Teri Kidd, Kirsty Grimmer, and Robert Thirst, with Stalham’s director Tim Thirst, and training in 2003
Eastern Daily Press
Monday 16th July 2007
Eastern Evening News Monday 16th July 2007
North Norfolk News, 19th July 2007
Great Yarmouth Mercury, 20th July 2007
North Norfolk Advertiser, 20th July 2007
Town & Country News August 2007
BRASS BAND IS BEST IN UK
TOWN BAND SCOOPS A TOP BRASS AWARD
TOP BRASS
AWARD TRUMPETS BAND'S ACHIEVEMENT
TOP AWARD IN UK
Teri Kidd, Kirsty Grimmer,
and Robert Thirst, with Stalham’s director Tim Thirst, and training in
2003
Pictures from schools' visits
A Norfolk brass band is blowing its own trumpet after winning a top national award for its community work.
From the Highlands of Scotland to Cornwall and Kent, brass bands presented a week of special community events last year to celebrate their music making.
Stalham Brass Band's visits to schools to give talks, mini-concerts and let children try out new and historic instruments were a key part of their success. The Stalham Brass Band held a concert in St. Mary’s Church, an exhibition of band history in the town-centre - where instruments were on hand to try out - and open rehearsals.
But the best successes of the week were the visits by the band to local schools. Band members had taken time off work to enable them to visit schools in the mornings and afternoons. Dr. Tim Thirst – the band’s director of music – gave talks about the history of brass bands, the players gave mini- concerts, and then all the school children had a chance to try out not only modern instruments but also rare historical ones.
They won a £1000 prize from the British Bandsman magazine for the "most significant contribution" during a week of community events by bands across the United Kingdom. The Norfolk band also held a concert, exhibition of band history, and open rehearsals. Director of music Tim Thirst also received a cash award which he has used to provide music equipment and boxed sets of CDs for the band's youngsters.
Dr. Thirst said "The band had come close to winning in the previous two years, but it was a wonderful surprise to achieve first place. "It was inspiring to see how many young people in the ban were so enthusiastic about telling others of the enjoyment that they got from music-making" he added.
The judges made special mention of the music opportunities that the band and its director continue to give to young people in Norfolk. The efforts of the band were also rewarded by lots of thank-you letters sent from children at the schools visited.
In 2004, the band received the
Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award, for service to the community and training
young people.
For further information on joining the band contact Tim Thirst on
01692-650077.