West Berks village’s popular community band has 100-year-old history
On Sunday, at 3pm, Beenham Wind Orchestra play on Newbury Bandstand.
Relax and enjoy a free performance of light music, including favourites from shows, in Victoria Park, Newbury. Take a chair/rug and a picnic.
Then on Friday, June 21, at 7.30pm, they return for the summer picnic Band on the Rec – a free midsummer night family event at Beenham village recreation ground.
This will be part of Make Music Day - an international celebration of music held every year on June 21, now in more than 1,000 cities in 125 countries.
Bring family, friends, chairs and rugs. A barbecue and beer will be available courtesy of the Six Bells and ice creams by Dave’s Ices.
More info at www.beenhamwindorchestra.org
Beenham’s community band - now named Beenham Wind Orchestra - boasts a proud history, as they told @newburytoday
“The first Beenham Band is thought to have started more than 100 years ago in 1890 and, according to Parish records, the original instruments were purchased by contributions from the members and by subscriptions from friends.
The Bandmaster at the time, William Wigmore, appears as a Methodist trustee in 1891. During the Second World War, the band, along with many other social activities, had to cease. However, it started up again in 1946-47, primarily by the bass player George Gilbert, using the instruments from the original band.
At the height of its popularity, the band had more than 30 members actively taking part. Gradually however the members dispersed, some going to other bands in the area such as Tadley and Pangbourne, which still have their bands today.
The present Beenham Band was formed in 1999 as part of the village's millennium celebrations, with the help of a grant from the Parish Council. From very modest beginnings (there were six performers taking part in the first concert in Beenham Church), it has grown to its present size of around 40 members. The ensemble changed its name to Beenham Wind Orchestra to more accurately reflect the type of music we play and to avoid confusion with brass bands.
However, we still think of ourselves as a band, because our aim is to be sociable, welcoming and inclusive, as well as having fun making serious music.
Musical director Victoria Benjamin studied saxophone at the University of Leeds with Richard Ingham and Carl Raven and at the University of North Texas with Sarah Roberts, where she also played under the direction of Nicholas Williams.
She played principal alto saxophone and featured as a soloist with the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain from the age of 15, touring to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Prague, Holland and China. Most recently she played alto in the SaxFamily, alongside Nigel Wood and Gerard McCrystal.
Victoria frequently records for Saxtet Publications in Birmingham and also plays with the Hacienda Classical, with whom she headlined at the Isle of Wight Festival twice and opened the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2018.
She currently teaches woodwind in Berkshire and Hampshire as well as performing and working as an instrument repairer having qualified from Merton College, London.
Victoria founded and directs the Newbury Saxophone Choir and was appointed musical director of Beenham Wind Orchestra early in 2022 (replacing Robert Roscoe, who was the musical director from 2006).”
If you are interested in finding out more and potentially joining this friendly amateur wind orchestra, they rehearse on Friday evenings during school term times from 7.30pm to 9.45pm at Beenham Primary School.
If you play to Grade 5 standard or above, and would like to find out more email BWOContact@gmail.com or ring/text 07751 696756. www.beenhamwindorchestre.org They are particularly interested in hearing from brass players (especially lower brass instruments).
Follow the orchestra on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/138240319623749/and percussionists
www.beenhamwindorchestra.org.uk
