News

September 2011

Welcoming Alan Gifford as New Conductor

Coventry Festival Band are pleased to welcome Alan Gifford as their new Conductor.

Alan is currently studying Music Performance at the Birmingham Conservatoire where his main focus is the trombone. He has been involved in brass bands for many years. In the past he performed with Amington Band who reached the National Finals of Great Britain for three successive years. Alan was playing with them in 2008 when they achieved a 4th Section Area win.

He joined Langley Band in 2009 who achieved a 1st Section Area win and qualification to the National Finals of Great Britain in 2010. More recently Alan has played with Tongwynlais Temperance Band in South Wales including performing in the 2011 British Open Championship at Birmingham Symphony Hall.

Alan has played under many fine conductors including Garry Cutt, Ian Porthouse and Philip Harper and has learned a great deal from them. He now brings this knowledge and these skills to Coventry Festival Band.

 

May 2009

Visit from Down Under!

Two players from the Hahndorf Brass Band of Adelaide, South Australia paid the Festival Band a visit and a great time was had by all. They were touring Europe and the UK, playing in various bands along the way. We hope they enjoyed the visit and give our best wishes for a great tour and safe journey.

March 2009

Roy Goodson

Coventry Festival Band were very sorry to learn that Roy Goodson lost his battle with cancer this month. A dedicated member of the band for many years, he played BB-flat bass but did many other things besides. A great supporter of the band, he regularly came to practices and engagements even after his illness prevented him from playing. Most of the photos on this website were thanks to Roy plus his sense of humour and good spirits always helped to lift both practices and engagements. The Band were glad to accept an invitation to play at his local, the Greyhound Inn following his funeral. Thanks for the memories, we will all miss you.

December 2008

Busy but successful Christmas

The band has well earnt its breather over the festive break after completing a hectic but well received Christmas concert programme. As usual players attended well and braved the cold in some instances to entertain many over the festive season. There were regular favourites like the Bull and Butcher and St Luke's Church, coupled with new venues like Eathorpe Village Hall. We were certainly taken aback by their wonderful Christmas lights display throughout the village!

October 2008

New Conductor!

Coventry Festival Band are pleased to announce that Philip Rowsell has been appointed as their new Musical Director. Phil has been a member of the band for 10 years this December and has extensive playing experience on baritone, euphonium, trombone, Eb bass and until recently, as principal cornet player for the band. He was also previously a member of the City of Coventry Youth Orchestra. Coventry born, he is well known around the midlands and plays in several bands and has played at venues such as St James's Park in London, Symphony Hall, the Adrian Boult Hall and Warwick Arts Centre. His main aims for the band are to expand repertoire, further improve our musical standard and raise the profile of the band as a whole.