January 2012
Happy New Year to everyone!
We are already back into the swing of rehearsals ready for this years concerts, which you can find details of on the Band Calender page. We have four more exciting events to perform at this year and we are very much looking forward to them.
2011 was another very successful year of fundraising for the band and we have now helped to raise around £60,000 for local, regional and in fact international charities. We are very proud of this total, but we very much hope that we can keep on generating even more money this year and beyond.
It is very satisfying to know that through doing something we enjoy so much, we are enabling those less fortunate than ourselves to enjoy a better quality of life.
We have said a sad farewell recently to Alex Williams who has found a new job in Wales, so it's a bit far to get back for rehearsals!
We have welcomed several new faces to the band: Ben Jowett, Ben Armstrong and Debbie Miles to the cornet section and
Gareth Hand is joining our percussion team.
We have some budding teenage pop sensations within the band's rank's!!! Emma, Danny & Tom have formed a group called Tilly and are currently touring the UK playing to rave reviews in schools. Look out for them on the radio before long!!
We are very excited for them and wish them every success in the future. You can find more information about them at their website www.tillyofficial.co.uk
January 2011
Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills Band wishes everyone a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2011.
As you will see from the Band Calender page, we have some exciting events lined up through the year. We are even expanding our fund raising activities to support a charity abroad, although it is run by local people.
Of particular pride is the visit of the Royal Marines School Of Music in April. This weekend of music making is always eagerly anticipated and this year is no different. In light of the current conflicts around the world, we are particularly pleased to support the Help For Heroes fund.
The band is settling well under our Musical Director, Russell Gray. Due to a long standing commitment, Russell is unable to conduct the band at the Royal Marines weekend, but we delighted to welcome guest Musical Director, Paul Hindmarsh for the weekend. We hope he enjoys his time with us.
Our fund raising activities will continue and we are confident that in 2011 we can help pass the £50,000 barrier raised since 2008.
We hope to see you at our events through the year.
December 2010
The band was involved in two exciting concerts before Christmas, at the Palace Hotel, Buxton and at the Winding Wheel, Chesterfield.
The Buxton concert featured an ensemble from the band conducted by our Principal Euphonium player, Lynden Cooper, Tideswell Male Voice and a combined choir of children from local schools, coached by band member Louise Hopkins. The concert was a great success with plenty of seasonal music and audience participation.
23rd December saw the full band appear at the Winding Wheel, Chesterfield. It was our eagerly anticipated first appearance with new Musical Director, Russell Gray. Russell certainly made an instant impression, especially as he appeared on stage wearing full Scottish national dress! The band were inspired (or terrified!) by Russells appearance and put on a great show, playing to an exceptionally high standard.
As at Buxton, the concert featured the band, Tideswell Male Voice Choir and South Darley Junior School choir, coached again by Louise Hopkins. The whole audience enjoyed the performances and got fully involved in the singing to make a special night. Special mention must go to the band however, whos vocal rendition of Five Gold Rings was quite incredible!
Both concerts were, as usual for local the evenings raised a combined total of £7,000. This brings the total amount raised during 2010 to approximately £12,500.
This means then that since 2008, the band has helped to raise around £43,000 for local and regional charities.
August 2010
The Band helped to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the death of one of Derbyshire's most famous personalities, Florence Nightingale on the 14th August, at Lea Bridge, near Matlock Derbyshire. A whole weekend of activities was devoted to Florence, her life and her dedication to nursing. The showery weather did not dampen the spirits of those attending the event. Florence's nearest living relative was also in attendance. A contingent of fifteen players put on a fine show, performing easy listening music for a very appreciative audience. The band was conducted by Musical Director of it's ensemble, Lynden Cooper, who is also the Solo Euphonium with the full band.
July 8th 2010
Russell Gray is new Musical Director
Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills Band is delighted to announce that Russell Gray has agreed to become their Musical Director.
Russell was of course recently appointed Musical Director of the Fairey (Geneva) Band and his appointment follows the death of Masson Mills Band’s long-time Musical Director Stephen Shimwell, in April.
Based in Matlock, Derbyshire, Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills Band (formerly known as Thorntons Brass) withdrew from the competitive arena several years ago and now concentrates purely on the organisation of and participation in several high profile charitable concerts each year for local and regional charities.
Indeed, since the band’s association with Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills began in 2008, they have helped to raise around £40,000 for good causes and under Russell’s expert direction, aim to continue this excellent work in the future.
Band spokesman Phil Peat commented ‘After the shock of the sad loss of Stephen Shimwell, the band members spirits were very low, but we were determined to continue playing. We set out to find a first class Musical Director who could re-invigorate and inspire the band and take us forward again. Russell came to conduct a recent rehearsal and his musicianship shone through immediately. He worked with the band really well and struck up an instant rapport with the members. We knew immediately that we would like him to work with us on a regular basis. The band members are all thrilled that a conductor of Russell’s ability and standing has agreed to conduct and he will take the baton at our future concerts’.
Russell Gray commented: ‘Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills Band is doing great work to raise money for local charities, enabling large sums to be donated to worthy causes and I fully support their aims and objectives. I am very much looking forward to working with the band on some new repertoire and putting on some great concerts in the future’.
June 2010
The band will be making an exciting announcement regarding the appointment of a new Musical Director to conduct the band very soon.
May 2010
Our second concert of 2010 saw the band at the Winding Wheel Theatre in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills Band were appearing with the Equinox Saxaphone Ensemble. Another superb evening of music helped to raise over £2,500 for charities selected by the Rotary Club of Chesterfield Scarsdale.
It was the band's first concert without Stephen Shimwell conducting, so naturally it was an emotionally difficult evening. The band is very grateful to Roger Jepson who stood in at very short notice and did a fine job as Guest Musical Director.
Funeral of Stephen Shimwell
Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills Band performed at the funeral of our Musical Director Stephen Shimwell. the funeral was held at Youlgreave Church on Thursday 13th May. Many former players of the Band and friends and acquaintances of Stephen were in attendance. As Stephen spent a number of happy years at the Royal Marines School of Music as a civilian Professor, it was fitting that several uniformed representatives of the Royal Marines were present to pay their respects.
Then band played magnificently under very trying circumstances - we hope Stephen would have been proud.
April 2010
It is with great sadness that the death of the Band's Principal Conductor and Musical Director Stephen Shimwell was announced on Friday 30th April 2010.
Stephen had been associated with the Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills Band since it's inception in 1979 and had been it's mentor, driving force and inspiration thorughout that time.
The band members are all extremely upset at his sudden passing, especially after conducting a superb concert just the weekend before.
He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him and he will be a great loss to the brass band fraternity and the music world in general.
The band took part in the first of it's charitable concerts for 2010, performing in Highfields School, Matlock to a packed audience. The concert featured the band, the Dalesmen male Voice Choir and a composite choir of local schoolchildren, who joined forces with the band at the concert finale to perform a selection of well known songs from 'Mary Poppins'
The concert raised £3100,00 for local charity 'Aquabox', who suply water purification treatment boxes all around the world.
