“You’re a credit to Lincolnshire,” yelled one member of the audience following the first performance of 2011 at Tower Gardens by Alford Silver Band.
An enthusiastic crowd had gathered in the sunshine to hear the band and their spirits were not even dampened by a brief, passing shower.
Assistant Conductor Richard Walker had put together a varied programme in the absence of musical director Steve Walker (no relation) , which the band performed faultlessly. Classical pieces such as Rossini’s Tancredi and Johann Strauss’s Thunder and Lightning Polka were interspersed with a variety of lively, numbers by more modern composers, such as Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Bert Kaempfert and Herbie Flowers.
The band’s talented sixteen year old Principal cornet, Josh Wilkinson had the audience in raptures with his brilliant rendition of Edrich Siebert’s Lazy Trumpeter, which Josh played on the trumpet, not normally considered as a brass band instrument. He was then joined by colleagues Andrew Taylor and Tina Wood in a lively rendition of the three part arrangement for cornet of Mr Sandman.
A special solo was performed on flugel horn by Denise Heckmann. German citizen Denise has been playing with the band over the last few months whilst she has been on an work exchange visit, teaching at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar Academy in Alford, and this was her last engagement with the band before she returns home. Denise elected to perform Martini’s Plaisir D’Amour, much to the delight of her parents who had travelled from Germany to spend a few days with her and were present in the crowd.
Alford Silver Band will be performing again at Tower Gardens between 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm on Saturday 25th June, and Saturday 13th August.
Further information about the band’s busy schedule of engagements cane be obtained from the band secretary, Jane Taylor via 01507 466330, or via secretary@alfordsilverband.co.uk or from the band’s website: www.alfordsilverband.co.uk