The sounds of brass filled St Edmunds Church, Shipston, on Sunday as the town band provided the music for the annual civic service.
At the invitation of the mayor, Cllr Marianne Westwood, musicians from Shipston Town Band and Stour Concert Brass performed throughout the service. The event was hosted by Shipston Town Council and Churches Together in Shipston and celebrated the diversity of the town and its residents.
The band accompanied the congregation on a number of hymns and played arrangements of Leonard Cohen’s Halleluiah and the theme from Walt Disney’s Toy Story, conducted by David Birch.
On the national stage
The band’s performance in their hometown followed a recent trip to Corby, in north Northamptonshire, to take part in the Midlands Regional Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. Under the baton of their long-time musical director, Howard Gibbs, the band performed Stephen Bulla’s Chorale and Toccata – competing against 13 bands from across the region playing the same piece. Shipston Town Band finished eight.
Boyed by their performance and with more contests and more music in their sights – the band vowed to keep growing and advancing as it continues to build-up again after the global pandemic. Stay tuned for more updates.
Photo caption: Howard Gibbs gives the band some final musical thoughts at an early morning rehearsal before their appearance at the Midlands Regional Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.