Fun – 1st Class Brass https://1stclassbrass.org Colchester based band for brass players of all ages and abilities Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:16:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://1stclassbrass.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cropped-logo1-32x32.png Fun – 1st Class Brass https://1stclassbrass.org 32 32 Summer Workshop https://1stclassbrass.org/event/summer-workshop-3/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:15:00 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=31676 A day of music making, fun activities and games open to all brass players, regardless of age or ability.
St John’s and Highwoods Community Centre
Highwoods Square
Colchester
CO4 9SR
10:15am – 3:45pm *
£10 per person – for more information and to book a place then please contact Anne on anne@1stclassbrass.org or 07880 591757.
It’s advisable to bring your own packed lunch (although Tesco is a few minutes walk away) and if possible please bring a music stand.
* There will be an open rehearsal at 3:15pm so family and friends can come and listen to what the band has been rehearsing during the day.
]]> Easter Workshop https://1stclassbrass.org/event/easter-workshop-3/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:15:00 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=30402 A day of music making, fun activities and games open to all brass players, regardless of age or ability.
St John’s and Highwoods Community Centre
Highwoods Square
Colchester
CO4 9SR
10:15am – 3:45pm *
£10 per person – for more information and to book a place then please contact Anne on anne@1stclassbrass.org or 07880 591757.
It’s advisable to bring your own packed lunch (although Tesco is a few minutes walk away) and if possible please bring a music stand.
* There will be an open rehearsal at 3:15pm so family and friends can come and listen to what the band has been rehearsing during the day.
]]> Summer Season 2025 https://1stclassbrass.org/summer-season-2025/ Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:31:40 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?p=27287

We returned to rehearsals yesterday evening, preparing for the Autumn season but here’s a look back at what we got up to over the summer!

We started our summer season playing at the St. Leonard’s Church Fete in Lexden on Saturday 28th June. It was a really well attended event and we were very grateful to Jemma for conducting the band as Anne was unavailable.

Friday 4th July was the final rehearsal of the academic year and we held a social afterwards where we played board games and enjoyed pizza.

A week after our performance at St Leonard’s Church Fete, we returned to Blomfield House Care Home on Saturday 5th July to play for the residents.  It’s always a lovely event and we were lucky with the weather, as although the sky looked very grey, it remained dry!

Our formal summer concert was held on Friday 11th July at St John’s and Highwoods Community Centre. 

We played a varied programme of music including music from stage and screen, Glenn Miller, Sea shanties and the concert finished with a rousing performance of Land of Hope and Glory, with much flag waving from the audience (and some band members too)!

During the concert the annual awards were presented.  Congratulations to:

Summer – Star Player for Summer Term

Beckett, Lillian & Orla – Best Attendance for 2024/2025

Beckett – Most Improved Player

Suzanne – Player of the Year

Maria – Bandsperson of the Year

Vic – John Kaley Special Recognition Award

Our final event for the summer was the workshop held on Monday 4th August. The workshop was open to band members as well as non band members and there was a great turn out of players.

The day mainly consisted of rehearsing but there was also a game and a quiz. The band performed a short concert to family and friends at the end of the day. 

We then enjoyed a few weeks break before resuming rehearsals on Friday 12th September. 

]]> Summer Workshop https://1stclassbrass.org/event/summer-concert-3/ Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:15:00 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=25939 A day of music making, fun activities and games open to all brass players, regardless of age or ability.
St John’s and Highwoods Community Centre
Highwoods Square
Colchester
CO4 9SR
10:15am – 3:45pm *
£10 per person – for more information and to book a place then please contact Anne on anne@1stclassbrass.org or 07880 591757.
It’s advisable to bring your own packed lunch (although Tesco is a few minutes walk away) and if possible please bring a music stand.
* There will be an open rehearsal at 3:15pm so family and friends can come and listen to what the band has been rehearsing during the day.
]]> St. Leonard’s Church Fete https://1stclassbrass.org/event/st-leonards-church-fete-3/ Sat, 28 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=24885 The band has been asked to return to provide musical entertainment at the St Leonard’s Church Fete. The fete is always full of fun things to do and look at so why not come along, enjoy an ice cream and listen to the band.
The band will be performing three times during the morning at 11:10am, 12:10pm and 1:10pm.
www.stleonardslexden.org.uk
Lexden Road
Colchester
CO3 4BL
https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?x=597090&y=225133&z=0…
]]> Easter Workshop https://1stclassbrass.org/event/easter-workshop-2/ Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:15:00 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=24871 A day of music making, fun activities and games open to all brass players, regardless of age or ability.
St John’s and Highwoods Community Centre
Highwoods Square
Colchester
CO4 9SR
10:15am – 3:45pm *
£10 per person – for more information and to book a place then please contact Anne on anne@1stclassbrass.org or 07880 591757.
It’s advisable to bring your own packed lunch (although Tesco is a few minutes walk away) and if possible please bring a music stand.
* There will be an open rehearsal at 3:15pm so family and friends can come and listen to what the band has been rehearsing during the day.
]]> Summer Season 2024 https://1stclassbrass.org/summer-season-2024/ Tue, 27 Aug 2024 11:39:27 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?p=24444

The band has had a busy summer season performing at fetes, care homes and holding their own Summer Concert. 

