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 The
Colchester Band was formed at a public meeting on the 24th
of August 1860,where a "Public Subscription Appeal" was launched
to raise two hundred pounds for instruments and uniforms for a
group of 17 musicians. This band was called the ‘Colchester Town
and Volunteer Rifle Band’.
Further reports found in the local newspapers at
the time (Essex
Standard and Eastern Counties Advertiser), listed the contributors
to the appeal. The band gave their first performance towards the
end of 1860. Around this time the name was changed to the
‘Colchester Town Band’.
We can be fairly sure that the
band thrived throughout the period between its foundation and the
Second World War. As with most bands at this time, it packed away
its instruments for the duration and contributed to the war
effort.
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The band reformed in 1946 as the ‘Colchester Silver Band’ under the musical direction of Bertie
Richardson.
Bertie was
the Musical Director up until his retirement in 1971. Under
his direction the band won several prizes in both local and
national competitions.
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Arthur Austin became conductor
70`s and 80`s. The baton was then
passed to Stephen Kenna. Under Stephen’s direction the band
continued to improve in standard and eventually gained
Championship Section status in 1988-89.
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The band were briefly under the direction
of Stephen Pegram, and were pleased to appoint Peter Ivey as
Musical Director in 1992.
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In January 1993 the rehearsal
room was destroyed by fire, damaging most instruments and
music. Spurred on by this disaster, a trip to Zwolle in Holland
was organised, plus the acquiring of a new practice room. The appointment of Robert Howard as Musical Director
complemented this recovery.
The phoenix did arise from the
ashes.
 Under the chairmanship of Eric Tooley
and the musical direction of Robert Howard the band were able to
maintain their musical standards and increase their profile within
the local community, culminating with the sponsorship of the band
in 1994 by a furniture company `Hatfields of
Colchester`.
Despite slipping back into the
Second Section the band went on to qualify for the Finals of the
National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in 1995 and
1996, gaining promotion to the Championship Section in 1997 after
a first place by 4 clear points in the first section qualifiers
with a piece called "Spectrum".
In
early 1997 the band were successful in gaining a National Lottery
grant and are close to completing their lottery project. Soon to
be resplendent in new uniforms, complete with new instruments.
Robert Howard retired in 2001 and the reins were
taken for a while by David Notley. Trevor Davey took up the baton
in October 2001 and despite a successful time eventually had to
give up and pass the baton to Bernard Reader who lead the band
until January 2004.
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In 2004
musical director
Marc Easener ,who trained at
London College of Music
was appointed. Under this direction the band scored
a 3rd place in the SCABA open contest at Folkestone, and performed
many successful concerts.
In keeping with the troubles
of the Brass Band movement, the
relationship with the Hatfields company ended in 2005, and the band
reverted to "Colchester Band" with more of an emphasis on the training
of young brass musicians.
In 2006 Peter Ivey again was chosen to
lead the local Colchester brass band.
Peter is currently a
member of the London based Aurelian Orchestra, leader of the
Colchester Philharmonic and Bach Orchestras and also plays violin
with the Kreisler Trio.
He previously studied
cornet at H.M Royal Marines School of Music and was Principal Horn
with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.
Peter is delighted to have
been recently appointed as Musical Director of The Colchester
Band.
Although in competition with
famous bands, we are all proud to play in and represent
Britain’s oldest recorded
town........ Colchester.
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