| Christmas Concert and Christmas Playing 2007
As usual our annual Christmas concert was held in St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church at Pickering. The band has consistently performed its annual carol concert in the town for the coffers of Yorkshire Cancer Research and this year was no exception. 2007 was the band’s 41st year of supporting this worthy charity and assisting in raising large amounts of money for the continued research needed. This year’s concert saw the band perform Christmas arrangements and carols for a large audience with a guest performance by Trevor Boag, and a small group of followers who performed readings and Yorkshire dialect stories, always popular with our audience. Every year the band undertakes its Christmas playing around the street of Pickering in a effort to raise band funds and provide a little Christmas cheer to all in the run up to the holiday season. Always well received by local residents and this year was no exception with the band raising £1,521.82 for band funds. The nights were cold and many frozen valves were experienced but the band played on! Thanks to all our supporters in Pickering who with their donations makes the freezing temperatures bearable. |
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Name:Sharon Allanson Position:Soprano Cornet Player I started learning the trumpet at school when I was 12 and then my dad heard about the band and encouraged me to join as he used to play in Pickering Town Band when he was a boy. I joined the senior band on 3rd cornet when I was 13 and I moved up the cornet line through the years ending up as Principal Cornet for the band. I played as Principal for a couple of years but then took a break from playing due to my work commitments in a nursing home, which did not allow me the time to attend practices and weekend engagements. I really missed not playing for the band during that time as it had been a big part of my life. Then one day, Mike, our band master came round and asked if I’d consider rejoining the band and doing what I could around my work commitments. I agreed and rejoined the band on solo cornet. After a little while our Soprano Player, Sue Smith, had to leave the band and Mike asked me to take over and for the most part I’ve been there ever since, apart from a short spell on Flugel Horn. My time with the band so far has been very fulfilling and enjoyable especially competing in contests and going on tours to Holland, Germany and Belgium. I hope to continue playing for a long time yet and hopefully contribute towards the bands future success. See you all at the next concert, Sharon. |
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Homepage | Stape Silver Band Wedding of the Year 2007
Mr & Mrs Smith 23rd June 2007 Our very own Principal Cornet and Percussionist |
| This was a new venue for us. The Spa Sun Lounge on the South side of Scarborough, having usually played
across the water in Peasholme Park. This was a classy setting, being sheltered from the wind; however the
rain decided to fall in the second half and the audience ran for cover. Our only male junior member ,
Matthew Searson, age 13, performed his first solo by playing the first verse of Amazing Grace. The poor
lad was nervous all week but did not let the nerves over-come him and played it well. The smile of relief
on his face when he finished said it all. |  |
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Name:Bethany Breckon Position:Principal Euphonium Player |
| Stape Silver Band was established in 1884 in Newtondale, a farming community close to the edge of the North York Moors.
The band entered local contests in the early 1900’s and won many prizes including the ‘Jingling Johnny’,
a trophy which was presented to the band at the first Douthwaite Dale competition. ‘Jingling Johnny’,
one of the strangest looking trophies now resides in a collection held at the York Castle Museum. |  Old Stape Silver Band based at Stape Village. |
 Thornton Le Dale 1979. | The band progressed; and found that, in the mid 1980’s they required a
new challenge and signed to enter the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association giving them the chance
to enter many new contests.
In the first year the band claimed 1st prize for their hymn playing, and has since gained numerous prizes for
their hymn, march and selection areas of the contest.
In 1989 the band opened its own bandroom, situated in Outgang Lane in Pickering. The bandroom was funded 50%
by the band, with the remainder given by the local council. |
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During the Summer of 2003 the band embarked on a European Tour, playing concerts in Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp
over a 4 day period. This opportunity allowed the band to play for different audiences who enjoyed the concerts
immensely. The band has continued to make progress and after a series of good results in the 4th section was promoted to section 3 at the beginning of 2003. Despite moving up a section the band gained a well-earned second place, again earning a place at the National Finals held in Dundee. Stape yet again reached the National Finals in 2006 which were held at Harrogate. A disappointing result this time...but we will try again! | 
Stape at Darlington Contest. |
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Homepage | Christmas Concert Award winners (left to right): Helen Bointon, Peter Rob, Ashley Smith & Colette Southwell. |
 | This year saw the 25 yr Service Award given to one of our loyal crew,
Ashley Smith. Ashley started playing with the band at
the age of seven when he took up the drums and has been a consistent member of the line up playing hundreds of
concerts and contests. Well done Ash and keep up the good work!!! A very young Ashley Smith in the early days with Stape Silver Band ~ The drum is bigger than the drummer boy! |
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Name:Katharine Sisk Position:Principal Cornet Player |
 | Stape Silver Band competed in Class B under the direction of Nigel Sutherland. Nigel is an old friend to the band and has in the past been the band’s Principal Cornet. Having played for many years, recently with the Yorkshire Imps, Nigel decided he wanted to try his arm at conducting. Having a shortage of players in the lead up to the contest Mike Breckon, our usual Bandmaster, took it upon himself to learn a new instrument, the Trombone. As you will remember from Mike’s player profile in the last edition of the newsletter, Mike has played for years prior to taking up the role of bandmaster, although has never played Trombone. |