The summer season started with a return trip to Blomfield House Care Home on 23rd June. The band is always made to feel very welcome and has performed both in the summer and at Christmas for several years now.

This was also the first time that the band had the chance to use their new flag banner, which looked great in the sunshine!

The following weekend the band returned to play at St Leonard’s Church Fete on Saturday 29th June. This is always a lovely Fete with lots of stalls and things to do. Once again the weather was beautiful!

After the rehearsal on 5th July the band enjoyed a pizza and board games evening. They also wore their best summer attire, even though the weather was very rainy, but it was a great evening.

The 12th July was the formal summer concert held at St John’s and Highwoods Community Centre. The band played a variety of pieces and there really was something for everyone. 

At the Summer Concert the band awards are given out and congratulations go to the following band members:

Player of the Year – Lillian

John Kaley Special Recognition Award – Steve

Bandsperson of the Year – Suzanne

Most Improved Player – Eva

Star Player for the Summer Term – Connor

Best Attendance for 2023 / 2024 – Lillian

On 28th July the band was once again invited to perform in Castle Park, Colchester as part of the Charities Festival which is organised by the local Rotary Club.  The band always enjoys playing on the bandstand and it was a lovely event with lots of people listening.

On 31st July the band held their Summer Workshop at St John’s and Highwoods Community Centre. The workshop was open to all brass players regardless of age or experience. 

The music ranged from themes from Toy Story, Sister Act and Les Miserables through to an original composition called “Fire Dance”, as well as the March from the opera Carmen.

The band enjoyed welcoming some new faces to the event and there was a concert to family and friends at the end of the day.

The final event for the band this summer was performing at a family fun day at the Oaktree Centre on Harwich Road, Colchester on 23rd August. 

The band was smaller in size than usual due to it being holiday season but it was lovely to have help from some of the players from the Boxted Methodist Silver Band.

It was a glorious day, despite being very windy. The band just about managed to keep the music on their stands!!

After a busy summer season the band is now enjoying a break before rehearsals resume on 6th September for the Autumn Term.

]]> St Anne’s Community Hall Family Fun Day https://1stclassbrass.org/event/st-annes-community-hall-family-fun-day/ Fri, 23 Aug 2024 11:30:00 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=24379 1st Class Brass has been asked to play as part of the Family Fun Day held at St Anne’s Community Hall.
* Fun for the whole family
* Free entry
* Free entertainment
* Stalls
* BBQ
* Stalls
]]> Summer Workshop https://1stclassbrass.org/event/summer-workshop-2/ Wed, 31 Jul 2024 09:15:00 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=24266 A day of music making, fun activities and games open to all brass players, regardless of age or ability.

£10 per person – for more information and to book a place then please contact Anne on 07880 591757 or anne@1stclassbrass.org

It’s advisable to bring your own packed lunch (although Tesco is a few minutes walk away) and if possible please bring a music stand.

* There will be an open rehearsal at 3:15pm so family and friends can come and listen to what the band has been rehearsing during the day.

]]> Easter concert and Workshop https://1stclassbrass.org/easter-concert-and-workshop/ Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:46:08 +0000 https://www.1stclassbrass.org/?p=24178

The first event of the New Year was the band’s Pizza & Games Night which was held on 26th January after the usual Friday rehearsal. 

As the band is so busy in December (like most brass bands!) the Christmas social is always held in January.

Pizzas were delivered after the rehearsal and band members brought their favourite games along to play. It was a great opportunity for band members and their families to socialise and get to know each other a little better. 

The band’s Spring Concert ‘Places’ was held on 22nd March at St John’s and Highwoods Community Centre.  The programme was wide ranging including music by Antonin Dvorak, Jeremiah Clarke and The Beatles!

Beckett was awarded the Star Player certificate for the Spring Term.  Beckett moved from the baritone to Eb bass in January and has blown everyone away with how well he has done. 

During the school Easter holidays the band held a workshop which was a day of rehearsals, games and quizzes. 

The band welcomed some new faces for the day as the workshops are always open to non band members as well as band members. Great fun was had by all and at the end of the day the band played a short concert to family and friends showcasing the pieces they had been playing during the day.  The music included Raider’s March, Pirates of the Caribbean, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Y.M.C.A. and I Will Survive. 

]]>