Sean Chandler joins Shepherd Group Band

Peter Scott Leave a comment

We are delighted to announce that Sean Chandler has joined the bands Cornet section.

Sean hails from Liverpool but has now settled in York, here’s a little bit about him.

“I had a brilliant teacher in Secondary School who encouraged me to join the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain when I was 15. After 5 successful and enjoyable years performing with the band all over the UK I left and went to study at Salford University. I then qualified as a Music teacher at Liverpool Hope University. I’m now a qualified teacher to deaf children through Edinburgh university and lead workshops with Youth Music, Music and the Deaf and of course, Yorkshire Youth & Music.

I’ve had some amazing experiences as a player, with Goldie’s Band at Buckingham Palace, and plenty of other bands and places.”

Richard Wilton our MD commented, ‘Sean’s personality is infectious and the dynamic he has brought to the band-room in such a short space of time is incredible. He brings with him so much quality and strength to the team. I’m absolutely delighted he’s made the decision to join the Sheps family and I’m sure he’ll be an inspiration to over one hundred of our youngest members too.”

We all wish Sean a long, happy and successful time at Sheps.

Sean Chandler
Sean Chandler

A welcome in the City!

Peter Scott Leave a comment

We can confirm the news that our good friends at Cory Band will be joining us again in York on November 19th. This is a great opportunity to see the Cory Brass In Concert set on the same day as their performance at the Sage in Gateshead. This will of course be followed by a roof lifting joint performance from Cory and the Shepherd Group Senior Band. Keep an eye out for details of the venue and tickets.

We have a Concert Band Quiz winner!

Peter Scott Leave a comment

The Concert Band ran a recent quiz in order to raise funds to help out with the costs for the upcoming appearance of the band in Regents Park. The quiz inquisitor was of course Mike Pratt and those of us familiar with his efforts on the coach to Durham and Blackpool will not be surprised tat there were football questions in there.

The answer sheets have all been submitted, marked and scrutinised and the winner with a superb score of 46 correct answers out of 50 is Jayne Janes. We will be contacting Jayne directly with the deatils of her prize. For those who were not quite as accurate, the correct answers are all listed here. Thanks very much to all those who took part, every little helps.

Pop Groups and Artists

1 Oasis

2 Crowded House

3 Elbow

4 Joy Division

5 Dire Straights

6 Kanye West

7 Taylor Swift

8 Fleetwood Mac

9 Blue Oyster Cult

10 Iron Maiden

11 Elkie Brookes

12 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

13 Neil Diamond

14The Drifters

15 Bonnie Raitt

16 Thin Lizzie

17 Alice Cooper

18 Simply Red

19 Dr Dre

20 The Who

Beers and Lagers

21 Fosters

22 Stella

23 Landlord

24 Budweiser

25 Carlsberg

26 London Pride

27 Tennants

28 Old Speckled Hen

29 Bishop’s Finger

30 Moretti

Yorkshire Towns and Cities.

31 Leeds

32 Skipton

33 Doncaster

34 Selby

35 Filey

36 Ben Rhydding

37 Brighouse

38 Settle

39 Bedale

40 Pickering

British Football Teams.

41 Aston Villa

42 Exeter City

43 Stevenage

44 Fleetwood

45 Preston

46 Elgin

47 Mansfield

48 Hamilton

49 Stoke

50 Oxford

A new ambassador in the band.

Peter Scott Leave a comment
Imogen Fewster

We are delighted to hear that our solo Baritone Player Imogen Fewster has been appointed as a Young Ambassador for Mercer and Barker mouthpieces.

Imogen started her playing career in the Shepherd Group Academy band and has progressed through our band organisation and is now our Solo Baritone player. She is a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and has been the Principal Baritone player with the NYBBGB since 2021. This year Imogen won the Euphonium/Baritone section of the NYBBGB Katie Ogden solo competition and will represent her section in the concerto final at the forthcoming NYBBGB summer course playing the Ellerby Baritone Concerto.

We are so proud of Imogen and listening to her rehearsing her concerto piece in the bandroom before a recent rehearsal, the band were in awe at the virtuosity on display.

George Barker, one of the founders of Mercer and Barker mouthpieces said “We are looking forward to working with her and all the young ambassadors in the future. She’s a fabulous player”.

More details on the Young Ambassadors can be found on the Mercer and Barker Website along with details of their range of mouthpieces.

The website address is https://mercerandbarker.com

Shepherd Group Concert Band Require – A Kit Percussionist

Peter Scott Leave a comment

A Very Rare opportunity has arisen within The Shepherd Group Concert Band.

The Shepherd Group Concert Band are looking to recruit a KIT PERCUSSION PLAYER to join the ranks of our friendly band. We have a sensible concert programme, with the emphasis very much on quality entertaining concerts in a variety of exciting venues.

Our rehearsal facilities are second to none, based in York at the conference centre of the Head Office site of our sponsor, Shepherd Group. If you would like to find out more about the band, or just have an informal chat please contact our Musical Director, Mike Pratt on mikepratt61@gmail.com or call 07539522244.

Platimum Jubilee Concert Success!

Peter Scott Leave a comment

Jubilee Success!

What a fantastic night we had at the The Joseph Rowntree Theatre on June 18th. A packed out audience were treated to brilliant music, and super commitment from all 5 of the Shepherd Group Bands. It’s hard to pick out the highlights of the evening, but surely we have to mention the superb sounds we heard from the Youth Band who go from strength to strength. There was also the frankly mesmerising sound and spectacle of Scott Dawson demonstraing his exceptional skills on the Euphonium while managing to wave a flag. It was a performance that moved Mike Pratt to tears!

Speaking of Mike and the Concert Band, they never fail to entertain and after the concert there was a comment madeby a regular follower who comes all the way from Chesterfield for our concerts. He said “A great concert, but Mike Pratt’s jokes are getting worse.” Theres a challenge if we ever heard one. Next stop for the Concert Band is going to be Regents Park on July 3rd. Do the folk of London know what’s going to hit them?

The next outing for the Senior Band will be up in Durham for the Big Meet where they will lead the Silksworth Banner through the city.

Joint Concert with Black Dyke

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On February 5th 2023, the Senior Band will join forces with the World Famous Black Dyke Band from Queensbury near Bradford in order to raise money for York Against Cancer. This will be the second time the band has taken part in the York Against Cancer events with the last concert back in early 2020 with Brighouse and Rastrick.

This is a great opportunity to take in a great afternoon of Brass music held at York Grand Opera House, while contributing towards a great York charity. Do keep your eyes open for tickets, bookmark the date and we look forward to seeing you there.

Players perform to support Ukraine

Peter Scott Leave a comment
A group from Senior Band on stage at the Grand Opera House

A Group from our Senior Band were absolutely honoured to close the fantastic ‘Concert For Ukraine’ in York’s iconic Grand Opera House on May 24th, playing the Ukrainian national anthem.

The concert featured many of North Yorkshire’s finest cover bands, playing to a huge enthusiast audience.

Every penny raised by the concert will go the the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Platinum Jubilee Concert

Admin 2 Comments

Join five of the Shepherd Group Brass Bands as we celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. 🇬🇧 
The concert will take at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre York, Saturday June 18th 7pm.
Grab your tickets now and don’t miss out 🎫 
👑🇬🇧🎺👑

https://www.josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/concert/platinum-brass/1517#