 Each year in October/November the band holds its annual solo competition for the junior members of the band. All junior players from the very beginners to the children and teenagers playing in the senior band are encouraged to take part by playing a Slow Melody. This help the children to gain confidence in playing solos in front of an audience, hopefully growing our principal players of the future. Attended by all the parents and many senior band players this event held in our band room is both nerve-racking for the participants and audience alike. For many of the young player this was their first participation at this event, and sitting in the audience, the feelings of years gone past when I performed, were brought back vividly.  All of the children competing (see above) this year performed really well with special praise going to the winners of each section. The Senior Section won by Lauren Breckon, Junior Section by Sarah Bointon and the Learners by Leane Nicholson (below). Stape Silver Band is committed to its young players as we realise that the band would fail to continue without the injection of new learners each year. Excellent tuition coupled with encouragement for all young players to achieve their potential is the basis of the organisation.  30th June, Easingwold Annual Marching Contest. 8th July, Burnby Hall Gardens, Pocklington. 10th July, Retired Caravaners Association Concert, Old Malton. 22nd July , The Bandstand, Filey. 19th August, Sun Lounge, Spa Complex, Scarborough. 2nd September, Parliament Street, York. If you would like to subscribe to this Bi-annual newsletter please contact us on the details shown below: Musical Director Mike Breckon - 01751 472224 Secretary Ken Fletcher - 01751 472004 Website www.stapesilverband.btinternet.co.uk/STAPENET.HTM E-mail us stapesilverband@btinternet.com Back to Stape Band
HomepageUpdated 9th August 2007. Edition 1. Hello! Welcome to the first edition of Stape Silver Band’s bi-annual Newsletter. We hope that the Newsletter will provide you with information about what has happened over the summer and plans for the Autumn and Winter. We hope that you will feel both informed and involved. Enjoy!
A wet start the our summer programme, for the audience at least as we were under the bandstand! 18th June 2006, St Sampson’s Square, York. Set in the heart of the city of York, overshadowed by the glorious Minster. 24th June 2006, Easingwold Contest. What a fantastic evening! We march and play around the square in the traditional market town along with other bands. We came first in third section and third in Deportment - a great result with so many youngsters in the band. 11th July 2006, Retired Caravaners Association Concert, Old Malton. It’s now a tradition for the band to provide an evening concert, in a rugby field surrounded by touring caravans! 23rd July 2006, Peasholm Park, Scarborough. We get in the boat and travel to the bandstand in the middle of the lake in the park! 6th August 2006, Castle Howard, Malton. Historic stately home and lots of food and drink to sample and buy! 13th August 2006, The Bandstand, Filey. On the East coast on top of the cliff—what a view, with fish and chips and ice-cream to finish the afternoon!
 Well, on the 19th of March 2006 the band made their way up to Darlington to compete in the Area Finals. There are 5 sections, a bit like the football league except in Brass Band World we have the Championship and sections one to four. This year Stape Silver Band competed in section three. The two bands awarded the highest points in each section are invited to represent their region in the National Finals. This year Stape Silver Band were awarded second place. Ranked the outsiders, you could imagine how thrilled the band was! This year the finals will be held in Harrogate at the Harrogate International Centre on 23rd and 24th September. The band will be staying in Harrogate on Friday night in preparation for section three which competes on Saturday morning. Following a rehearsal on Friday evening and a good nights sleep for all players, everyone will be ready to put all the hard work into practice, and put on a superb performance.   As with any team, each individual has a role in producing the collective end result. In our case, to play music! We have a wide repertoire of music from hymns to modern pop music, and everything else in between. We value both our players and supporters. Where would we be without our supporters? Mum or Dad dropping the kids off for band practice (and paying their subs too!), regular helpers at domino and bingo fundraising evenings to collectors in all weather, summer sun and winter snow! So who makes up our players and where do they come from? There are many youngsters in the band, with the youngest being only 12 and our oldest being, well, we shouldn’t tell as we will get into trouble! We have a collective of talents from purchasers to bakers, scientists to driving instructors, insurance clerks to retail managers. Everyone’s skills help to keep the band ticking over, help the books to balance and get us from A to B. We are based in Pickering, but distance doesn’t stop some people travelling far and wide to help us out. We have friends in York, Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester. And we know we can count on them if we need them. We are always on the look out for new talent, weather you can play and want to return, or if you fancy trying your hand at a brass instrument. Everyone is welcome to join us—we are a happy, friendly bunch who works hard and enjoys the traditions of brass banding — a family approach and a good pint at the end of a rehearsal! National Brass Band Finals, Harrogate Conference Centre 26th November 2006 Malton Brass, Entertainment Contest 10th December 2006 Christmas Concert, Pickering March 2007 North of England Area Brass Band Finals, Darlington Spring 2007 Stape Silver Band Newsletter Edition 2 If you would like to subscribe to this Bi-annual newsletter please contact us on the details shown below: Musical Director Mike Breckon - 01751 472224 Secretary Ken Fletcher - 01751 472004 Website www.stapesilverband.btinternet.co.uk/STAPENET.HTM E-mail us stapesilverband@btinternet.com Back to Stape Band
HomepageUpdated 5th August 2008. |
