fanfare - foden's band · 2014. 6. 17. · newsletter of the foden’s patrons society june...

www.fodensband.co.ukOne Hundred Years of Musical Excellence

FanfareNewsletter of the Foden’s Patrons Society

June 2012

Inside this issue...

• Welcome–Mark Wilkinson• MD’sColumn–Allan Withington• PlayerFocus– Chris Haigh• NewRecruits– Andrew Stephenson –David McGlyn • Foden’sintheCommunity–Ian Raisbeck• Partners–Hercules Stands• Reviews -RNCMFestivalofBrass–Mike Warriner -PatronsConcertandAwards– Andy Howard-Smith -ArmaghTrip– Alan Hodgkinson• Heritage–Edwin Firth Joins Foden’s• Othernewssnippets• ForthcomingEvents–Mark Wilkinson

One Hundred Years of Musical Excellence

www.fodensband.co.uk

DearFriends

WelcometoyourSummereditionofthe‘Foden’sFanfare’

2012 has been extremely busy for the Bandwith high profile concerts at the ‘RNCM Festival of Brass’ andBridgewaterHall’aswellasourannual trip toArmagh.Foden’salsoqualifiedfor the‘NationalFinals’at theAlbertHallinLondonaswellaswinningthe‘TamesideWhitFridayMarchContest’forthe10thtimein11years.

Wehavedecided to release the ‘Foden’s Fanfare’ slightlyearlier thanourusual Septemberpostingdue toadvertising forthcoming concerts at ‘Gawsworth Hall’ in August as well as a very exciting self promotionalconcertatManchesterCathedral inNovember.Bothconcertsareadvertised inthis‘Fanfare’andwehopethatyouwillsupportthebandandinviteyourfriendsalong.

Inanexcitingnewproject,StewartGreen,whomanysupporterswill recogniseasthesoundengineeratourPatronsConcertshasvolunteeredtohelpcapturetheband’srichhistoryinaFoden’sArchive.Moreaboutthisinthenext“Fanfare”,butifhaveanystoriesorartefactsthatyoucouldsharewiththebandStewartwouldliketohearfromyou.Pleasecontacthimatfodenbandarchive@yahoo.co.ukorat65CongletonRd,Sandbach,CheshireCW111HP

UnfortunatelyValandAlanBournewhohavebeenfantasticservantstothebandaremovingtoFelixstowe.Val andAlan have helpedorganise the PatronsandChristmasConcertswith their Armyof helpers aswellascleaningthebandroom, liaisingwithvariousconcertpromotersetcetc(the list isendless!!!).Alanwill stillcontinuetomaintainthePatronsubscriptionsanddatabasebutthemoveisresultinginthembothsteppingdownfromtheirduties.OnbehalfofallatFoden’swewouldliketothankthemforalltheirhardworkoverthepastcoupleofyearsandwishthemwellintheirmove.

AlanBournehasrecentlyemailedallPatronstoseeifanywouldliketoreceivethe‘Foden’s Fanfare’ electronically rather than as a hard copy through the post. IfanyonewouldliketoreceivethemagazineelectronicallypleaseletAlanknowatfodensband@coldmoss.co.ukaswellasanychangesinyouremailaddressorifyounowhaveanemailaddress! IfyouwouldalsoliketobekeptinformedofFoden’snewsyoucanalsofollowthebandon Twitter ‘fodensband’ viaourwebsite http://www.fodensband.co.uk and also on facebook

OnbehalfofFoden’sIwouldliketothankyouforyourvaluedsupportwhichIknowistheenvyofourrivals!IfyouhaveanyarticlesthatyouwouldlikeustoincludeintheFanfare,knowanyonewhowouldbeinterestedinbookingthebandforaconcert,knowanyoneinterestedinSponsoringthebandfinanciallyorwouldliketoofferyourservicesinhelpingthebandinanywaypleaseletmeknowmarkLwilky@hotmail.com

HappyReading,

Welcome...

