After a busy first half of the year, now is a good time to take stock and review the GUS Bands’ successes over the past six months before it reconvenes after a short summer break to begin preparing for an exciting second half of 2024.

As reported here, January saw the band present the Lower Sections Workshop in Kings Sutton following their recording of the Area Test pieces for the 3^rd and 4^th sections, while February included the now regular concert at the Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell.  This church has such a beautiful acoustic and the concert presented the band with an opportunity to include in the programme the forthcoming Midland’s Area test piece, Variations on an Enigma, (Philip Sparke).  So, March saw the band successfully qualify for the National Finals on this piece.  The Band returned to the Stroud Subscription Rooms in April with a highly successful concert and also appeared as guests at the inspiring Northampton County youth bands concert, (NMPAT) at the Spinney Hill Theatre, Northampton.  May included a trip to Blackpool, competing in the Grand Shield contest, a concert in Morley Town Hall and an afternoon performance at Stowe School.  Finally, the Band was back in the recording studio in July and rounded off the first six months of 2024 with a highly enjoyable concert at St Mary’s church, Titchmarsh.

Sadly, we’ve had to say several goodbyes to players but have also welcomed new faces; more to come about these exciting new signing shortly.  It was also with great sadness that we heard of the passing of David Read, former principal cornet player with the GUS Band and member of the famously successful GUS quartet in the 1960s.

That was the first six months but looking ahead, firstly, September sees us travelling back up North to the Doctor Martin’s contest in Yarm, to defend our winning title gained last year.  The band will also be playing in a joint concert with the Harborough Band at the Welland Park Academy Theatre, Market Harborough on the 28^th.

The GUS Band will return to the Royal Albert Hall in October to compete in the National Finals, playing the test piece Harrison’s Dream (Peter Graham).  There will also be a concert presented by the band at St Hilda’s Church, Ashford on the 13^th.

November will see the band return to the Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell on the 9^th to present a Remembrance concert before heading to Gateshead to perform at the Brass in Concert entertainments contest at The Glasshouse.  This is a lovely concert hall to play in and GUS are looking forward to performing a new programme there.

Before we know it, December will have arrived with an exciting, festive live performance of the Snowman planned at the Royal and Derngate Theatre, Northampton on the 1^st.  There will also be our now annual matinee concerts at St Peter and St Pauls, Kettering on the 7^th and 8^th and the GUS Band will round off the year with a family Christmas Concert at All Saints Church, Northampton on the 20^th.

Tickets for all the concerts for the remainder of this year can be obtained via this website and we really look forward to seeing you soon at one of our appearances.