Nottingham Concert Band
Encyclopedia
Nottingham Concert Band (NCB) is the largest community windband in the Nottingham
(UK) area, and performs regularly throughout the county and beyond.
Based in West Bridgford
, South Nottingham
, it is independent and entirely self-financing. The band draws on a diversity of musical styles, from classical
transcriptions to contemporary compositions and from film and show compilations to big band
favourites.
since 1991 Nottingham Concert Band began life as Trent Concert Band which in turn arose from the music department of Trent Polytechnic (now Nottingham Trent University). Since 1993, the band has been led by Conductor & Musical Director Robert Parker.
Current Schedule
A Graduate and Fellow of Trinity College London, where he studied horn
and piano, Robert performs professionally in a wide diversity of contexts. He also teaches brass
both privately and in Nottinghamshire schools and is the county representative for the Trinity Guildhall examinations board.
Jeff plays bass clarinet
in the band and has been chairman for several years
and who range in age from 17 to 70-plus.
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
(UK) area, and performs regularly throughout the county and beyond.
Based in West Bridgford
West Bridgford
West Bridgford is a town in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire, England. It lies immediately south of the city of Nottingham, delimited by the River Trent; this proximity means that it forms a continuous urban area with Nottingham, effectively makes West Bridgford a suburb of the city, and...
, South Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, it is independent and entirely self-financing. The band draws on a diversity of musical styles, from classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
transcriptions to contemporary compositions and from film and show compilations to big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
favourites.
History
Part of the musical landscape of the East MidlandsEast Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
since 1991 Nottingham Concert Band began life as Trent Concert Band which in turn arose from the music department of Trent Polytechnic (now Nottingham Trent University). Since 1993, the band has been led by Conductor & Musical Director Robert Parker.
Performances
Nottingham Concert Band has established a year-round programme of formal evening concerts, plus a busy Summer season of outdoor engagements. Appearances in the recent past have included-
- West BridgfordWest BridgfordWest Bridgford is a town in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire, England. It lies immediately south of the city of Nottingham, delimited by the River Trent; this proximity means that it forms a continuous urban area with Nottingham, effectively makes West Bridgford a suburb of the city, and...
Proms in the Park - Nottingham PlayhouseNottingham PlayhouseThe Nottingham Playhouse is a theatre in Nottingham, England. It was first established as a repertory theatre in the 1950s when it operated from a former cinema. Directors during this period included Val May and Frank Dunlop.-The building:...
- Nottingham Arts Theatre
- De la Beche Theatre, KeyworthKeyworthKeyworth is a village and civil parish in Nottinghamshire, England. It is located about 6 miles southeast of the centre of Nottingham...
- Goose Fair, Nottingham
- Southwell MinsterSouthwell MinsterSouthwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...
- Center Parcs, SherwoodCenter Parcs Sherwood ForestThe European leisure group Center Parcs opened its first UK Holiday Village in July 1987, in of land in Sherwood Forest near Rufford, Nottinghamshire.- Attractions :...
- RAF Waddington International Airshow
- BinghamBingham, NottinghamshireBingham is a market town in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire, England.-Geography:With a population of around 9,000 people it lies about nine miles east of Nottingham, a similar distance south-west of Newark-on-Trent and west of Grantham. It is situated where the A46 intersects the A52...
Town Fair - Christmas in Nottingham’s Old Market SquareOld Market SquareThe Old Market Square is an open, pedestrianised city square in Nottingham, England. It is the largest such surviving square in the United Kingdom, forming the heart of the city, and covering an area of approximately 22,000 m²....
- Fund-raising events for various charities
- Summer fetes for local schools and community festivals
- BandstandBandstandA bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
concerts in NottinghamNottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Newark, Melton MowbrayMelton MowbrayMelton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
, LoughboroughLoughboroughLoughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
, Long EatonLong EatonLong Eaton is a town in Derbyshire, England. It lies just north of the River Trent about southwest of Nottingham and is part of the Nottingham Urban Area...
, GranthamGranthamGrantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
, StamfordStamford, LincolnshireStamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
, IlkestonIlkestonIlkeston is a town within the Borough of Erewash, in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the River Erewash, from which the local borough takes its name. Its population at the 2001 census was 37,550...
and BourneBourne, LincolnshireBourne is a market town and civil parish on the western edge of the Fens, in the District of South Kesteven in southern Lincolnshire, England.-The town:...
.
- West Bridgford
Current Schedule
Conductor, Musical Director
Robert ParkerA Graduate and Fellow of Trinity College London, where he studied horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
and piano, Robert performs professionally in a wide diversity of contexts. He also teaches brass
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
both privately and in Nottinghamshire schools and is the county representative for the Trinity Guildhall examinations board.
Associate Conductor
Ashley ParnellChairman
Jeff FryJeff plays bass clarinet
Bass clarinet
The bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B , but it plays notes an octave below the soprano B clarinet...
in the band and has been chairman for several years
Members
Band membership stands currently at over 60 musicians, who come from all across the East MidlandsEast Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
and who range in age from 17 to 70-plus.