Somerset’s certainly got talent as was shown on Friday night (15th December) when a brand new group made up of musicians, both young and old, performed their first concert at Midsomer Norton’s Town Hall. Having only been together for five weeks, the Midsomer Norton Community Wind Band took to the stage, making their inaugural performance in a Christmas concert, playing alongside The Terry Hill Big Band.

Conductor, Fiona Langley, says: “We never dreamed that we would be performing to an audience so soon, but after only a couple of rehearsals, it became evident that this group was talented, so when Dave Dayman Johns (owner of All Instruments, Midsomer Norton) invited us to play in his concert, we accepted wholeheartedly. Members of the band are mainly children from schools in Midsomer Norton and surrounding areas, but in truth, we are looking for musicians of all ages and abilities to join the band. It’s all about making music and having fun.”

Local peripatetic music teachers, Amanda Garland and Katharine North, who work for the Music for Schools Foundation, were instrumental in setting up the band, which was created to offer an outlet for local musicians to get together and make music. “We are very proud of these students and are looking to increase numbers and encourage youngsters of both primary and secondary ages to learn a wind instrument and play as part of a group,” Amanda Garland explains. “We played some quite challenging pieces on Friday which went really well. All the musicians thoroughly enjoyed the evening and are fired up for more concerts next year,” adds Katharine North.

The Midsomer Norton Community Band is part of an initiative backed by ‘Music For Schools Foundation’, and is supported by the music shop, All Instruments in Midsomer Norton, who provide a practice room at their premises for the band to meet every Tuesday from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The objective of the band is to double in size from the current twenty members over the next six months, but they need more musicians of all ages from Grades I to V. Those

interested in joining should email: [email protected].