Mark Wilkinson

MD’sColumn

DearFriendsandPatrons

Living froma suitcase is notall it is crackedup tobe. Just gotback toour humbleabodenearToulouseandit’stimetoputmyfeetup.Atleastforashortwhileanyway.ItseemslikeIhavebeenawayformonths.MytourhastakenmetoHolland,Norway,Switzerland, Germany, Japan, England, France, Australia, Scotland, then back toHolland. I have been working with bands in all of these countries, teams of giftedplayers,withdedicationastheircommonbond.WhatafantasticstandardofplayingintheEuropeanChampionshipsasIendedmytourinHolland.Therestoftheworldisindeedcatchingusupbutona52weekayearbasisIthinkthatwe,inBritain,arestillinfront.Probablygoeswithoutsayingthatwe,atFoden’s,wouldlikeittostaythatway.

Aband’swell-beingisoftenbasedoncontestresults.Oflate,firstprizeshaveeludedusbutwearealwaysclose.Overthelast15monthsa1st,a2nda3rdanda4thwithagreatchanceofqualifyingfornextyear’sEuropeanChampionshipinOslowhenwetakepartintheEnglishNationalsinPrestonnextmonth.IwouldliketothinkthatwearealwaysplanningaheadwiththeprimeaimofkeepingtheBandwithinthattopsixnotonlyintermsofcontestsbutalsointermsofinnovationandtorchbearing.Wehaveoneofthebestpedigrees,withtraditioninabundance.Wealsoneedtocontinuetodevelopasaviableartisticinstitution.Letuscontinuewiththeconceptthebandpresentedatthisyear’sFestivalofBrassinManchester.Letuscontinuewiththeinclusionoflocalforcesasdemonstratedin`ThestoryofMariavonTrapp`project.WorkingtogetherwithStavangerbrassbandonawildlycreative jointventurehasbeenproposed.SueHopkinshasarrangedBerlioz’sSymphonyFantastiqueforband.SuewouldlovetoworkwithFoden’s.WhataboutaC.D.withthecompleteSymphonyandacoupleofthesamecomposer’sovertures?CouplethiswithanappearanceattheBerliozfestivalinFrancein2013?Wehaveoneoftheworld’sgreatcontemporarymusicfestivalsalmostonourdoorstepinHuddersfield.Thebandsinclusionshouldbeanotherproject.

Inthebandroomwearealwaysinpursuitofmusicalexcellence.Wearededicatedtoourcauseandunlikemanyofourcontinentalcounterparts,forus,thisisayearroundquest.Ittakestime,hardworkandofcourse,thecommonbond.Outsideofthebandroomwehaveagreatsetofsupporters.Weneedhelpfromthesesupporters,patronsandfriends.

Torealizeourvisionsandaidourcontinualgrowth,weneedpeoplewithabitoftimeontheirhandsandabitofpatiencetospare.Weneedpeoplewhocanfollowupfundraising leadsandresearchgiventopics.Weneedpeople,whoshareourpassionasIamsureyoualldo,toorganizethemselvesintosmallunitsandworkfrompreciseinstructionsfrommyselfandothermembersoftheband.Nopreviousexperienceisnecessary,justagenuinedesiretoassistinourcontinuinggrowth.Tobefrank,wereallydoneedyou.

Wehaveagreatorganizationwitharealchancetobeevengreater.Let’snotmissthisopportunity.

Pleasedropmealineon:[email protected]

Bestwishes,

Allan Withington

DearFriends

WelcometoyourSummereditionofthe‘Foden’sFanfare’

2012 has been extremely busy for the Bandwith high profile concerts at the ‘RNCM Festival of Brass’ andBridgewaterHall’aswellasourannual trip toArmagh.Foden’salsoqualifiedfor the‘NationalFinals’at theAlbertHallinLondonaswellaswinningthe‘TamesideWhitFridayMarchContest’forthe10thtimein11years.

Wehavedecided to release the ‘Foden’s Fanfare’ slightlyearlier thanourusual Septemberpostingdue toadvertising forthcoming concerts at ‘Gawsworth Hall’ in August as well as a very exciting self promotionalconcertatManchesterCathedral inNovember.Bothconcertsareadvertised inthis‘Fanfare’andwehopethatyouwillsupportthebandandinviteyourfriendsalong.

