On Saturday 10th December, The Staffordshire Band collaborated with musicians from Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church to perform as part of two Christmas concerts – a matinee performance at 4pm and a 7:30pm evening show. The concerts have kicked off the band’s festive season with a bang and it was a pleasure to play to not one, but two super enthusiastic audiences!
The joint concert was the brainchild of Joel Campbell our 2nd cornet player and long time member of Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church. He coordinated the collaboration of musicians and the overall organisation of the concerts which resulted in a special celebration of Christmas brimming with festive spirit.
The programme opened with Merry Christmas Everyone sang by Becky Williams (SCBC), followed by a beautiful performance of Winter Snow by Katherine Riley (SCBC). Both songs set the scene perfectly for our Christmas musical journey.
It was then the band’s turn to take to the stage. Under the expert baton of our Assistant Musical Director, Mark Glover, we opened with Festive Intrada by Ben Hollings, a rousing opener to say the least! This was followed by Candlelight Carol, a cornet solo arrangement of John Rutter’s well-loved Christmas Carol, serenely performed by the band’s Principal Cornet, Adrian Lacey. Film music came next, with a performance of Let It Go from the 2013 film, Frozen a firm Christmas favourite by many (including our conductor who admitted to watching it over 10 times…with his daughter, of course!).
Lily Green (SCBC) gave a sublime performance of What A Wonderful World, and Zoe Tipton (SCBC) sang Immanuel (God With Us) which perfectly encompassed the true meaning of Christmas. Soaring Through The Skies by Samuel Shelley, the title track of the band’s latest CD was our next piece. Followed by the traditional sing-a-long, White Christmas and Three Kings Swing by William Himes, which features a festive jazzy cornet solo played with aplomb by our Repiano Cornet, Rachael Dickens.
The first half closed with Muppets Christmas Carol, a joint piece by both the band and musicians of the church band.
The second half of the joint programme included:
Driving Home For Christmas – Andy Lyden (SCBC)
Born In Me – Shelagh Baynham (SCBC)
Frosty The Snowman – Staffordshire Band – EEb Bass Duet – Ademola Odedina & Sue Lacey
Little Drummer Boy – Staffordshire Band
Oh Holy Night – Emily Gale
Schneewaltzer – Staffordshire Band
My Lord Has Come – Staffordshire Band
Christmas Festival – Staffordshire Band
Sleigh Ride – Joint Item
Jingle Bells – Staffordshire Band
The band would like to thank everyone involved with the superb organisation of this joint concert, especially Joel Campbell and his Dad, Donald, Vicar and Team Leader at the Church. The musicians from Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church were exceptional, the venue was perfect and the warm welcome we received was above and beyond – we are really looking forward to future collaborations.
