kirkturner

A grand day out!

November 2014 saw our Mid Band crowned 4th Section LBBA champions, with the Senior Band also bringing home the silverware with second place in the Championship Section and a fine turnout in the unregistered section too making it a very proud day for Ratby Band at the 2014 Leicestershire Brass Band Association Open Competition. Adding toContinue reading “A grand day out!”

Youth Section Solo Contest!

Youth Section Inter Band Solo Contest – 28th October 2014 With Band numbers swelling and over 50 young people taking part it was necessary to split the players into a number of sections plus creating a new Family Section. Proud mums and Dads crammed into the bandroom to watch an excellent range of styles, musicalContinue reading “Youth Section Solo Contest!”

Stompers Oompah Again!

The Ratby Stompers were once again out oom-pa-ing their way through the evening at Ratby Sports and Social Club for an Oktoberfest themed evening on Saturday 18th October. Starting off with a respectable set, dressed in all black, the Ratby Stompers (a small group of players from the Senior Band) warmed the audience up withContinue reading “Stompers Oompah Again!”

Vacancy – Mid Band

Vacancy: The Ratby Co-operative Mid Band (4th Section) have vacancy for a Principal Cornet, present leader is being promoted to our Senior Band (Championship Section). The Mid Band has a very large membership and are looking for a new leader in time for next year’s Area contest. Rehearsals are Monday evening and occasional Fridays, anyone interested shouldContinue reading “Vacancy – Mid Band”

Prizes from Groby for Ratby

Members from each of the Ratby Bands (Beginner, Junior, Mid and Senior Bands) were representing the organisation at the Leicestershire Brass Band Association’s annual member festival held in Groby. The competition had Ratby entries in nearly every section, with some prizes coming our way at the end of the day. Becky Moss and Kirk TurnerContinue reading “Prizes from Groby for Ratby”

Celebrate… its Trophy Time!

Friday 26th September saw the Senior Band perform their annual Celebration Concert, this year undertaking an East meets West Programme, carefully constructed by MD Michael Fowles. Our Celebration Concert is also the time of year that we present our band awards, both to Players Player of the year (through secret ballot!) and the Musical DirectorsContinue reading “Celebrate… its Trophy Time!”

Mid Band at Hardraw Scar

The Mid Band had a great weekend at the Hardraw Scar Brass Band Contest in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. We left the bandroom on Saturday morning and despite a delay on the M1, arrived on time in Masham. We went straight to the Black Sheep Brewery for an afternoon of beer tasting and a brewery tour.Continue reading “Mid Band at Hardraw Scar”

The only way is Wessex!

Ratby Band members from each of our bands took part in this year’s Wessex Summer School, held in ye olde county of Wessex, more specifically Sturminster Newton High School in the beautiful North Dorset. Wessex Band Summer School is a summer course for brass, wind and percussion players of all levels and abilities. Under the expertContinue reading “The only way is Wessex!”

Summer Spectacular

Players from across the Ratby Co-operative Brass Band Organisation enthralled the audience at the Beaumont Leys School on Sunday 8th June during their annual Summer Concert. Featuring programmes from the Beginner, Junior, Mid and Senior Bands, the concert culminated in all bands performing a massed bands set. With a cultured blend of classics and modernContinue reading “Summer Spectacular”

Senior Band strength at Spring Festival

The Ratby Cooperative Senior Band recently took part in the Spring Festival Contest at Blackpool on 26th April. The band finished 9th out of 20 competing bands in the Senior Cup section of the contest after being drawn to play 3rd. They performed George Lloyd’s test piece “English Heritage” to a large audience in Blackpool’s WinterContinue reading “Senior Band strength at Spring Festival”