In March 1998 Alan Lewis, Head of Brass and Bandmaster at Sedbergh School, issued an open invitation to anyone locally who wanted to learn a brass instrument. As a result a handful of people got together on the top floor of the Bull Hotel and started to learn to play. However, these sessions quickly became so popular that it was decided to form a Brass Band, which six months later became a reality.

The vast majority of those involved had never played a brass instrument before and many could not even read music. Alan’s philosophy from the start was that the band was to be formed from the community for the community. The result is that the band now includes people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and abilities, ranging in age from ten years to over 70, some with a disability, but all of whom are from the local area. The band has encouraged a great feeling of community spirit and involvement and it successfully bridges the divide between various parts of the local community.

At the beginning Alan and his son Iwan taught people to play and everyone worked hard to raise money for instruments, equipment and uniforms so that the band could begin to give concerts. The first public performance was six months after the band’s formation, an amazing achievement, considering the lack of musical background of the majority of people involved. The concert consisted of fifteen minutes of playing and an hour of Alan entertaining the audience!

The band currently has over thirty members who meet every Wednesday evening. There is also a small group of new beginners. Alan is now supported by one or two other experienced musicians, who help with band practices and teaching the beginners, everyone giving their time on a voluntary basis. This core team provides an important educational opportunity for local people. The latest step is to set up a Saturday morning school to encourage more young people and their family members to take up a brass instrument. This is held in the centre of town in the URC Church premises.

Sedbergh Town Band has come a long way. It has given many concerts, raising money for various charities. The annual Christmas Concert is the most popular and is always a sell out. The band was featured in the BBC 2 programme about the town twinning of Sedbergh with Zreče, Slovenia.

In 2005 the band made it’s first trip abroad and visited Zreče in Slovenia, an experience which all who went thoroughly enjoyed. This set a precedent for the band going away for a few days each year, an activity which has proved invaluable in helping the band to improve. It is also great fun. In 2006 the venue was less than exotic being Blackpool, but things looked up in 2007 when they visited Fuiggi in Italy, another town with close ties to Sedbergh. The highlight of this trip was performing a joint concert with Fuiggi Town Band in the local spa on the Sunday morning with hundreds of people enjoying the music in the beautiful grounds in which the spa was located.

As part of the Band’s tenth anniversary celebrations, five days were spent in Dumfries in May 2008 making their first CD, a considerable achievement and source of pride for band members. With an Arts Council award the band commissioned Alan to write ‘Images of Sedbergh’ the inaugural performance of this work being at the Band’s September 2008 concert. The grant also enabled the band to invite five world class players to Sedbergh to give a series of Master Classes.

Running a band is an expensive undertaking. In order to maintain the band’s inclusiveness the instruments, music, tuition and uniforms are provided free, with members paying a small annual subscription. This ensures that the band remains a truly community asset. It also means, however, that raising funds is a crucial activity, which again is done voluntarily by band members. The band is very grateful to all of the grant making bodies, organisations and individuals who have supported us financially and in many other ways over the years.

To read more about the Town Band see the Sedbergh Town Band website.

We look forward to the next ten years of Sedbergh Town Band.