Information about the Band ...
What is the Band of the Surrey Yeomanry?
The Band is a 30 to 40 piece concert band (also known as a wind band, or
military band). It normally contains clarinets, flutes, oboe, saxophones,
trumpets, trombones, horns, euphonium, bass, drums and percussion, but can
contain almost any wind or brass instrument.
What does the Band play?
The range of a concert band is very broad and can include music from all periods
from the classical to the modern popular. Typically, programs would include
selections from shows (anything from Rodgers & Hart to Andrew Lloyd Webber),
dance band music (Glenn Miller to Jerry Herman), waltzes (a bit of Strauss,
perhaps) and modern pieces written specifically for concert bands.
How does the Band Operate ?
The band meets weekly for rehearsals, which take place at 8pm on Mondays at
St. John the Evangelist
in Redhill. The Band also performs a number of paid engagements throughout the year.
These are most commonly in the summer, on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. The income from these engagements is
used to offset the running costs of the Band. In addition to this there is a
annual subscription by members which provides the rest of the income necessary.
The Band is run on a day to day basis by a committee of around 10 persons.
The committee is elected by band members at an Annual General Meeting.
Click here for Covid-Secure rehearsal arrangements.
To join the Band ...
If you are interested in joining the Band, please contact the
Chairman or the
Secretary.
What do you need?
- Your own instrument and music stand.
- Monday nights free to attend rehearsals.
- A
reasonable commitment to attend engagements. It may not be possible to attend
all engagements, but since engagements are the means by which the Band is
financed, we hope that members will do their best.
Does the Band wear a uniform?
When out on engagements the Band wears dark red jackets (provided), and members
will need to provide their own white shirts and black trousers (or black
skirts).
Where did the Band come from, and how long has it been going?
The Band was formed in 1964 as the official band of the Surrey Yeomanry (Queen
Mary’s Regiment). Successive defence cuts and re-organisation of the military
led to the disbandment of the Surrey Yeomanry regiment and its band, but by the
unanimous wish of its members the band kept together - at first in an unofficial
capacity and then under the auspices of the Regimental Association. The Band
continues to be affiliated to the Regimental Association, although they play no
part in managing or running the Band. A few of the original members are still
playing in the Band; the rest of the members have joined since and have no
connection with the Regiment or the Army. The Band is now managed as a regular
concert band, but the name remains as a reminder of the Band’s origins many
years ago.
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