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NEWS 2020

Review of 2020

2020 has been a difficult year for everyone and it has certainly been challenging for Frome Town Band.

 

We started the year well with rehearsals, our beginner and intermediate bands are going strong. Main band started to rehearse new music that we would perform in our gigs for the coming year, then in March we went in Lockdown. At first  we didn't rehearse at all, then we started some band lessons via skype, this worked well for individuals but not so much as a main band due to the delay, our poor conductor Chris.

 

During the summer months, we started rehearsing in the band stand on a Wednesday night as we had good light and shelter from the rain. A few of us played in the park on Sunday afternoons to rehearse some of our new music. We managed to get back to rehearsals outside by the cricket club in our band bubbles, bringing some light entertainment for the local residents. We also had a social picnic in Victoria park late summer and performed to some of the community for a couple of hours but still in bubbles.

September we were back inside, beginners and intermediates getting more practice for their exams, only for them to be cancelled for the second time this year. Never mind, the exam board allowed us to record their music for it be be graded and we eagerly await the results.

We brought some festive Cheer to two nursing homes, playing carols outside hoping to bring them some festive spirit. We busked in Westway Precinct before Christmas which we thoroughly enjoyed.

 

2021 we hope will be better and we are looking forward to entertaining the local community once again sometime soon.

Christmas Raffle 2020

Frome Town Band would like to say a massive thank you to the following businesses for their donation of a raffle prize to support our raffle this year:

  • Family ticket from Haynes Motor Museum

  • Bath Murder Mystery tour from Treasure Trails

  • Gifts from Figgins 

  • £10 voucher Frome Memorial Theatre

  • Paint set from Matthew Paul Interiors

  • Christmas duvet and blanket from Asda

ELIZA TALMAN WINS SCHOLARSHIP TO THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC

Frome Town Band is bidding farewell to one of its most talented musicians as she embarks on a new chapter in her life as a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

 

Eliza Talman has won a scholarship to the prestigious academy, which attracts some of the most talented young musicians from across the world.  The 18-year-old started her musical journey ten years ago as a member of the town's brass band, which welcomes players of all levels and abilities. At first she only played the cornet in the band, but Eliza swiftly moved on to become an accomplished player of the flugelhorn.

 

Those early days playing in the band were memorable not just for the music, but for the opportunity to stay up late, and enjoy a treat at the end of the evening. Eliza recalls: "When I started the band used to play on a Wednesday and a Friday, between 7.30 and 9pm, which was really late for me. It was the latest I was allowed to stay up, and I got a cup of hot chocolate afterwards which was a real treat."

 

The inspiration for Eliza to take up the trumpet and the cornet was her mother Kate, who also plays. After some early lessons, she suggested Eliza graduated to the beginners section of the band. "There were lots of the people in the band then - which was good because my mistakes were more easily hidden. I started playing at the back, with people who were much better playing over me. No one could tell how bad I was. "I remember doing concerts when I started and thinking, I don't think anyone can see or hear me." Eliza soon began to make herself heard, flying through her grades. She passed her Grade 8 when she was 15.

 

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The Wells Cathedral School student believes the band gave her the inspiration, pushing her to keep up with other young players while supporting one another. "The reason I wanted to practice was so that I could get better - and play at the same level as those people around me in the band. Joining a band like I did is a great way of getting better quickly. I'd recommend it to anyone.

 

"Playing the trumpet and cornet allows you to play so many different types of music. You've just to go hear a brass band play Star Wars - with its trumpet fanfare. That is so exciting. The whole thing about being in an ensemble makes playing an instrument so much fun. When you hear a brass band playing music there is no way you could not want to be part of it."

 

That passion for music spreads through Eliza's family. Besides her mum Kate, who is an outstanding player of numerous brass instruments, her brothers Stan, 17, and 13-year-old Billy are accomplished percussionists while dad Chris, plays the tuba.  Eliza starts at the Royal Academy in September, a challenge she can't wait to unfold.

 

However, when she's back in Frome at Christmas she'll be looking forward to catching up with the band, and joining them as they play carols in the town in the build up to Christmas. "I've learnt through experience that when you play outside in December you need a good pair of gloves to help you play properly," she says.

Frome Town Band AGM 18th March 2020 - postponed due to Coronavirus - virtual AGM Sunday 31st May 2020
 

Music Awards for 2019

Most promising Newcomer:   Valerie Ley

Most improved Female:          Karen Coleman

Most improved Male :              Chris Talman

Musician of the Year :              Sheila Lupton

Stannard Award: For outstanding contribution to the Band : June Walsham

Asda awards Frome Town Band £500

Over the winter months of 2019 we were one of three charities in the green coin scheme at Asda Frome. We are delighted to have been awarded £500 in the New Year. This money will help with the tuition of our beginners and our intermediate members.  It will also help some of our members take their music exam this year.

 

We always aim to make learning a brass instrument affordable to all, young and old.  

We would like to say a very big heartfelt thank you to all Asda customers who supported us during our green coin collection.

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