  Another large and enthusiastic audience was still on its feet cheering and asking for more at the end of Newark and Sherwood Concert Band’s performance at The Palace Theatre on Friday evening (6 November 2015). Their concert was once again a resounding success as musical director Colum O’Shea led the band through the years of musical theatre and film music with something to suit everybody’s taste.
The concert opened with a rousing rendition of the theme music from Star Wars - Phantom Menace before moving on to the gentler melodies of Gilbert & Sullivan’s operettas and Rogers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma. The audience was then brought more up to dates with treats from shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Les Miserables and Wicked. Colum did not let the audience down and once again kept everyone entertained in between pieces with jokes and monologues which added to an already wonderful atmosphere that was appreciated by audience and band members alike. The concert finished with a real bang as band members supported by James Williams (10) fired cannon at the end of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. James is the band’s official “roadie” and has supported the band at every concert since his father Richard (bassoon) and sister Victoria (flute) joined 18 months ago. The band has continued to go from strength to strength in the last year and there are now over 40 talented musicians including a number of children who attend weekly rehearsals at Kelham Hall. Part of the band’s ethos is to nurture and develop young talent and it is always on the lookout for new players. More information can be found on the band’s website www.newarkandsherwoodconcertband.co.uk.  The fantastic Alan Walker It's hard to believe that at 1pm as we were thinking of going to Newark Castle to set up for this afternoon's concert it was raining heavily! Only half an hour later the sun was shining and that's what it continued to do for the remainder of the afternoon. Today's concert was the last of a number in only a short space of time and in my view, it was one of the best that we have done. The audience certainly appreciated it and there were lots of people there to hear us including not only some familiar faces but many new ones too. The programme was one that included a number of NSCB favourites including General Mitchell March and Highlights from Frozen. The audience were clapping and cheering before we had even finished more than once. This afternoon was a resounding success. Alan Walker did us proud with his rendition of Yesterday and others played their part too. The band's "deputy deputy musical director" also did his turn and Colum proved that he could dance. It was fantastic. That's it for the summer now and we'll spend the next few weeks rehearsing for our next outing which will be at Newark's Palace Theatre on 6 November. Click here for details.  A message from Linda & Richard Birch
On Friday 12th June 2015 two local community groups, Voices Choir and Newark and Sherwood Concert Band came together to perform A Summer Concert for the community of Balderton (and further field) at The Salvation Army Centre, Balderton. We would like to express our thanks to everyone involved as the evening proved successful. Firstly, thank you to the audience for their generosity in raising funds for Prostate Cancer. We are pleased to inform everyone that £400 was raised for this charity. Secondly the choir and band would like to thank the audience for the appreciation that was shown as everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We would also like to express our thanks to The Salvation Army Centre at Balderton for providing such a brilliant venue and for their welcome and assistance and also to Newark Community First Aid for their attendance and participation. Thankfully this was in a spectator capacity as their services were not required! Finally the evening was a success for introducing the band and choir to new audience members as for a good percentage it was the first time they had seen either the band or choir. Both the choir and band would like to continue growing links with the community and are available to perform both individually and collectively under the musical direction of Christine Hopkins (Voices) and Colum O’Shea (Newark and Sherwood Concert Band). Many thanks to everyone for their help and support and making the event such a success, especially considering this was our first attempt at organising something like this. Linda & Richard Birch So for Newark and Sherwood Concert Band 2014 has drawn to a close with a great performance of Christmas music at Newark Town Hall for a Christmas Reception hosted by Newark MP Robert Jenrick who is also our band's president. If you have heard the band at any of our concerts in 2014 and have liked what you heard, please spread the word! We're taking bookings for 2015. Please contact band secretary, Caroline Walker, to find out more. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our friends and supporters!  