Who are we?
The Cheadle Community Band started out as an 'open' band for people who've played instruments in the past but have got out of the swing of things. We don't audition members and we don't ask members to be at a certain standard - anyone's welcome. We have members from 18 to 80s with playing abilities from beginners to music teachers.
Our history
The idea for the Community Band was sown in early 2014 in a music group of Cheadle U3A who identified a lack of local music groups for adults (over 18s) who were still in full time employment. A vision for a new band developed that would provide an opportunity for adults to play music with others for enjoyment and improvement of their playing. U3A member Chris Latham was instrumental in turning the vision into a reality. Chris sent out an open invitation to local musicians to join a new “Open Band”. A few enquiries were received and the first practice meeting of the band took place in September 2014 in the Cheadle Guild Hall under Chris’s leadership.
After a few months Chris handed over the baton to another band member, trombonist Rob Ellis, who, as the Musical Director, has taken the band from strength to strength. Rob’s excellent choice and variety of scores, his ability to judge each player’s playing ability and choose parts to suit them and his expert and clear musical direction has improved the quality and uniqueness of the band’s sound to the point where they are now in demand for local performances.
We have performed, entertained, gigged, busked and remembered at venues in and around Cheadle, Stoke and the Staffordshire Moorlands. There is, first of all of course, our yearly charity concert where we show off what we can do and how much we enjoy making music together. We also have been invited to entertain the crowds at the Party in the Park in Cheadle, the Agricultural Show in Ipsones, the Hill Climb in Oakamoor, Music in the Park (at the bandstand in Leek's Brough Park), the Alton Castle Garden Party, Carsafest - the Caverswall Festival, and more. In December, we get out the Christmas repertoire and mix it with some of our greatest hits from the past and choice morsels that we have planned for the future, to entertain shoppers locally and as far afield as the Affinity Outlet at the Talke Pitts retail park.
Today
The band currently has some 30 active members whose abilities range from complete beginners to semi-professional with instruments varying from strings (violins, cello, bass, bass guitar – even a banjo), woodwind (saxophones, flutes, clarinets, oboes), brass (trumpets, cornets, horns, trombones), to percussion (including bongos and a typewriter) and piano. All players are made to feel welcome and their instruments are accommodated in the arrangements according to their playing ability.
The Community Band welcomes all musicians from 18 to 118, from all walks of life and of any playing ability. Practices are every Saturday morning at the Freehay Village Hall, ST10 1TS, from 10 am to 12 noon.
Our weekly fee is £2 per session or £20 per 3 months , there is no joining fee. Please get in touch if you are interested in joining.
