Trowbridge and District Youth Band recently held their AGM and also a presentation morning, when the young players performed in front of an audience of parents and friends.

Although the band has experienced falling numbers recently, the energy and enthusiasm of the players was apparent to all. In a bid to ensure the band can continue to support their efforts, it was agreed at the AGM that the band should open up its membership to all players, of whatever age, while keeping to the format of having a beginners group, junior and ultimately a senior band, and aiming to offer all members as many opportunities as possible to play in public.

It was felt there were probably former members of the band living in Trowbridge and the surrounding area who would like the opportunity to resume their music-making, as well as people who may not have had the chance to learn an instrument when young but who would love to be able to play one.

The band’s membership, at £10 a month, includes the loan of an instrument and music, as well as weekly tuition and practice sessions, making it a very reasonable way of learning musical skills.

“The band has been going for over 30 years, and recently several of its senior members left us to go on to work or university,” explained chairman Sarah Morris, who was re-elected at the AGM. “We thought we would like to offer older people in Trowbridge the chance to join us, as the town does not have a brass band, and we’d love to hear from anyone, whether they are already a player or not, who’d like to join us.

“We already have a couple of adult members, and it’s great how they and the younger players get such a lot out of practising and playing together.”

Practice sessions are held every Saturday morning at Newtown School in Trowbridge, with beginners of all ages from 9.30-10.30am, with the junior band practicing from 10.30am.

The band already has several dates booked to play Christmas carols at local stores, and will once again be providing the music for the shoppers Christmas carol service which follows the Christmas lights switch-on in Trowbridge town centre.

The presentation morning also saw the annual presentation of certificates: Most Improved Musician went to Katherine Adlam, Best Practise to Connie Disney, Bandsmanship to Jonathan Adlam with two players, Elijah Heard and Danieilia Chester Jones Dallas, receiving their promotion from the beginners group to the junior band. The trophy awarded in recognition of service to the band was awarded to former secretary, now music librarian, Marian Henderson.

Anyone who is interested in joining the band can contact them through the website, wwww.tdyb.org. or by calling beginners director Eileen Taylor on 01225 972943. Practice begins again tomorrow (Saturday) from 9.30am.