The band was delighted to play at Masonic Lodge, The Arnold House, Elsee Road, Rugby on the evening of Friday 25th October to a small, but extremely appreciative audience.
MD (and compere) Mark Allen, as usual, did a splendid job. Mark explained to the audience that the band usually only plays Christmas carols for the Lodges, so we were pleased to be providing our own programme of music for everyone to enjoy.
The rousing opening march, Washington Grays, echoed around the room, followed by a spot of Mozart, with the Overture from The Abduction from the Seraglio. This was followed by the first feature of the evening, with a rendition of Someone Cares by our very own Principal Cornet, Sheila Allen. What a treat to the ears, which was enjoyed immensely by everyone. Penny Lane followed, with the iconic piccolo trumpet solo, brilliantly played by Al Rowe on Soprano Cornet. The Trombone section (Laura Moran, Sam Howarth and Greg Little), was on next, taking to their feet to play Frolic for Trombones, much to the delight of everyone. The haunting Schindler’s List and stirring Cossack Patrol followed and the brisk Bridge on the River Kwai closed the first half.
Tchaikovsky’s Opening scene from Swan Lake settled everyone into the delights of the second half. Sheila Allen featured again, this time joined by Assistant Principal Cornet Jodie Fisher. Together they played the wonderful Duet Ave Verum from Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Mater, lovely sounds from our top two cornets!
The first of two vocal solos followed with Laura Moran putting down her ‘frolicking’ trombone from the first half and providing us with her beautiful version of On My Own from Les Miserables.
A couple of band items followed with the endearing Waltz No2 from Jazz Suite No2, then the fun piece Espana Cani, also known as Spanish Gypsy Dance.
Jennie Adnitt (2nd Horn) then took the microphone and gave us her sublime rendition of the latest James Bond title soundtrack, Skyfall.
The festival arrangement, Light Walk, was the final piece of the programme, featuring a fantastic Flugel Horn passage played by Judith Hayes.
There was much applause and of course we provided an encore, the very energetic and exciting Can-Can. This was to end what had been a thoroughly enjoyable evening for both the audience and Bilton Silver (Rugby) Band.
Samantha Edwards – Euphonium