Inanexcitingnewproject,StewartGreen,whomanysupporterswill recogniseasthesoundengineeratourPatronsConcertshasvolunteeredtohelpcapturetheband’srichhistoryinaFoden’sArchive.Moreaboutthisinthenext“Fanfare”,butifhaveanystoriesorartefactsthatyoucouldsharewiththebandStewartwouldliketohearfromyou.Pleasecontacthimatfodenbandarchive@yahoo.co.ukorat65CongletonRd,Sandbach,CheshireCW111HP

UnfortunatelyValandAlanBournewhohavebeenfantasticservantstothebandaremovingtoFelixstowe.Val andAlan have helpedorganise the PatronsandChristmasConcertswith their Armyof helpers aswellascleaningthebandroom, liaisingwithvariousconcertpromotersetcetc(the list isendless!!!).Alanwill stillcontinuetomaintainthePatronsubscriptionsanddatabasebutthemoveisresultinginthembothsteppingdownfromtheirduties.OnbehalfofallatFoden’swewouldliketothankthemforalltheirhardworkoverthepastcoupleofyearsandwishthemwellintheirmove.

AlanBournehasrecentlyemailedallPatronstoseeifanywouldliketoreceivethe‘Foden’s Fanfare’ electronically rather than as a hard copy through the post. IfanyonewouldliketoreceivethemagazineelectronicallypleaseletAlanknowatfodensband@coldmoss.co.ukaswellasanychangesinyouremailaddressorifyounowhaveanemailaddress! IfyouwouldalsoliketobekeptinformedofFoden’snewsyoucanalsofollowthebandon Twitter ‘fodensband’ viaourwebsite http://www.fodensband.co.uk and also on facebook

OnbehalfofFoden’sIwouldliketothankyouforyourvaluedsupportwhichIknowistheenvyofourrivals!IfyouhaveanyarticlesthatyouwouldlikeustoincludeintheFanfare,knowanyonewhowouldbeinterestedinbookingthebandforaconcert,knowanyoneinterestedinSponsoringthebandfinanciallyorwouldliketoofferyourservicesinhelpingthebandinanywaypleaseletmeknowmarkLwilky@hotmail.com

HappyReading,

Welcome...

Mark Wilkinson

MD’sColumn

DearFriendsandPatrons

Living froma suitcase is notall it is crackedup tobe. Just gotback toour humbleabodenearToulouseandit’stimetoputmyfeetup.Atleastforashortwhileanyway.ItseemslikeIhavebeenawayformonths.MytourhastakenmetoHolland,Norway,Switzerland, Germany, Japan, England, France, Australia, Scotland, then back toHolland. I have been working with bands in all of these countries, teams of giftedplayers,withdedicationastheircommonbond.WhatafantasticstandardofplayingintheEuropeanChampionshipsasIendedmytourinHolland.Therestoftheworldisindeedcatchingusupbutona52weekayearbasisIthinkthatwe,inBritain,arestillinfront.Probablygoeswithoutsayingthatwe,atFoden’s,wouldlikeittostaythatway.

Aband’swell-beingisoftenbasedoncontestresults.Oflate,firstprizeshaveeludedusbutwearealwaysclose.Overthelast15monthsa1st,a2nda3rdanda4thwithagreatchanceofqualifyingfornextyear’sEuropeanChampionshipinOslowhenwetakepartintheEnglishNationalsinPrestonnextmonth.IwouldliketothinkthatwearealwaysplanningaheadwiththeprimeaimofkeepingtheBandwithinthattopsixnotonlyintermsofcontestsbutalsointermsofinnovationandtorchbearing.Wehaveoneofthebestpedigrees,withtraditioninabundance.Wealsoneedtocontinuetodevelopasaviableartisticinstitution.Letuscontinuewiththeconceptthebandpresentedatthisyear’sFestivalofBrassinManchester.Letuscontinuewiththeinclusionoflocalforcesasdemonstratedin`ThestoryofMariavonTrapp`project.WorkingtogetherwithStavangerbrassbandonawildlycreative jointventurehasbeenproposed.SueHopkinshasarrangedBerlioz’sSymphonyFantastiqueforband.SuewouldlovetoworkwithFoden’s.WhataboutaC.D.withthecompleteSymphonyandacoupleofthesamecomposer’sovertures?CouplethiswithanappearanceattheBerliozfestivalinFrancein2013?Wehaveoneoftheworld’sgreatcontemporarymusicfestivalsalmostonourdoorstepinHuddersfield.Thebandsinclusionshouldbeanotherproject.

