News
Midlands First Section Champions 2010
On 13th March Langley were crowned First Section Champions at the Midlands Area Contest of the National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain. Drawn to play last in a field of eighteen bands, the adjudicators were impressed by a very musical interpretation of A Moorside Suite by Gustav Holst. Langley will now go forward to represent the Midlands at the National Finals in Harrogate this September.
Langley Win At Leamington
Langley band won the first section at the West Midlands Brass Band Association Contest on Sunday 22nd November 2009 held at the Royal Spa centre in Leamington Spa. Their performance of Tallis Variations by Phillip Sparke being described by adjudicator John Berryman as "a clear winner" they had a two point margin over the second placed band. There was a double celebration as principal euphonium Saphran Ali collected the soloist prize for best instrumentalist.
Langley Host Aussies
The Langley Band have been providing assistance to the Brisbane Excelsior Band during their preparations for the 2009 British Open Brass Band Championship. The Australian band have been rehearsing at our historic bandroom in the week prior to their appearance at Symphony Hall Birmingham.
The two bands came together for a band social evening at the Crosswells which serves as the bands venue for informal committee meetings. The evening provided an opportunity to catch up with some old friends and make a whole lot of new ones. The general drift of the conversation confirming that the pleasures and challenges of brass banding are pretty much the same whichever side of the world you happen to be on. Earlier the bands attended a reception in Oldbury given by the mayor of Sandwell Cllr Geoff Lewis.
New CD “…By Request”
Our latest CD, titled “…By Request” is now available for just £10 either via the Band Secretary, (see our “CONTACT DETAILS” page, or any Band member.
Track Listing:
01 Fanfare & Theme
02 Mary Poppins
03 Georgia On My Mind
04 You Raise Me Up
05 I’ve Got You Under My Skin
06 Swingtime Religion
07 Abba Goes Brass
08 Benedictus
09 Frolic For Trombones
10 Mr Sandman
11 A Highland Hymn
12 Caravan
13 Laudate Dominum
14 The New Colonial
Another New Venue
May saw the band performing at the Goodyear Club, Wolverhampton. The band has played at the previous social club in the late 1970's but not the new location.
The large, appreciative audience gave the band a warm welcome & another booking looks to be on it's way for 2009.
As a sign of people's commitment, Cliff Parker, the MD, had travelled direct from London to conduct the band, ariving only minutes before the start. This proved a long day for Cliff as he had been out since leaving home at 4.30am!
New Concert Venue
On Saturday 26th Jan 2008 the Band staged their first ever performance in Hereford, at the Courtyard Theatre. This was also the first brass band concert ever held at the Courtyard but the evening proved a resounding success and the theatre want the Band back in 2009!
New Dress Jackets!
The Band start 2008 in style with smart new stage uniform jackets.
The previous plain red blazers had seen many a concert over the last 15 years or so, during which time most of the Band members have changed - and those of us that remain have mostly changed shape - so new jackets were well overdue!
The Band have been very fortunate to secure a grant from the Oldbury Town Team towards the cost of the new dress jackets and thanks go to Town Team leader Councillor Malcolm Bridges for championing our application.
The Band recently had some publicity photographs taken to show off the new uniforms along with Cllr Bridges, where we learned that Malcolm's son played Eb horn with the Band until around 1987!
Here's a preview of the new Jackets, but you'll have to see us in the flesh to appreciate how smart they really are!
