: Sarah Munn, Jim Gelder, Lisa Huttlestone, Stuart Black, Jim Munn & Christine Solway, but with a huge majority of the vote, this award was presented posthumously to Steve Munn.
Sadly Steve passed away after a courageous battle with cancer just before Christmas, but he continued playing with us right up to November including performing with us at the Oxford Contest. Always a larger than life member of the Band, this award is part of many tributes to Steve who continues to be missed by us all. The award was presented by band Chairperson – Lisa Huttlestone to Sarah and Jim on behalf of Steve.

Join us for our 2 Christmas events this year, our Christmas Concert in St.Marys Church on Saturday 10th December at 19:00, followed by our Christmas Singalong where you get to sing your favourite carols, which will be outside out Ware Priory on Sunday 18th December starting at 15:00.

Tickets for the concert can be purchased here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ware-brass-christmas-concert-tickets-462425064817

No tickets required for the singalong, entry is free, wrap up warm!

Less than 2 weeks until our first show for 3 years at the Drill Hall in #Ware. Join us on Saturday 19th November for ‘We’re Back, Let’s Celebrate!’ Your award winning band will take you on a journey of things to celebrate throughout the year with guest appearances from Elvis, Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble ?
Get your tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/were-back-lets-celebrate-tickets-418840923477

The band entered the ODBBA Entertainment contest, held on Sunday 6th November. Playing a lively programme featuring Valero, Live and Let Die, Irish Blessing, Balkan Dance, & Legends of Cyfartha we came away with the following results !!

1st in 2nd Section for Music and Entertainment, Best soloist – Stuart Black and Best Instrumentalist – Stuart Black!

A total of 4 trophies – well done all !!

Know any drummers looking for a band?? Sadly we are looking for a new player, so if you do, please send them our way !!

Ware Brass were proud to name Phillip Littlemore as an Honorary Life Member of the Band at the final rehearsal prior to the L&SC Area Contest where the band were placed 7th. Lisa Huttlestone, Band Chairperson, presented Phillip with the award and a special edition Ware Brass Pint Glass !!

Phillip, conducted the band from 2006 to 2017 when he relocated to the Isle of Wight, but came to our rescue 10 weeks ago when he agreed to come back as Musical Director to take the band to the L&SC Area Contest. Commuting 4 hours each way, for 10 weeks is amazing dedication !! Phillip has contributed so much to the band over the last 16 years and this is a truly well deserved award. It’s great to now have Phillip as a life time member.

Ware Brass were pleased to be placed 7th at the L&SC Area Contest at Stevenage on Saturday 19th March 2022. Despite the band being seriously affected by COVID, their performance of Aeronauts by Goff Richards was commended by the adjudicators and secured them 8th place in the overall grading table for the 2nd Section.