Band is looking to the future
3:20pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News
Band is looking to the future
Helston Town Band is looking ahead to an exciting future following a reshuffle.
The biggest change relates to the training band, which in its current form will no longer exist.
Instead it will effectively form the basis of two new bands – Helston Youth Band and Helston B Band. At the same time, after many years of service to the youth system, Keith Busby has stepped down from his role as training band conductor and also as a tutor of the beginners’ band.
Louise Williams, from the band, said: “We are all extremely grateful for the huge commitment that Keith has shown over such a large number of years.”
The band has reviewed its youth and development system and has decided to implement some changes and appoint new people into different roles.
Senior band members Mark Williams and Nathan Toothill will take over as tutors of stage one beginners (players with little or no previous experience), while Paul Jenkins will continue as conductor of the flourishing beginners’ band.
The new youth band will consist of members of the senior band who are under 20 years old, members of the current training band who are under 20 years old and under 20 year old members who have moved up from the beginners’ group.
The youth band will rehearse on Tuesday evenings between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.
Jack Curnow, a popular member of the senior band, has agreed to take the position as youth band conductor after working his way up through the beginners’ and training bands. He is currently studying music at University College Falmouth.
Jack said he wanted to make the youth band as fun and enjoyable as possible for all the members, while also aiming to challenge them by entering local contests in the future.
He will be helped by Helston Town Band musical director John Hitchens in the lead up to a contest.
The Helston B Band will cater for the more ‘experienced’ members of the current training band and will also act as another stepping stone of progression into the senior band for some of the younger members.
Leaders also hope to attract new adult members into the B band.
The aim is to have a fully functioning band that is not dependent on the members of the senior band. Initially the band will consist of adult members of the training band that are not registered in the senior band, as well as any willing members of the youth band who are not part of the senior band.
The B band will be co-ordinated by another senior band member, Ben Martin.
Spokesperson Louise Williams said: “Ultimately, we aim to develop the youth band and B band to become independent bands that are not reliant on senior band members to fill seats.
“We would like to increase the number of engagements the bands partake in, and we would also like to have the bands enter local contests.
“Whilst this will not all happen overnight we are all committed to providing as many musical options to as many people as possible.”
She added there were “exciting times ahead” for Helston Town Band in all its forms and said new members were welcome in all.
To join call Paul Jenkins (beginners) on 01326 563278, Jack Curnow (youth band) on 07976 435809 or Ben Martin (B band) on 07707 024195.
