A Second Section Band based in East Hertfordshire
The Ware Brass Trombone section of Adrian Ricketts & Jim Munn were awarded with the Prize for Best Trombone section at the L&SC 2nd Section contest at Stevenage on Saturday 19th March 2022. Despite being a player down due to Covid, their performance in Goff Richards – Aeronauts was considered best in Class. Sometimes – less is more !!
Ware Brass are delighted to announce that from April 2022 they have appointed Mark Ager as their full time MD.
Mark Ager is one of the most successful conductors in the region. He conducted Haverhill Silver Band for 18 years winning the First Section area Contest three times (2006, 2011, 2015), achieving top 5 placings in the Championship Section twice (2007 & 2017), winning the First Section at the Butlins Mineworkers Contest (2006) and winning the Crawley Entertainment Contest (2012). Before conducting Haverhill Mark conducted the Clacton-on-Sea Co-operative Band where the band was placed in the top 4 Championship bands at the Area Contest for three consecutive years (1996,1997 and 1998). Mark has conducted a number of high profile concerts with top name soloists at both Haverhill Silver Band and Clacton-on-Sea Cooperative Band including David Childs, Tom Hutchinson, James Shepherd, David Thornton, Steve Sykes, Don Lusher and Peter Skellern.
As a player Mark, under the Direction of Keith Wilkinson, John Berryman and Bramwell Tovey, competed in all the major British contests with GUS including winning numerous area contests and the Best of Brass and placings at the British Open, the National Brass Band Finals and Granada Band of the Year.
Mark also has a long-standing love of local Drama and Musical Theatre. He is appearing in Made in Dagenham in Haverhill in June 2018, being produced by the Centre Stage Company, and has recently performed in the Vicar of Dibley and Brassed off (where he was also the Musical Adviser). He has been the Musical Director of a number of shows produced by Haverhill Operatics Society and Dunmow Players including Guys and Dolls, Mikado, Merry Widow and My Fair Lady. This included taking Dunmow Players to the Gilbert and Sullivan Buxton Festival and conducting their professional orchestra.
Musical Director Emeritus, Phillip Littlemore
We are delighted to welcome the return of Phillip Littlemore as our musical director and he will be at the helm until April 2022. Phillip is stepping in to the role following Michael Dawson’s departure due to personal reasons.
Phillip originally joined Ware Brass as Musical Director in April 2006 and wanted to concentrate the bands efforts towards concert-giving and, with the band’s blessing, embarked on that path continuing to entertain the concert-goers of Ware as well as further afield. The Concert Spectaculars performed at the Drill Hall each November are stuff of legend and have included, among many, the Swinging 60s, Heroes & Villains, Star-Spangled Spectacular and Magic & Fantasy. Of course, Phillip and the band continued to compete in the Regional Championships each March and with Phillip’s musical direction the band was promoted to the 1st Section in January 2014.
In July 2017 Phillip and his family moved to the Isle of Wight. Therefore, after 11 years of outstanding collaboration it was time for Ware Brass Phillip to part.
As we find ourselves without a musical director for the next few months, Phillip has kindly agreed to take up the baton once more although this time he journey is a 220-mile round trip, with two ferry crossings – that’s dedication!
Sun 19th December Christmas Sing Along – Fletchers Lea, Ware Priory (3:30 – 4:30pm)
THIS EVENT WILL NOW BE HELD OUTSIDE
Join us for Carols by Candlelight in the open-air of the Priory grounds on Sunday, 19th December 2021. Entry is FREE, but wrap up warm, bring a candle & enjoy cosy treats from @ASL_Bridgets serving hot drinks, mulled wine & mince pies. 
Sadly due to a change in circumstances for our current MD, Mick, we now have to search for a new MD. So if you or anyone you know are interested, please let us know.
Good news everybody, we are now back rehearsing and preparing for our first post Covid gigs in Sepetember. Starting with the Wendens Ambo village day on 4th Sept, followed by a concert in the Ware Priory Gardens on Sunday 12th Sept. Hope to see you all very soon !!
Ware Brass performed in the 2nd Section of the Kapitol Cory Online Brass Band Championships held on Friday 12th March 2021. This was a virtual contest and involved every member of the band recording their part for 3 pieces individually at home and then submitting them to be edited together. We performed Manhatten Skyline, Sir Duke – featuring an awesome vocal by the talented Tom Huttlestone and All Night Long.
You can view our video submissions here on our YouTube Channel if you missed the live action:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6LN-u_AMzPUWGg-XGFovvg/featured
This was a great comment we received on our performance from one of our followers on Twitter – It’s Not a Trumpet
WareBrass have been busy during lockdown to bring you our Holiday Video – Sleigh Ride !! We hope this brightens up your lives and reminds you that we still exist!! Looking forward to getting back playing for you in 2021! Happy Holidays !!
https://youtu.be/u5TgOwpF9lI
Ware Brass will be playing their annual Christmas Concert in St Mary’s Church, Ware on Saturday 14th December at 7pm.The music will be full of festive flavour to get you in to that Christmassy mood. Seasonal refreshments will be served during the interval where you can also take this opportunity to buy the Ware Brass CD Christmas…. At Last! What better way to wake up on Christmas morning and have the band play for you!
Ware Brass are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Musical Director, Michael Dawson. Michael is a professional tuba player, conductor and teacher. He studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and on leaving performed regularly with the Hallé Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. During this time Michael also held positions at Faireys Band and solo Eb tuba at Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band.
Michael continues to work as a professional tuba and sousaphone player for orchestras and jazz / trad ensembles across the UK as well as recording for film and TV.
On his appointment, Michael said that he is extremely excited to be working with Ware Brass and driving towards an exciting future with the band.
Please come and welcome Michael to the band for his first concert as Musical Director on Saturday 14th December in St Mary’s Church, Ware. This will be an evening of Christmas music, mulled wine and mince pies. We look forward to hopefully seeing you there and an exciting and musical time ahead with Michael.
