Face Lift
After months of planning and designing and redesigning, the band's uniform has finally received a much needed face lift with the delivery of new ties!
The band has had the old style ties for 15+ years and last year it was decided that we should look at bringing the design up to date. It was a difficult task to design a tie that would match our exisiting uniform but make more of an impact than the old tie.
As you can see, the new tie really does just that. (Old tie on the left in case you couldn't guess!!)
Bloomin' Marvellous
For a number of years the band has had a spot for a flower arrangement as part of the local benefice's 
Flower Feastival. This year, Claire and Laura took up the task of creating something on the theme of Celtic Myths and Legends. Claire came up with the idea of King Athur (nothing to do with the fact she and Alan already had an Excalibur replica!). After a couple of hours and one or two mishaps involving some fast resuce work, the display finally took shape.
The display is in St. Athan church. This year, the band will also play in the Sunday evening 'Songs of Praise' service in St. Illtud's Church in Llantwit Major. The only unfortunate thing being that the rest of the band won't get to see the arrangement without a special trip!!
All the churches taking part look fantasic and the band are pleased to once again support an event that attracts thousands of visitors to the area when it it held every other year.
Congratulations
Congratulations go to the band's EEb Bass player, Chris Halliday, who recently became engaged to Tara Cullwick.
Eisteddfod Recording
Due to the band's performance at this years Eisteddfod being cut from the live broadcast, a number of our supporters watching at home were unable to see the band. We now have a copy of the recording of the full performance and have posted this on the band's Facebook page (St Athan Voluntary-Band). If you click on this link you should be redirected to the recording.
If you do not have a Facebook account you can view the performance split into two parts on the Music page thanks to You Tube! Just click on 'Music' on the left of the page.
Eisteddfod Champions!
The band took to the stage as band number 10 of 10 performers yesterday at the Royal National 
Eisteddfod. The band had worked hard over the last month and were well rewarded with a 1st place. This meant that we won the Ivor Jarvis Trophy for the 6th time since 1994. The only slightly disappointing factor of the day being that our supporters watching at home were not able to view our performance. As the day was running late S4C had to show another programme unfortunately cutting the contest coverge short just as we took to the stage.
If you click on the link below you can view the coverage of a most popular piece of the programme - Get Happy. This involved a nearly all the band leaving their seats at least once to make a visual impact on top of the effective playing. 
The band started their performance with Fanfare and Flourishes and made an immediate positive impact on the three adudicators. Claire Bourne, the band's Principal Cornet, then gave a comanding performance of an arragement of Cry Me A River as performed by Micheal Buble. This was followed by controlled playing in John Rutter's beautiful The Lord Bless You and Keep You. With Get Happy to follow and the Coronation Scene from Boris Godunov to finish the programme, it was down to the adjudicators to make the final decision.
So, saving the best to last certainly worked for us on the day! Well done to all the bands that took part on both Saturday and Sunday.
Click below to watch Get Happy
Read All About it!!
The band is currently preparing to play in the Brass Band competition at the Royal National Eisteddfod, this year held in Ebbw Vale. During the run up to this unique event (it being the only brass band cometition in the world that is televised live) we have been playing a number of summer concerts. During one of these events on Penarth Pier, the band was approached by a journalist who wanted to do an article on the band, particularly in the run up to the Eisteddfod. Little did we know what it would lead to. Jayne Smith, the bands principal Euphonium was volunteered to undertake the interview and the next we knew there were 3 pages of the South Wales Echo covered in pictures of Jayne and the band! A few days later even more coverage as the article was then featured in the Metro.
We just hope our next bit of media coverage (S4C around 16.45 on Saturday) goes just as well! Goodluck to all the bands competing on Saturday and Sunday.
Armed Forces Day
The band recently took part in the events to mark Armed Forces Day. A small contingent from the band played in Barry to mark the raising of the Armed Forces Day flag at the Civic offices, an activity repeated across the country. The Band then played at the event held in Cardiff Bay. This was the National Event and was attended by Prince Charles. Although the band's role was a little more low key than usual, we were pleased to be part of what is becoming a major event across the whole nation. This year was attended by a number of professional bands in what was one of the hottest days of the year. To say we were glad that we weren't required to march from Cardiff Castle to the Bay in full uniform would be a understatement. However, those that did put on a magnificent display viewed by thousands. It was a very fitting tribute to all the members of the armed forces past and present.