Newark and Sherwood Concert Band, Newark Town Hall Ballroom, 11 December 2014 What a fantastic evening! To a packed and sold out Collingham Memorial Hall, Newark and Sherwood Concert Band, under the direction of its Musical Director, Colum J O'Shea performed a wide ranging programme of Christmas music. The concert opened in style with a rousing "Fanfare for Christmas" before moving on to more gentle music from "The Snowman" and keeping with the wintry theme, some highlights from the Disney film "Frozen". A new piece "Good Swing Wenceslas" (the Good King was the first king of swing according to Colum!) went, as would be expected, swingingly and after some audience involvement (aka carol singing), Rebekah Ackroyd narrated "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" which had the audience in fits of laughter as the band provided musical accompaniment to the tale. The second half opened with "Stars and Stripes for Christmas" and further audience singing. A new piece for the band "Minor Alternations" was performed with all sections having their chance to shine in various solo opportunities. Further audience participation was needed for "The Twelve Days of Christmas" with some even undertaking actions as directed! Colum surprised the band during the second half by presenting some awards. The first award was for the most improved player of 2014 which was presented to a surprised and very delighted Richard Williams, bassoon. Richard only joined the band in February and then only because while dropping his daughter (Victoria, flute) for rehearsal he mentioned that many years ago, whilst at school, he played the bassoon. He has now ended a 30 year "retirement" although he commented, "it is still a matter of work in progress with much, much more to do!" Band person of 2014 was awarded to Tina Pointing for the unstinting efforts she has put in, cajoling players for the numerous concerts performed during the year and in getting equipment to where it should be, when it should be! Finally, the Unsung Heroes of 2014 Award was presented to Caroline Walker and Bob Weall. Bob is the band's librarian and has a garage full of music and organising this to keep Colum happy is no mean feat! Caroline is the band's secretary and has continued to undertake, as she has for some years, much of the backroom organising. The concert closed to rapturous applause following a rousing rendition of "William Tell" and an encore, "Christmas Festival". Next year's concert has already been booked...
 Band Person 2014, Tina Pointing, with Musical Director, Colum J O'Shea
Listening to the band as a member of the audience, on the other side of the stage, was a new experience for me. Of course I expected the band to play well, but the performance exceeded expectations. The programme began with a tight and rhythmic performance of “The lmperial March”, a convincing forerunner to the evening after which, the band never looked back. Highlights were provided by Shelby’s warm and delicate euphonium playing of “Music of the Night” and the soaring, exciting voice of Rebecca with “Ave Maria”. Mention must also be made of the accompaniment in these two items, when the band’s sensitive playing appropriately balanced the soloists’ renderings. Other solo sections in various pieces, were expertly given by principals of the band and volubly appreciated by the audience. Within the programme’s title of the concert ”Music from Films and Shows”, there was something for everyone; ballads, traditional marches, classical, popular and contemporary pieces. An excellent choice of music, which in fact, appeared to entertain everyone. The finale, a resounding “William Tell Overture”, was not quite enough to satisfy an eager audience, which reluctantly accepted that the concert was finally over after several encores of “Radetzky March”. Colum confidently and expertly conducted the band and compered throughout, entertaining an audience of all ages with good and bad jokes, ditties and asides. Congratulations to everyone involved with a superb evening’s entertainment. I look forward to playing with the band again in October. Anne Speed. 
We were delighted to be asked back to play again at this prestigious event in the grounds of Newark Castle to delebrate the culmination of the Town Council's Sunday concert series. It was a glorious afternoon and evening, with a wonderful crowd of people picnicking in the grounds and listening to the five bands playing throughout the day. We thoroughly enjoyed it and hope we are back next year.
A first for us and we were delighted to be asked to play at this new event in the area. Apparently they do chilli with everything!
Well it was certainly an achievement to finish the concert on that day! The weather was dreadful and we had to contend with terrible rain and wind - it blew all of my music off the stage, over a road and into an adjoining camping field! Ended up only being able to play pieces with a max of two sheets as everything was pegged down. Nice event though! This was a fabulous concert and the weather was glorious - "best we've ever heard the band" was a comment by one of the audience! Already booked for next year
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