Newark and Sherwood Concert Band

Newark and Sherwood Concert Band (NSCB) is the one of largest community concert bands (also known as wind bands) in Nottinghamshire and regularly performs throughout the county.

Newark and Sherwood Concert Band has its home in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands. It is independent. 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. It has in excess of 50 regular members.

History

Established in 1997 by Caroline Noble as Newark and Sherwood College and Community Orchestra at what was then Newark College. It did not continue for long as an orchestra and shortly afterwards became Newark and Sherwood Concert Band.

In 2009 the band was awarded a grant by the Lottery funded 'Awards for All' programme, which enabled it to buy a comprehensive range of percussion INSTRUMENTS and other items of equipment.

Since January 2013 the band has been led by Conductor and Musical Director Colum J O'Shea.

Robert Jenrick, the Member of Parliament for Newark-on-Trent has been the President of the band since June 2014.

Performances

Newark and Sherwood 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:

Newark Town Hall

Collingham Show

Upton Fete

Nottinghamshire Agricultural Show

Newark Brass Explosion

The Palace Theatre, Newark

Conductor, Musical Director

Colum J O'Shea
Born and raised in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, Colum began his musical journey at the age of 7 on the violin before starting to learn the cornet at the age of 9. Throughout school he worked through the performance grades and in 2007 became one of the youngest members in his school's history to achieve grade 8.

Since the age of 10, Colum has been playing in brass bands, firstly at Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Band, then on to Riddings Band and in 2007 moved to Blidworth Welfare Band where he still plays today. With these bands he has had much success as a performer and has made several appearances at the National Brass Band Finals of Great Britain, most recently with Blidworth who have just been promoted to the brass band World's Championship Section. It was here that Colum's desire to begin conducting began.

As a conductor Colum began by assisting at the school band, moving to take the role as the school's Choral Conductor in 2010 to cover staff absence. In the same year he conducted a theatre performance of "Billy Elliot". In 2012, Colum was successful in his application for the vacancy at Newark and Sherwood Concert Band and since being voted into the role in January 2013, the band has gone from strength to strength.

Members

Band membership stands currently at over 50 musicians, who come from across Nottinghamshire and who range in age from 8 to 70-plus.

External links

• Newark and Sherwood Concert Band official website