Band BBQ and Awards
The band held their annual dinner a little late this year (instead of a Christmas dinner it was a May BBQ!)
However, booking the event for a bank holiday weekend was never a great idea and, as the weather wasn't 
100%, it became more of an indoor event than planned. However, we can all agree that the food was fantastic (as was the beer).
The main part of the afternoon was to present the awards to the players with the most votes from their fellow band members. The votes were for 2009 and so did not include any performances since Christmas.
Young Player of the Year
This award goes to the player under 18 that showed the most promise in the last year. Not for the first time, this award was presented to Cam Hughes who plays 1st horn. Cam is a graduate from the training band and also plays French Horn with Cardiff and Vale Youth Wind Band.
Most Improved Player
This year the award went to the band's solo horn player, Rachael Lewis. Rachael has played with the band for many years starting on 2nd horn and has been in the solo horn seat for a while now. However, she has worked really hard and her performances throughout 2009 have been getting better and better. She was even seen to be given a 9.9 from the Principal cornet for her mastery of the semi-quavers in Trittico!!
Unfortunately, Rachael was not able to make the event, but in the best tradition of these things, Alan accepted the award on her behalf.
Band Personality
Alice Jones proved that baritone players do have a personality afterall after winning this category for the second time.
Alice then went on to win the most prestigious award of the day, Player of the Year. This is awarded to the player who has made an outstanding contribution to the band's performances throughout the year. Alice is always happy to help out wherever she is needed and when a solo was put in front of her she took it in her usual laid back way. When that solo was then planned for the feature in the Eisteddfod, again she took this in her stride. It was only on the bus that she admitted that it was the first solo she had ever played with any band! Given the fantastic performance she gave on the day, it is unlikely to be her last.
Bucket
This year there were two contenders for the band bucket, this is for the best 'pavement pizza' after a band 
event! Katy and Carly were both up for the award and this year it was decided a 'vom-off' was the best way to allocate the prize. Each had a turn to state why the other was more deserving. In the end the cheer-ometer gave the award to Katy. Again, this was not for the first time. Apparently, she already has a nomination for next years award following the band AGM!
Special Award
Chris Halliday received a special award this year for the most inventive use of a coke bottle after he got caught short on the mini bus back from the Blaenavon contest at the end of last year!
Jenga
After the formality of the awards was over, it was time for a game of giant Jenga. Some of the rules may not have been strictly adhered to but it was fun nevertheless!
All that was left after that was to enjoy the rest of the night.
(More photos from the day can be seen in the Image Gallery)
Ebbw Vale Concert
The band competed for the first time in the championship section in Ebbw Vale on Saturday and were very pleased to come away with a 4th place. Despite the very busy couple of weeks leading up the the contest, the hard work that was put into the test piece, Trittico by James Curnow, paid off.
The only thing that took the edge of the celebrating was that Cardiff City failed to enter the Premiership! Better luck next season.
The band are now looking forward to the AGM on Monday and a BBQ and awards on Saturday. Hopefully the weather will be as nice as it was this weekend. After that we have a number of engagements in June, including the Armed Forces Day in Cardiff Bay. With Cardiff holding the main event in the UK that day, we are pleased to continue to support such an important occasion.
On the contesting front, the hard work will soon start on selecting and practicing the programme for the Royal National Eisteddfod which will mean a return trip to Ebbw Vale in August.
Busy Couple of Weeks!
The band have been very busy over the past couple of weeks. We held our Spring Concert on Thursday 6th May with our guests the Mid Glamorgan Mixed Choir. This offered the small but enthusiastic audience a welcome break from all the fun of the General Election.
On Saturday 8th, the band helped celebrate a 60th birthday by being part of the suprise party and then on the Sunday we were in the Heath Hospital to play for a service to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
Band at Florence Nightingale Service
Last Saturday the fanfare trumpet team shared the bill with Only Men Aloud at the CIA to mark the start of the Masons charity evening.
Fanfare team
In between this, we have been working on the test piece for this Saturday's contest in Ebbw Vale, only a dinner night in the Officers' Mess on Friday to complete before then!
After that we have the band AGM on Monday 24th with a well earned break on Saturday 29th for a BBQ and awards, probably with one or two drinks to help relax after completing a very busy month!
