The Dunger/Lewis story….

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It all started with my 8 year old daughter Evelin who had expressed an

interest in playing music.  Evelin was in a class at Primary School with a

friend who had started learning how to play a cornet with Croft Silver

Band.  Her Grandad, Brian, decided to take her along to a have a look and

listen at one of the Junior rehearsals and they came home with a Cornet. 

Evelin it seemed was a natural taking to the cornet straight away, her

ability becoming apparent as soon as she started to play.  She found

reading music very easy, as it is in the youthful years.  She soon joined

the Junior Band and was asked to play principle cornet after a few years.  I remember being so proud of her.  Soon after she was asked to play on back row for the Senior Band by our MD Ian Needham.  She was asked to play with the band in her first Senior Band contest, the band achieving second place, she looked so small but so comfortable with the band.  There was no stopping her now.  Music became a major part of her life.  Evelin was then asked if she would like to play Sop in the Senior Band which she agreed to do and her talents had no bounds, she took to the Sop like a duck to water.  After a successful few years playing Sop for Croft Evelin decided to move to another band, Melton Band, a band that was very familiar to Croft, having some of the ex-Croft players, including the MD Graham Sutton, who also conducted and played for Croft in the past.  Again after a successful few years playing Sop for Melton Evelin decided it was time to move to Kibworth Band (1st section) and was invited to play flugel horn for them.  Evelin is still there at present and waiting for her chance to shine again once this retched COVID has gone.

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Brian’s story….

                                         Brian is one of our senior members of the band.  Brian is Evelin’s                                             grandad and decided to give it a go after taking Evelin to a few                                                 practices when she first started.  Brian started with the Junior                                                   Band, although very much senior, playing flugel horn.  Brian was                                             asked to have a go at the E Bass a much larger instrument and                                                 continued with the Junior Band.  Brian too then was also invited                                               to play with the Senior Band on E Bass.  Evelin, Brian and Henry                                             enjoyed success with the Senior Band and enjoyed playing in the                                             same band.  Brian is still with us now playing E Bass and is also                                             our instrument manager.  He really enjoys being part of the band                                             and is part of our committee.  He has been a fantastic supporter of                                           the band taking on tasks, projects and management of our instruments.  Brian will support anyone in the band and is a great ambassador for the band.  Go Brian!!

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Henry’s story…

Henry is Evelin’s sister and started playing with the Junior Band not

long after Brian decided to start.  He too like his sister took to playing

like a duck to water.  His music ability becoming more apparent as he

continued to progress into the Junior Band and then into the Senior

Band.  Henry started playing euphonium and went on to be an expert

on the E Bass.  His talent extended to the B Bass as well.  Like his

sister he enjoyed success with the Senior Band but again decided to

join The Melton Band, like his sister and along with his girlfriend

Anne, who is a fabulous cornet player..  He is still playing with them

now but has had success playing regularly as a guest player for 1st

Section and Championship Bands. Henry has also started to compose

is own music and his pieces have been well received at their concerts. Good luck Henry…

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Katrina’s story…

                                          Of course I was going to start playing, couldn’t let them take all                                                the limelight.  I started in the Junior Band on horn and was then                                              asked to have a go at Baritone.  Oh my goodness I had to work                                                  hard, lots of practice paid off and I was asked to play for the                                                      Senior Band on 2nd Baritone.  It was very hard at first but things                                              improved and I became a better player with lots of practice and                                                help and encouragement from Henry, Evelin and my dad.  They                                              were all great teachers although a little tough.  I now play 1st                                                    horn for Croft.  I am not a great player and still lack a bit of                                                      confidence but playing along with my children and my dad has                                                been great and has made me very proud to be part of a band. 

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Moral of the story….

You are never too young or old to start playing an instrument and it can be a fabulous feeling to play with a group of players or family in a band and achieve success.  So come on get over to one of our rehearsals and have a go, what have you got to lose…

Katrina Dunger

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COVID-19

Oh my goodness what a year we have had so far.  It all started in March with the dreaded COVID-19.  First the warning, then the lockdown, then the cancellations and then that was it no more rehearsals.  It has been a tough year for the band not only financially but also mentally and emotionally. We have however been busy putting a new band storage room up at Huncote School.  This is a great achievement for us as we have been moved from pillar to post and are now settled at Huncote School with our new storage facility.  We had a great team putting together the garage and ensuring its’ security and would like to extend the bands thanks to Rhys, our project manager and all that helped with the garage construction.  Our library has now been moved into the garage thanks to the efforts of Elaine and Gaz.  We are now in the position to offer our Risk Assessment to the school, courtesy of Sue, and hope to be back their soon

AGM 2020

Due to the COVID-19 we were forced to hold our AGM as a Zoom Meeting in September.  We would like to thank all that attended the meeting to enable us to elect a new committee for the forthcoming year. We would like to say thank you to Alan Wheelhouse who stood as our former Chairman and Emily Wheelhouse who stood as former Librarian.  A special mention has to go to a former Vice President, Brian Whittaker, who sadly passed away.

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          President – Colin Ball

          Vice Presidents – Mick Brunt and Henry Dunger

          Chairman – Rhys Cowsill

          Treasurer – Gina Needham

          Secretary – Katrina Dunger

          Band Manager – Julie Brunt

          Librarian – Elaine Morgan

          Assistant Librarian – Lauren Brunt

          Welfare Officer – Emily Bromley

          COVID-19 Coordinator – Sue Williamson (non-committee)

          Instrument Manager – Brian Lewis

          Media Coordinator – Julie Brunt

          Fund Raiser – Rhys Cowsill

          Sub-committee members – Melissa Rowsell, Emily Wheelhouse

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