Day 12 - Happy Birthday to CWB!

Today's blog features a special guest interview with Viv, conductor and co-founder of Cambridge Wind Band (CWB). CWB are performing in the Clueless in Competition, not because any of them are clueless (far from it. There are more PhDs than GCSEs in this ensemble) but to ensure that the audience leaves West Road Concert Hall having heard some competent playing from people not on their third or fourth instrument. Viv is also conducting the Long Winded ensemble hoping to lead them to victory in the GOAT Reunion competition.

For me CWB has a rare distinction in that it is one of a handful of groups where I have been in the audience more times than I have played with them. Concerts I have attended have been full and the band has built up a massive fan base mostly due to the quality playing and varied programmes that appeal to all. There is also a huge sense of enjoyment from the players themselves, something that audiences easily pick up on. Concerts usually start at 3:30pm and this allows children and grandparents to come along without it being a late night. It also helps beat the Cambridge Curfew (Park & Ride buses finish at dusk I believe) so those who don't want to have to drive all the way into Cambridge don't have to. I'm led to believe this wasn't the original reason for the mid-afternoon start. Really it is so the players get to have lunch with their friends, play an enjoyable concert, go home for dinner and manage to get settled on the sofa with a glass of their favourite tipple just as Casualty comes on. A perfect Saturday!

Cambridge Wind Band

Viv and I share a packet of Danish pastries (from Waitrose, of course) as I ask her more about how the band started. Viv explains she was in a rehearsal with Sarah, a clarinettist with a interest in trying the tenor sax. "It came from an off the cuff remark. We were talking about wind bands and I said I would love to conduct an adult band. Sarah immediately said 'if you conduct it, I'll do the administration'. With an offer like that how could I refuse". It came just at the right time. Many local players had continued with their Grade-One-A-Thon instruments and several other players had taken up family instruments so were keen to play in a friendly group. Also, despite there being a huge number of orcehstras and ensembles already in Cambridge places for flutes and clarinets are scarce and often over-competitive. There are no formal auditions for CWB but players need to be around grade 6 to 8 and be able to commit to rehearsals and performances. The first rehearsal was on 12 January 2012. Viv fondly recalls "What the hell were we doing starting a band in January? It could have snowed!" In the end there was an almost complete band and around three quarters of the original members still play three years on.

Several of those that joined found it actually gave their instrumental playing a new lease of life. One brass player had got to grade 8 at school but hadn't played in 20 years. After joing the band he went to get some lessons and was amazed at how quickly it all came back! Almost all sections are now full (although if you are a trumpet of percussionist there may be a space). Even the tuba space is currently filled. Viv says there was much celebration in the house when a tuba enquired. Especially as he sounded amazing!


I ask Viv what the highlights have been over the last three years. I was concerned at the lengthy pause before she answered but rather than there being very few there were actually many highlights and she was just pciking the best one or two. Top was "the fantastic cameraderie". Another enjoyable moment was "listening back to the recording of the November concert and thinking 'they've come a long way in three years'".

They're going even further this year with a big concert on Saturday 18 April which will feature something for everyone, old and young, including music from ET, Batman, Pirates of the Caribbean, Frozen, War Horse, Les Miserables, Selections from James Bond and Pixar. More info at http://www.camwindband.com/ and tickets can be booked through

https://www.adcticketing.com/whats-on.aspx?date=18%2f04%2f2015

but if you can't wait until then come along on 22 February.

So today's practise session is dedicated to the Cambridge Wind Band! I did my scales in one breath and worked on articulation in Showing Off!. There are four bars in the Scarlatti that are still a problem even at a slow speed so I started doing that with a dotted rhythm and I finished by improvising a version of Happy Birthday. Thanks to Viv, and to Sarah N for the photos!