Inthebandroomwearealwaysinpursuitofmusicalexcellence.Wearededicatedtoourcauseandunlikemanyofourcontinentalcounterparts,forus,thisisayearroundquest.Ittakestime,hardworkandofcourse,thecommonbond.Outsideofthebandroomwehaveagreatsetofsupporters.Weneedhelpfromthesesupporters,patronsandfriends.

Torealizeourvisionsandaidourcontinualgrowth,weneedpeoplewithabitoftimeontheirhandsandabitofpatiencetospare.Weneedpeoplewhocanfollowupfundraising leadsandresearchgiventopics.Weneedpeople,whoshareourpassionasIamsureyoualldo,toorganizethemselvesintosmallunitsandworkfrompreciseinstructionsfrommyselfandothermembersoftheband.Nopreviousexperienceisnecessary,justagenuinedesiretoassistinourcontinuinggrowth.Tobefrank,wereallydoneedyou.

Wehaveagreatorganizationwitharealchancetobeevengreater.Let’snotmissthisopportunity.

Pleasedropmealineon:[email protected]

Bestwishes,

Allan Withington

What have been the highlights of yourmusicalcareersofar?

Inmymusical career I havebeen incredibly lucky toworkwithsomegreatbands,fantasticconductorsandhavebeenluckytoplayatsomeamazingvenues.WhenIwaswiththeGrimethorpe Colliery Band we won back-to-back EnglishNationaltitlesandaNationalChampionshipin2007.Fodens’performanceof Torchbearersat theNational Finals in2009was stunning to bepart of; however,mymusical highlightwasattheBritishOpen2010withHowardSnellonhisreturntocontestingafteraround10years.ThebanddrewlastinthecontestandSymphonyHall,Birminghamwasthefullestithadbeenallday.WhenMrSnellwalkedonthestagetheaudienceburstintoahugeapplauseanditwasatthatmomentIrealisedjusthowmuchofanimpactthismanhadhadontheindustry,itwasastunningfeelingthatisrarelyre-created.

Doyouhaveanyaspirationsforthefuture?

Formyjob,IwouldlovetobeabletodowhatIlove,writing.IusedtobeajournalistandcurrentlyamanEnglishteacher,buttobeabletowritescriptsfortelevisionatsomepointwouldbeadream.

Intermsofbanding,itiswell-knownthattowintheBritishOpenistheultimateaccolade(onewhichthisbandhasbuiltahabitofobtaining)andtowinthatwiththesepeoplearoundthebandanditssupporterswouldbetrulyphenomenal.

Whatdoesyourday-to-dayjobinvolve?

I aman English teacher at a school in Rochdale and I teach pupils aged 11-16 language andliterature.Naturally,dressingupasShakespearetoteachRomeoandJulietandwritingtheschoolpantomimemakesitamuchmoreinterestingjob.

Whatdoyouenjoydoingwhenyouhavetimeoffworkandband?

InmysparetimeIliketorelaxbysupportingmyfavouritefootballteam,ManchesterUnited,spendingtimewithmygirlfriendHayley,andsocialisingwithfriendsinandoutofbanding.IamdoingacharitybikeridefromSalfordQuaystoLiverpoolAirportatthebeginningofJuneandI’llbehonest,ifImakeittherebyAugustI’llconsideritanachievementhavingnotriddenabikein15years.

TellusalittleaboutyourbackgroundasaMusician.

I startedplaying Tenor Hornwhen Iwas 7 years old at RochdaleMusic Service directedby EricLandon(fatherofFoden’spercussionist,Mark).MyfirsttasteofchampionshipbandingcamewiththeTodmordenOldBrassBandconductedbyDennisHadfieldwho,onmyfirstrehearsal,satmenexttoAndyHoward-Smith(whonowplaysalongsidemeatFoden’s)aswellassittingmeinfrontofAlHodgkinson(whoplaysbehindmeatFoden’s).EffectivelythesetwohavefollowedmeaboutandIcan’tgetridofthem!WhenTodmordenOldBandfoldedIenjoyedabrieftenureattheDobcrossSilverBand(whereAndyandAlpoppeduponceagain!),and fromthere Iwasdelighted tobeinvitedtojointheWilliamsFaireyBandwhenIwas17yearsold,playingunderAllanWithington(nowconductorofFoden’s).Havingspent3yearswithFairey’sImovedtotheGrimethorpeCollieryBand,andin2009,IwasaskedtojoinFoden’son1sthorn.

HowdidyoucometojoinFoden’s?

