News

Bilsdale Silver Band Appoints New Musical Director

We are pleased to announce that our new Musical Director is Damian Dunphy of the The Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band, Catterick.

More details about Damian - and a mugshot! - will appear shortly. Watch this space...


"What Katie Did Next!"

For the latest blog entries from Katie, go to www.katiemalawi.blog.co.uk

Katie Mackay

One of our long-serving players is sadly leaving us. Katie Mackay has played with Bilsdale Silver Band for 10 years, most recently occupying the seat of Principal Cornet.

Katie has strong family connections with the Band, with mother Alison and sister Lucy both playing cornet, and father John playing trombone for more than 30 years!!

Katie attended Prior Pursglove College, where she achieved Grade A in Fine Art, and Grade B for both Music and English Language / Literature A Levels. She has successfully gained a place at the University of York to read Music in 2008.

Before she takes up her place at University, she is taking a "gap year". On 5th January 2008, she travels to the south-east African country Malawi to take up a 7-month teaching placement at a rural primary School.

The Maveya Primary School serves a massive population of the Lujeri tea estate in the beautiful Mulanje area of southern Malawi. The school has 900 pupils with 60 - 80 children in every class; it is very badly resourced, and the help of volunteers is badly needed and much-appreciated. Katie expects to teach a wide range of subjects across the curriculum, and plans to set up a recorder group - with a beautiful little set of instruments kindly donated by a family friend.

"This experience is certainly going to be very demanding, but I am so looking forward to being out there, doing something so worthwhile!", said Katie.

You can also get more information on Gazette Live and The Northern Echo.

The Band wishes you every success, Katie, and looks forward to your return!


Bilsdale Silver Band wins Grants

In December 2006, the Bilsdale Silver Band gained an Award of £10,000 from Awards for All (adminstered by the Big Lottery Fund). This Award is being used to encourage more people of all generations to play a brass instrument and to join the Band. This has involved purchasing more brass instruments, introducing a training band, and publicising the Band.

A second grant for £6,770 was received from the Local Network Fund of York and North Yorkshire Community Council (a Department of Education Grant).

In addition, in October 2006 we received an Award of £2,500 from the Ryedale Community Investment Panel to extend our activities to the local community.


Bilsdale Silver Band plays for Helmsley Arts Centre

In July 2007, the 1812 Theatre Company produced "Elgar's Rondo" at Helmsley Arts Centre. In this production, the music of the Band of the Worcestershire Regiment was provided by the Bilsdale Silver Band.

Excerpts of the music can be heard by clicking the links below (you will need an application which can play .mp3 files).