Ardee Concert Band received a resounding welcome in the Westville Hotel, Enniskillen on Saturday last 3rd of October. The 42 strong Senior Band travelled to meet with their friends, the Fermanagh Concert Band who came to Ardee last May for a joint concert. The Enniskillen audience were very responsive and it was great to see the familiar faces of the Fermanagh band members. Ardee played an entertaining programme consisting of the rock version of Fanfare for the Common Man, the march Blaze Away, Shaft, Puttin on the Ritz, Original Dixieland Concerto which featured band members Nicky Callan, Mark Mc Loughlin, Adam Byrne, Kevin O Brien, Paul O Brien and Linda McCarron. The final piece was Highlights from the film Shrek 2, This programme went down very well with the audience. The concert finale was a performance of both bands together. This twenty-minute programme consisted of the march On The Quarter Deck, Hootenanny, All that Jazz, Cartoon Symphony, The Stripper and Lord of the Dance. The Fermanagh Concert Band were very cordial hosts and it is hoped to continue the friendship in music. A beautiful vase of Ann McNulty pottery made locally in Enniskillen was presented to Ardee Concert Band by the conductor of the Fermanagh band, David Baxter.
Ardee Concert Band School of Music News
These past few weeks have been a little on the hectic side for the band, September is a transition time for many of their young musicians. Sixteen young people who started instruments last year have just gone into the Youth Band, which is now 38 strong, under the baton of John Gaynor. The 20 members of last years Recorder Group are just beginning lessons on the instrument of their choice, this includes 6 on Trumpet with John Gaynor, 4 on Saxophone with Laura Jones, 4 on Flute with Susan Connolly 2 on Euphonium with Kevin Reilly and 4 on Clarinet with Tony Flanagan. The recent enrolment night was another success with 28 new members starting on recorder. Ardee Concert Band now has 150 members, this is the highest membership in the bands history and the future of the band is very secure as 107 of these members are under eighteen years of age.
150 years in existence
The band want to announce that next year 2010 is their one-hundredth and fiftieth anniversary. They hope to celebrate this very special occasion with several events during the coming year. Some of the suggestions are a band festival in the summer, a trip abroad, a concert cum party similar to the one held for the millennium year, and finishing the year with an extra spectacular Christmas concert. They may not achieve all of the above or maybe people have other ideas or suggestions, nothing is written in stone yet but it is hoped to organise several events during 2010.
Church Gate Collection
Finally but most importantly the band would like to thank the people of the town for their support at their recent Church Gate Collection, these are very difficult times and while the recession showed in the amount collected, they were pleasantly surprised at the generosity and support that they received locally.
North Of Ireland Band Championships
The next project for the band is the Northern Ireland Band Championships on October 31st in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh.