Maidstone Winds

          

Welcome to the website for Maidstone Winds - one of Kent's leading adult wind ensembles.

We are a friendly ensemble of woodwind, brass and percussion players of grade eight standard who rehearse revery other Tuesday evening during term time  (between October and June with the exception of January) at the Invicta Girls Grammar School in Huntsmans Lane, Maidstone.


We have a committed core of players who attend these rehearsals and pay a monthly subscription. We then have a number of regular guest players who assist us at our concerts to ensure that we have a full band and do justice to our repertoire

.

New players of approximately grade 8 standard are welcome.

To join, or for more information e-mail maidstone.winds@yahoo.co.uk

or phone 01732 365698.


What is the history of Maidstone Winds?

Maidstone Winds was set up by Brendon Le Page in 1998 to provide an outlet for talented wind players building on the fine tradition of the wind ensembles of Kent Music and Maidstone Youth Music (MYMS). Maidstone Winds is not however affiliated to these or any other organisations and exists independently, run by an elected committee of members who appoint a musical director.


When does the band next meet?

We normally meet every other week during school term times from October to June, but not in January. See the page called 'Info for playing members' for further details and rehearsal/concert dates.

Here are some examples of music we've played recently....


Remembrance Concert - November 1st in All Saints' Church

          Richard Hubbert - We Shall Remember Them

          Martin Ellerby - Dona Nobis Pacem

          Ron Goodwin - 633 Squadron

          Nigel Clarke - Forgotten Heroes


10th Anniversary concert in Aylesford:-

          Richard Hubbert - Cavaliers & Roundheads

          Edward Gregson - Tuba Concerto (1st Mvt)

          Jan Van Der Roost - Puszta!

          James Barnes - Symphony No3 (yes, all of it!)

            Henry Fillmore - Amercians We!

Christmas performance in Kingsnorth:-

            Rimsky-Korsakov - Polonaise from On Christmas Night

            Martin Ellerby – Andersen's Tales

            Laurie Johnson – 3 Paintings by Lautrec

            Leroy Anderson – Christmas Festival & Sleigh Ride


Who conducts the band?

Jeremy Cooper MA AdCertRCM had his interest in wind bands stimulated by membership of the Kent Schools’ Symphonic Wind Band before becoming a member of the National Youth Wind Orchestra. He studied music at Oxford, where he was conductor of the Oxford University Wind Orchestra, and conducting at the Royal College of Music. He has developed Invicta Wind Orchestra as its director since it was founded in 1989 and was appointed conductor of Maidstone Winds in September 2004.