Keeping music alive in a virtual world
In these days of covid restrictions being good at what you do is not enough, you must also be inventive in finding ways to carry on doing it.
There’s no doubting that Drogheda Brass Band are a hell of a good band but a band is made up of individual players and getting them together to practice and perform when get-togethers are not allowed has called for high levels of ingenuity.
But they have manged to pull it off and now, after a successful debut in its inaugural virtual brass band contest, Drogheda Brass Band is all set to take part in the Kapitol Cory Online 2021 Brass Band Championships.
Taking place over a number of weekends due to the worldwide interest, Drogheda Brass Band’s entry is to be broadcast live on the Cory Band’s YouTube channel on Saturday 20th March.
The championships will include bands from around the world, each required to produce a creative video of their performance, demonstrating their musical and entertainment talents while promoting their local areas.
Conductor of the Army No. 1 Band and musical director of Drogheda Brass Band, Captain John Carpenter, explains that the band continues to work hard to find creative ways to engage and support its young players across the school of music, Drogheda Youth Brass and the senior band.
“The band is delighted to take part in this innovative international event, the primary aim being to keep bands playing through the pandemic.
“Although separated due to lockdown, band members have been practising hard at home producing video tracks of their performances. All videos are then collated to produce the final production.
“It is certainly a new venture for the band, but the young players are certainly responding to the use of the technologies,” he added.
Band chairman Tony Collins said: “We are very lucky to have such a range of talents in the band, from video and audio technicians to photographers and the use of drone technology.
“The production will certainly allow us to showcase our talents to a wider audience and place the town of Drogheda firmly on the international stage.”
The band will perform two new arrangements by their musical director featuring video footage of Drogheda town, as well as collaborating with Drogheda’s famous uilleann pipe player Darragh O Heiligh.
You can keep up to date with Drogheda Brass Band activites on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/droghedabrass
Here’s something to cheer you up on a miserable grey day, a Drogheda Brass Band video from last May featuring John Carpenter’s brilliant arrangement of ELO’s Mr Blue Sky. Enjoy!
