Worcester Concert Brass
A Brief History
The band was formed in March 1982 as the Nunnery Wood Youth Band by a group of local parents and staff from Nunnery Wood High School.[1] Its aim was to give young people who had played in bands while at school an opportunity to continue playing in a brass band after they had left. Its members were originally drawn from staff, pupils and ex-pupils of a number of schools around the city and its Musical Director was Mr Tony White (Head of Music at Nunnery Wood High School).
A change in Musical Director in September 1992 to Mr Roy Turner (Brass Teacher - Worcester Royal Grammar School) and a reduction in the number of pupils being taught brass instruments in schools forced the band to look for more mature members and so a change of name was felt more appropriate and the band became Worcester Concert Brass in September 1993.
From its inception, the band had relied on its performing income and a number of grants from the Worcester Arts Council and other local charities to buy music and a small number of instruments. It was also fortunate to have the use of spare school instruments. A membership fee (£50 Adult & £25 Junior) was introduced in September 1993 to make the band more viable and enable it to purchase instruments that would help to improve the performance standard and ensure the long-term stability of the Band.
Worcester Concert Brass is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of England and was given a grant of £47,000 in 1997.[2] It has spent £56800 since 1994 on new equipment and instruments
References
- ↑ "Old photograph of Nunnery Wood Youth Band of 1984". Worcester News.
- ↑ "Worcester Concert Brass £46,655 Arts Council England Grant". Got Lottery.