GlynWilliamscalledmeinJuly2009andaskedmeifIwouldliketojoinFoden’sfromGrimethorpe.Thiswasawonderfulopportunitythat Icouldnotturndown.LesleyHowiehadtutoredmeattheNationalYouthBrassBandofGreatBritain,andhadaskedmetodeputisewhenshewassolohornatBlackDyke(shemusthavemissedmetalkingalotandplayingveryloudly)soIwasthrilledtobeabletojointhebandandsitnexttoher(andofcourse,testhereardrumswhennecessary).

WhatisyourfavouritepartofplayingforFoden’sBand?

Thisisthehardestquestiontoanswer.NotbecauseIcan’tthinkofanything,butbecausethereisanever-growinglistofthingsthatmakemeproudtobepartoftheband.Ithinkintermsofplaying,LesleyhashonedmeandhelpedmetoimprovewithherpresenceandadviceandforthatIameternallygrateful, thestandardofFoden’sonaweek-in,week-outbasis isabsolutelyastounding.Nootherbandhasthepeopleateveryrehearsalinarelentlesspursuitforperfection.Thepatronsdeserveahugementionbecauseitisunbelievablyhumblingtohavethesepeople,thelife-bloodoftheband,takingsomuchinterestinthemusicwemake.WorkingwithMikeFowleshasbeenahighlightduetohiseffervescentpersonalityandunmatchedpassionformusicandthisbandinparticular.

TherecenttriptoArmaghsumsupmy‘other’ favouritepartofFoden’s;RichardPooleand Ihaddecidedpriortogoingthatwewantedtoarrangea“Foden’sAlternativeAwards”tobedeliveredon the secondnight. Thismade lightof someof the funnyandmoreenjoyablemomentsof thepastyearinFoden’s.Inanyotherband/organisationthiswouldbetentativeandrisky,butweknewthatthislight-heartedlook-backwouldbetakenwellandsureenougheverymemberofthebandgatheredintheOldBoy’sbandhallanditwasthoroughlywell-receivedandbroughtusevenclosertogether(nextyear’sideasarealreadyinthepipeline!).

Player Focus ChrisHaigh

What have been the highlights of yourmusicalcareersofar?

Inmymusical career I havebeen incredibly lucky toworkwithsomegreatbands,fantasticconductorsandhavebeenluckytoplayatsomeamazingvenues.WhenIwaswiththeGrimethorpe Colliery Band we won back-to-back EnglishNationaltitlesandaNationalChampionshipin2007.Fodens’performanceof Torchbearersat theNational Finals in2009was stunning to bepart of; however,mymusical highlightwasattheBritishOpen2010withHowardSnellonhisreturntocontestingafteraround10years.ThebanddrewlastinthecontestandSymphonyHall,Birminghamwasthefullestithadbeenallday.WhenMrSnellwalkedonthestagetheaudienceburstintoahugeapplauseanditwasatthatmomentIrealisedjusthowmuchofanimpactthismanhadhadontheindustry,itwasastunningfeelingthatisrarelyre-created.

Doyouhaveanyaspirationsforthefuture?

Formyjob,IwouldlovetobeabletodowhatIlove,writing.IusedtobeajournalistandcurrentlyamanEnglishteacher,buttobeabletowritescriptsfortelevisionatsomepointwouldbeadream.

Intermsofbanding,itiswell-knownthattowintheBritishOpenistheultimateaccolade(onewhichthisbandhasbuiltahabitofobtaining)andtowinthatwiththesepeoplearoundthebandanditssupporterswouldbetrulyphenomenal.

Whatdoesyourday-to-dayjobinvolve?

I aman English teacher at a school in Rochdale and I teach pupils aged 11-16 language andliterature.Naturally,dressingupasShakespearetoteachRomeoandJulietandwritingtheschoolpantomimemakesitamuchmoreinterestingjob.

Whatdoyouenjoydoingwhenyouhavetimeoffworkandband?

InmysparetimeIliketorelaxbysupportingmyfavouritefootballteam,ManchesterUnited,spendingtimewithmygirlfriendHayley,andsocialisingwithfriendsinandoutofbanding.IamdoingacharitybikeridefromSalfordQuaystoLiverpoolAirportatthebeginningofJuneandI’llbehonest,ifImakeittherebyAugustI’llconsideritanachievementhavingnotriddenabikein15years.