Bad Day at the Office
The band took part in the Welsh Area contest in Swansea on the weekend. Although the preparation before the contest was going well the band were unable to rehearse as planned on the day due to a car crash in Swansea and an early draw. This unsettled the band and the end result was unfortunately a last place.
However, no time to brood as it is back to work this week with a Memorial Service on Wednesday, a dinning in night for UWAS on Thursday and a concert for the pensioners in Llantwit on Friday.
As they say, 'it can only get better' so hopefully the disappointment of the weekend will soon be behind us and we can move on the performing well for the rest of the year.
Twitter
The band has set up a twitter account to complement the facebook page that has been running for a while. A number of bands are now using both sites to keep people upto date with events and the band are keen to make use of this as well.
The band can be found on twitter as RAFStAthanBand and on facebook as St Athan Band.
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com
Charity Event
**UPDATE** The hair has gone!! Andy will continue to keep his head shaved until May when Julie, his wife, completes her treatment.
Andy Parks will shortly find he has less need for a comb and all that expensive shampoo and gel he currently uses! He is going to shave his head to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Please follow this link to Andy's Just Giving site where more information is available and also provides a way to make a donation. Andy would be grateful for any support you feel you can give.
www.justgiving.com/Andy-Parks
Review of 2009
After completing over 30 Christmas engagements in December and the late November, it is time to reflect on yet another eventful year for the band.
Goodbyes
2009 saw the band say a fond farewell to some sorely missed players and also to our old bandroom. During the year we said goodbye to:
John Foley who retired from the band but still helps out on the day time engagements.
Kay Saunders, Sarah Vice, Emma Lehmen and Dave Wood who left the band but continue to play with Barry Brass.
Kevin Shankin who left to take up a teaching post in Berkshire.
Harriet Gordon left to begin her degree in Medicine in Edinburgh University.
Ben and Joe Cutter left, Ben to start university and Joe to concentrate on his A levels.
Hellos
The band has now settled in to the new bandroom and it definitely feels like home. The band has also welcomed some new (and not so new) players in 2009:
Dave Powell, Clive Adams and Abbey Stone have joined the cornet section. Chris Parks has returned to the band, firstly on cornet but has now moved to 2nd horn. Chris Gordon has been promoted from the youth band to play in the baritone section. Victor Partridge has joined on bass from Pontypool Band.
Both Clive and Victor found themselves in the deep end by joining the band in December - one of the busiest times of the year.
Contesting
It has been a mixed year on the contesting front. A fraught run up to the Area's, coupled with a number of the players suffering from a sickness bug on the day, resulted in the band being demoted to the 2nd Section nationally.
Following this, the band put in strong performances in the local contests resulting in being promoted to the Championship section locally. This is the first time in the bands history that it will be completing at the highest level of banding and also a first for both the Vale of Glamorgan and military bands.
The highlight of the contesting year, however, was a 3rd place in the Championship Section at the Royal National Eisteddfod held in Bala. This was a keenly contested event with some of the best Welsh bands competing on the day. It was also a very enjoyable trip away for the band!
Other Events
2009 also saw the band tour to Scotland at Easter. This was a very successful event and all who took part enjoyed every minute - well, maybe not the 7 hour coach journey or the early morning Church service on Easter Sunday following the superb hospitallity of Dalmellington band!
The band also recorded their first CD in a number of years - RAF St Athan Band At The Movies. This was launched at the Spring Concert and has proved a popular purchase at our concerts throughout the year.
The band has continued to provide the music for the Welsh FA at the home internationals. We have also fulfilled all the ceremonial requirements for the MOD (RAF) St Athan. On top of this the band has performed at a number of events throught the year, highlights being the Armed Forces Day in Cardiff, concert with PAOS in The Pavillion in Porthcawl and the joint concert with Dalmellington band as part of the tour of Scotland.
Looking Forward
It is an exciting year ahead, with the campaign to re-enter the 1st Section nationally starting with the rehearsals at the start of the year ahead of the Regional Qualifier at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea in March, and the prospect of competing in the Championship section for the local contests. There are also a number of engagements already planned included a concert with Stan Stennett in St David's Hall on 20 January to look forward to. And only 11 months till we start playing Christmas music again!!
Happy New Year!
