News - Dec 2007
It’s hard to believe a year’s gone by since I wrote about the band’s truly moving carol concert for the homeless people of Leicester at the city’s YMCA. I’m delighted to say that we were invited to perform at the same event this Christmas and once again, thanks to the ongoing support of the Foresters Friendly Society, could do so without charging a fee. It may well be the most warm and appreciative audience it’s possible to play for - using our music to bring a little festive warmth to people experiencing genuine hardship and unhappiness.
In the twelve months since that first performance at the YMCA, regular readers of Miscellany will know it’s been a fantastic year for Foresters Brass 2000: The band was promoted to the first section of the brass band movement in January 2007 and quickly clocked up some excellent results in competitions around the country. The band has also enjoyed some superb concerts, many for Foresters Courts, which are always such a pleasure to play for. Perhaps most memorable though was an event to mark 10 years of independence for the county of Rutland - thousands of people sat in the sun enjoying picnics while the band played throughout the evening, culminating in a spectacular fireworks finale. On both the concert and contest stage then, Foresters Brass 2000 is proudly spreading the Foresters name far and wide.
The committee is now busy finding ways to spread that name even further in 2008: plans are afoot for a trip to France and Belgium at Easter along with several concerts around the UK, including Stowmarket, Ware, Mendlesham and our home town of Leicester. With all this in the pipeline, and as we finally settle into our own permanent new home, the next twelve months look set to be as successful and rewarding as the last.
Finally, on behalf of the players and the committee of Foresters Brass 2000, I would like to thank your readers for their support and friendship throughout 2007 and wish all Foresters a happy Christmas and a prosperous 2008.
Bro Dan Baker