Little Big Band is ON tomorrow after school – got to get ready for The Old Friends gig in June!!!

I know it seems a bit cruel as I expect a lot of us are shattered, but there is a Wind Band rehearsal after school tomorrow and I need at least all the students going on tour to attend (as well as everyone else if possible). There is no rehearsal on Monday 6th as it is Bank Holiday and then we are in GCSE and A Level exam season so will have various yr11 and yr13 students struggling to make rehearsals for 6 weeks – once exam are finished we only have 2 scheduled rehearsals until the Summer Concert on 5th July, and then only 1 week until tour….. aaaaaaagh!!!!

What a concert last night!!!! What a weekend!!!

Well done to all students involved in this weekend’s concerts with the Royal Marines – I am SO proud of each and every one of our musicians! The videos of the concert are now live: the UVHS Wind Band set is here UVHS Wind Band With HM Band of Royal Marines Scotland 2024 (youtube.com) (gives the students a chance to see what the Corps of Drums was doing during the Olympic Fanfare), and the Massed Band set is here The Massed Band of UVHS and HM Band of Royal Marines Scotland 2024 (youtube.com) (including the encore of Highlights from Barbie).

Please could those adults able to help with the raffle and programmes tonight (we need at least 5 people to be effective and keep the queue moving) be at The Coro by 6.35pm? Doors will open by 6.45pm and every sale of a programme or raffle ticket makes a difference.

Please don’t forget the careers presentation from the Marines at 12.30pm in The Coro TODAY! Everyone is welcome to attend (students, parents, friends) but we need to make sure it is well attended – especially as the Marines are once again pulling out all the stops on this visit (and have funded a lot of it as well).

The Marines have just sent a link through for all the music for the massed band. Please could all massed band players print off their own parts for every piece, as well as the Barbie parts that I have emailed them, and make sure that they have the music with them at the rehearsals tomorrow and on Saturday?

Download link
https://wetransfer.com/downloads/4e22614d43c2a80674ca459de9a70c1720240425083508/03953f7b2811fc2ad8e819e6a444bd5020240425083529/a45786

Any problems, let me know

Saturday’s joint concert with the Royal Marines is a complete sell-out. However, two pairs of tickets have become available if anyone is interested?

2 x Balcony at £22 each

2 x Mid Stalls at £10 each

Please contact rbu@uvhs.uk if interested.

At 12.30pm on Saturday 27th April there will be a careers talk from the Royal Marines Band Service at The Coro. This is open to ANYONE (students, parents, friends etc).

Please could ALL players involved in the Massed Band performance make sure they attend? As said, everyone else is welcome as well.

Just a reminder of the timings for tomorrow night:

SWING  BAND

Arrangements for Fri 26^th April

• Arrive at The Coro at 7pm (audience cannot get in before 7.10pm)
• Instrument cases in the ant-room (just off the foyer)
• Set up pad/stand etc on stage

7.30pm-ish                     UVHS Swing Band set

                                                1 hour set

• Audience will get food before we finish
• Once we have finished the set we must quickly take our instruments and pads off stage and back into the ante-room
• Once instruments are packed away YOU MAY EAT!!!!!!!!
• Enjoy the rest of the evening!!!
• 11.00 finish
• SATURDAY – ‘Music in the Forces’ careers presentation @12.30pm in The Coro. Try to attend!

Just a reminder of what has already been emailed to every student involved:

Royal Marines Concert

Saturday 27th April

The Royal Marines would like you to play with their band as a ‘senior player’ for the massed band finale on 27^th April. In order to do this you MUST be available for the following 2 rehearsals:

Friday 26th April                3.45pm – 5.15pm @ The Coro

Saturday 27th April           12.30pm – 3.30pm @ The Coro

If you possess one of the dark blue ‘travelling’ polo shirts or a Music hoodie it would be great if you could wear it for one or both of those rehearsals.

Once I know the rest of the ‘massed band’ programme I will send links to you (they are below).  However, I have also attached the MP3 and parts for ‘Barbie’ for your section – please have a quick look at all the parts (as I don’t know where the Marines will put you).

Pixar Movie Magic arranged by Michael Brown (youtube.com)

Pastime With Good Company – arr. Philip Sparke (youtube.com)

Men of Honor (Ar. I Hutchinson) (youtube.com)