Posts from 2016

We have now had a number of enquiries about performances in 2017, so our calendar is filling fast.
If you have an event you would like us to perform at, please utilise the General Enquiries section of the website. In there is a document which gives you all the key requirements for each of our performances.
The sooner you contact us, the more likely we are of being available to play…

Tonight saw DSB welcome back 4 former members of the band to our rehearsal. Rob & Dawn Langley came along for a visit on Cornet & Euphonium, Les Heywood boosted the Tenor Horn ranks & last but by no means least our former MD Andy Grace came to have a run through some of the music as he is playing cornet for us at the BBC Children In Need concert at Bridlington Spa next week!! It really was great to see you all, we hope you enjoyed yourselves & you are more than welcome to pop along anytime you’ve got a free night, it was great to see you!

Driffield Silver Band are Incredibly pleased to announce that Heather Curnow has been appointed as our new Musical Director. Heather conducted the Band for our concerts during September & received very positive reviews from the Band & its audiences. Heather’s first official concert as MD is this Saturday, 12th November 2016 for our annual Armisitice concert at the Old Town Hall in Driffield, Concert Starts at 19:15hrs….Welcome back to the Band Heather & Good Luck!!!

Driffield Silver Band(established 1837) seeks urgently a Percussionist. We are a very friendly, non-contesting community band – where rehearsals & concerts are fun. We have a very wide musical repertoire and rehearse on Friday evenings 19:30 – 21:30Hrs at The Bell Hotel, Driffield, YO25 6AN.
For more information-
Please contact Mike Clark, Band Secretary, mclark4260@aol.com or 01377 252291.

After 10 years at the helm, last night our Musical Director Andy Grace announced that he had decided that the time was right for him to relinquish his position from the band. His last performance with DSB will be at Driffield Show next week. As you can imagine this was a massive shock to us all, but after 10 years of absolute dedication & commitment, we cannot do anything other than offer an enormous thank you for his remarkable stewardship. He has left the band in an excellent position & finding a replacement to fill the void Andy leaves will be tough, however it is something we must now look to do. Really all that is left for us to do is to wish Andy, Andrea & Alex all the very best for the future & hope that they will not be strangers as all of them are more than welcome at DSB anytime. Many thanks for all you have done Andy we all really appreciate it, from all your friends at DSB.

If any one feels they would like to be considered for the MDs vacancy at DSB, details in applying for the vacancy will be published in due course on our Facebook Page & on here. Many thanks

Malcolm Kellett and Luke Gledhill have agreed to swap positions on the cornet section.

To continue the development of Luke, the experienced Mal has agreed to step down to 2nd cornet. This is some great evidence of the family ethic we share at DSB. The development of all of our players is key to our future!

On Saturday 25th June, we were invited by our percussionist, David Hook, to take part in a joint concert with the Beverley Church Lads & Church Girls Band in the upper school hall of Longcroft School in Beverley.

In aid of Alzheimer’s Research, it was a great cause to support so, of course, we said yes! 

The Beverley band was supported by the CLB band from York, and put on a great show lead by their Musical Director Lionel Burdett.

This was followed by the Driffield Band showcase.

To round it all off, there was a massed band Proms finale. Aces High, There’ll Always be an England & Royal Salute were conducted by Lionel, and then the Finale from Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Land of Hope and Glory, with Jerusalem to finish all conducted Andy.

It was a fantastic night, and many friends were made and we hope that we can continue the links between the organisations.

Over the weekend of 11th and 12th of June we played in the Queen’s Gardens in Hull for the Lord Mayor’s Gala and also in All Saints Parish Church in Driffield for the Flower Festival Picnic.

Although both events were dampened by the weather, which probably restricted the support from the public, the band played well.

We introduced Jess on her debut on percussion, and also Natalie on her first solo with the band – both played really well and deserve great congratulations!

We have got into a surge of profile updates recently – the most recent is horn player Malcolm Whitfield. Take a look at his profile to see what he has done with music in his life!

A further two profiles have been sent in, Margaret and Eric Milburn have both submitted theirs. Take a look at the appropriate section to find out more about them!

After waiting for nearly 10 years, Claire Rogers has finally submitted a profile! Well done Claire. Take a look to see why we had such a long wait…

Kevin Johnson, our recent recruit on Trombone has submitted a profile. Please take a look to find out a bit about him.

Our new Principal Cornet Player, Janella Calvert has just submitted a profile on The Band section of our website. As a double whammy, Nick Dixon our charismatic drummer has also submitted his profile. To find out about them, please follow the appropriate tabs…

We have been invited to play for the Lord Mayor’s Gala on Saturday 11th June. We will be scheduled to play from Noon until 12.45pm at the Queens Gardens Bandstand in Hull. It would be great if they could sort out some fantastic weather too!

At our rehearsal on 11th March, we had a number of visitors – the remarkable foursome of Graham Mercer and his wife Chrissy, and her sister Lizzie with her husband Adrian. Also known as Driffield Brass, they have been friends of the band for a long time.

On the 18th March we had Euphonium player Eddie Pybus come along for a blow.

…and on 25th March we had John Avery on trombone and Amanda Rank on Cornet.

Everybody is welcome at DSB!  

After a few years out of playing, Kevin Johnson has taken up playing trombone with our family here at DSB. He is a welcome addition to join our other gentleman tromboneers.

Janella Calvert has been appointed as our new Principal Cornet Player. Having joined us in January of this year, she has added greatly to the band, and her debut performance will be at the Bob Dales Memorial Concert on April 17th.

At the AGM last night we announced the results of the vote for Players’ Player of the Year. There was one stand-out nominee this year gaining almost a quarter of the overall votes. The award went to Luke Gledhill. Congratulations Luke!

Former Driffield Silver Band Musical Director David Nichols has taken up the 4th Solo Cornet chair with the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
He is relishing the chance to play with one of the best bands in the world.

We all wish him the best of luck and congratulate him on his appointment.

Janella Calvert has agreed to join us to fill our final vacancy. An accomplished player, Janella also plays with Malton White Star band and Simply Brass. She will add further quality to our cornet section.

The first rehearsal of the year took place on 8th Jan, with an abundance of new music and a fantastic turnout, we were put through the mill by our MD. Lots of news from the rehearsal; Becky Norman who came to a few rehearsals at the end of last year and played for us at Bridlington Spa has agreed to join the band on the front row, Margaret Milburn has now retired from work, so is able to return on Horn, and Janella Calvert came along to sit on the vacant Assistant Principal Cornet chair.
2016 promises to be another successful year for the band, so if you are interested in booking us to play at your event, get in soon as our calendar is filling up!