TellusalittleaboutyourbackgroundasaMusician.

I startedplaying Tenor Hornwhen Iwas 7 years old at RochdaleMusic Service directedby EricLandon(fatherofFoden’spercussionist,Mark).MyfirsttasteofchampionshipbandingcamewiththeTodmordenOldBrassBandconductedbyDennisHadfieldwho,onmyfirstrehearsal,satmenexttoAndyHoward-Smith(whonowplaysalongsidemeatFoden’s)aswellassittingmeinfrontofAlHodgkinson(whoplaysbehindmeatFoden’s).EffectivelythesetwohavefollowedmeaboutandIcan’tgetridofthem!WhenTodmordenOldBandfoldedIenjoyedabrieftenureattheDobcrossSilverBand(whereAndyandAlpoppeduponceagain!),and fromthere Iwasdelighted tobeinvitedtojointheWilliamsFaireyBandwhenIwas17yearsold,playingunderAllanWithington(nowconductorofFoden’s).Havingspent3yearswithFairey’sImovedtotheGrimethorpeCollieryBand,andin2009,IwasaskedtojoinFoden’son1sthorn.

HowdidyoucometojoinFoden’s?

GlynWilliamscalledmeinJuly2009andaskedmeifIwouldliketojoinFoden’sfromGrimethorpe.Thiswasawonderfulopportunitythat Icouldnotturndown.LesleyHowiehadtutoredmeattheNationalYouthBrassBandofGreatBritain,andhadaskedmetodeputisewhenshewassolohornatBlackDyke(shemusthavemissedmetalkingalotandplayingveryloudly)soIwasthrilledtobeabletojointhebandandsitnexttoher(andofcourse,testhereardrumswhennecessary).

WhatisyourfavouritepartofplayingforFoden’sBand?

Thisisthehardestquestiontoanswer.NotbecauseIcan’tthinkofanything,butbecausethereisanever-growinglistofthingsthatmakemeproudtobepartoftheband.Ithinkintermsofplaying,LesleyhashonedmeandhelpedmetoimprovewithherpresenceandadviceandforthatIameternallygrateful, thestandardofFoden’sonaweek-in,week-outbasis isabsolutelyastounding.Nootherbandhasthepeopleateveryrehearsalinarelentlesspursuitforperfection.Thepatronsdeserveahugementionbecauseitisunbelievablyhumblingtohavethesepeople,thelife-bloodoftheband,takingsomuchinterestinthemusicwemake.WorkingwithMikeFowleshasbeenahighlightduetohiseffervescentpersonalityandunmatchedpassionformusicandthisbandinparticular.

TherecenttriptoArmaghsumsupmy‘other’ favouritepartofFoden’s;RichardPooleand Ihaddecidedpriortogoingthatwewantedtoarrangea“Foden’sAlternativeAwards”tobedeliveredon the secondnight. Thismade lightof someof the funnyandmoreenjoyablemomentsof thepastyearinFoden’s.Inanyotherband/organisationthiswouldbetentativeandrisky,butweknewthatthislight-heartedlook-backwouldbetakenwellandsureenougheverymemberofthebandgatheredintheOldBoy’sbandhallanditwasthoroughlywell-receivedandbroughtusevenclosertogether(nextyear’sideasarealreadyinthepipeline!).

Player Focus ChrisHaigh

Partners - Hercules Stands - the story so far...

Regular visitors toanyof the largeBrassband shows in theUKwill nodoubtbe familiarwith thedistinctive yellow and black HERCULES trade stand. The comprehensive range of products nowofferedbytheCompanyisfulloftechnicalinnovations.So,what’sthestorybehinditall?

Herculeswasinitiallyregisteredasatrademarkin1995.ThefirstproductintherangewastheAutoGrabSystem(AGS)guitarstand.OriginallyconceivedinAmerica,shipmentsofthisstandwerereadyforsalein2001andthefirstrealviewthatthemusictradehadofthebrandwasattheMusikmesseinGermanyin2002.

Notcontentwithitsstandardrangeofproducts,Herculeshasdevelopeditsunique‘Travlite’rangeof stands-Foden’sBandusesomeof theseproducts! This range really includes someof themostimpressive designs and technically advanced stands that you can buy. The ‘Travlite’ range isdesignedtobestrongandstablebutfullyportable.

