Royal Marines Association Concert Band

Music Director: Captain E P Whealing MVO BA ARAM ARCM LTCL RM
Band Secretary: Bill Callow

Ted Whealing writes...

Ted Whealing writes…
In my article for the Spring edition I provided a few thoughts on military wind band recordings and suggested that readers were likely to be impressed with our two latest CDs ‘That’s Entertainment’ and ‘Haslar Farewell’. I’m glad to report that both are achieving excellent sales and I have little doubt that these will outpace our first two releases ‘Once A Marine’ and ‘Always A Marine’. One can but try!
That aside we’ve been rather busy this Spring. Our first concert of the year was at the Anvil Theatre, Basingstoke and I cannot think of a better venue to start the year. Audience attendance was pretty good considering it was our first appearance there and we were well received. Amongst the highlights Paul Coker provided a superb trombone solo with Alfie. Jon Yates again wowed the audience with his circular breathing demo and sheer brilliance in Koenig’s famous Post Horn Gallop; and Derek Vickers had the audience in stitches with his exhilarating and amusing performance of Gee Whizz on his xylophone. In February we were invited back to the Isle of Wight by the Medina Marching Band. The concert was a complete sell-out and the Marching Band Corps of Drums joined us for a few pieces and gave an excellent performance. They really are a very talented young group. We are hoping to meet up with them again on 12th September, this time at Yarmouth.
The 22nd March was our first appearance at the Orchard theatre, Dartford, another outstanding hall and a prestigious venue. A large audience gave us a warm reception and Jon Yates again soloed, this time with his marvellous imitation of the legendary American trumpeter, Harry James, in A Tribute to Harry James. We look forward to returning to North Kent again next year. 19th April saw us performing once more at the Octagon, Yeovil. It is always gratifying to go back to a venue with a large and enthusiastic audience. This concert was unique in that it provided the first public performances of solos from our latest CDs, namely Jon Yates playing Sugar Blues, Paul Coker performing The Shadow of Your Smile, both from the ‘Haslar Farewell’ CD, and David Smart, (oboe), with his exquisitely sensitive interpretation of The Watermill from 'That’s Entertainment'. David, incidentally, has just been awarded his LLCM for conducting and we offer him our sincerest congratulations. It was good to see members of the audience there from the Street and Glastonbury areas, who also attend our annual Christmas concert at the Strode Theatre which this year is booked for 12th December.
More recently, 17th May, we performed with the 100 strong Milton Glee Club Choir in Portsmouth Guildhall. This was the MGC’s first attempt at a Sunday afternoon concert and the first time we have appeared with them. It was well attended and the applause reached a very satisfactory level. The Band rose to the occasion and provided a sympathetic accompaniment to the Choir in addition to performing several pieces featured on our recent CDs, notably Barwick Green, the theme tune of The Archers, and, of course, The Pompey Chimes, both of which were incredibly well received, not least, I presume, because Pompey had that week secured their place in the Premiership for a further season! We have also performed the first of this year’s two concerts in the Royal Marines Museum. A somewhat smaller audience this time, but still an enthusiastic response to a varied programme which included some new pieces, notably Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, the clarinet trio Busy Bodies and a selection from the musical (West Side Story). Our next Concert at the Museum, our palatial home base, is on 17th September.
The complement of the Band remains strong and our normal ‘turnout’ for a public performance is around 40 to 45 players, which gives a good balanced sound. We are grateful for the continuing support of our many friends and look forward to seeing you at our remaining concerts, see below, during 2009.
Finally, and most recently, we were thrilled to be invited to play at Lancaster House for the Corps Reception which followed the Massed Bands’ final performance of Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade, 11th June. Obviously, from our point of view, this was a marvellous opportunity to play for the Corps family, serving and retired, senior and junior alike, and on this occasion including the Captain General. We now have our eyes firmly set on that other building not a stone’s throw away at the end of the Mall. One day!

Date	Venue	Time	Box Office	Prices
28th February 2010	Playhouse, Epsom	T.B.A	T.B.A	T.B.A
21st March 2010	Assembly Rooms, Worthing	T.B.A	01903 206206	T.B.A
25th April 2010	Princes Hall, Aldershot	T.B.A	T.B.A	T.B.A
16th May 2010	Orchard Theatre, Dartford	T.B.A	01322 220000	T.B.A
20th June 2010	Anvil Theatre, Basingstoke	T.B.A	01256 844244	T.B.A
24th October 2010	Octagon Theatre, Yeovil	T.B.A	01935 422884	T.B.A
21st November 2010	Wyvern Theatre, Swindon	T.B.A	T.B.A	T.B.A

Contact details:
Royal Marines Association Concert Band, Building 32, Whale Island, Portsmouth Hants PO2 8ER
Tel: 02392-521505; Email: dom@rmacb.org.uk or visit us online at http:// www.rmacb.org.uk
We rehearse at the Royal Marines Museum, Eastney every Thursday evening, 1930 - 2130

Last updated January 2010