Theneedtodevelopandperfectthevariousproductrangesiswhereprofessionalrelationshipslikethose formedbetweenFoden’sbandandHercules reallybegin. The teamatHercules identifiedveryearlyonthattoproducetherightproducttherightpeoplemustbeinvolvedandconsulted.Inthecaseofmusicstandsandbrassinstrumentstands,whocouldbebettertohelpdeveloptherange then one of theworld’s leading brass bandswith all of its huge experience, outstandingprofessionalismandvastarrayoftalent? In returnfor regulartechnical feedbackandevaluation,HerculesprovidesFoden’sbandwithpracticalhelpbywayofvariousequipmentfromitshugerangeofproducts.It’saperfectexampleofteamworkatitsbestwitheverybodybenefittingandlongmaythisspecialrelationshipcontinue.

Herculesnowexportsitproductstoalmost90countriesaroundtheworldandemploysapproximately700staffworkinginvariousroles.TheCompanyhasamodernmanufacturingplantinTanjin,Chinawithsales,marketingandproductplanningoperationsbasedinTaiwan.Inadditiontothis,thecompanyhasmanywholesalepartnersaroundtheworldeachsupplyingtheretailersofitsrespectivecountry.Herculesisnowlookingforwardstoyetmoregrowthandexpandingitsproductrangeevenfurtherinthecomingyears.YoucanfindHerculesstandsinallgoodmusicstoresoratwww.herculesstands.co.uk. HerculesstandsaredistributedintheUKbyStringsandThingsLtd.Youcanreachthemon01273440442.

InthelastissueIinformedyouofourexcitingplanstoformabrandnewyouthband.Iamdelightedtonowtellyouthatthefirst‘Foden’sYouthBand’rehearsalisscheduledforSeptember2012!

The newensemble has received support froma number of localandnationalorganisationsandwill be run inpartnershipwith thebrand new ‘LoveMusic Trust’ who have recently taken over theMusic provision for Cheshire East Schools. The band will provideyoungbrassandpercussionplayersinCheshire,andfurtherafield,opportunities to play together under the guidance of ownworldclassconductorsandperformersaswellas takingpart inmaster-classesandworkshopsessions.

Applicationsarenowwelcomedfrombrass/percussionplayersaged21 or under, of grade 5 standard or higher. To find outmore and

registeryourinterestpleasevisitthenewwebpageathttp://youth.fodensband.co.uk

Meanwhile;Foden’splayershavecontinuedtosupportyouthdevelopmentinexistingbandsaroundtheNorthWest. TheSandbachbasedLionsYouthBrasswere recentlyawarded2ndplace in theadvancedsectionoftheNationalYouthBrassChampionshipsfollowingaseriesofvisitsfromFoden’sconductorMichaelFowles,andaworkshopdayfromFoden’splayers.Congratulationstoallinvolved.

More recently, Foden’s teamed up with winning schools of the annual Cheshire East Musiccompetition inacelebrationconcertatAlsagerSchool.AneclecticmixofMusicwas featuredincludingsteelband,choirandbigbandwitheachparticipatingschoolcollaboratingwithFoden’sjointitems.TheeventwasamassivesuccesscontinuingFoden’spartnershipwiththelocalMusicAuthorityandschools.

Finally,onthe10thMarchFoden’stookpartinaveryspecialprojectfeaturingthe,LionsYouthBrass,NorwegianActressCamillaBelsvikandover100localschoolchildren.

Foden’s’professionalconductorAllanWithingtonandhiswifedevisedtheprojectsomeyearsagofortheBergenPhilharmonicOrchestraandlaterre-workeditforBrassBand.TheshowtellsthestoryofthefamousVon-TrappfamilywhoescapepersecutionatthehandsoftheNazipartytoperformthroughouttheworld.

Lionsplayeda first half of concertmusic featuring Foden’splayers in two items (12th Street RagandPerhapsLove)beforebothbandsjoinedtogethertoperformarousingfinaleof‘ConquesttoParadise’.TheSecondhalfthensawLionsplayersjoinlocalschoolchildrentoperformsongsfromtheshowaccompaniedbytheFoden’sBand.

Theshowwasahugesuccess,playingtonotone,buttwoselloutaudiencesatSandbachHighSchool!

Foden’s in the Community

- by Ian Raisbeck