The fact that this item of news is about the band's annual Christmas concert at Christchurch Priory means that we have completed a full year of reporting the band's progress on this website. As always, the Priory Church was crowded for this popular event that seems to mark the start of Christmas for many people. The programme contained a variety of music linked to the season - old and new. Music of Bach, Handel and Pachelbel (albeit in relatively 'modern' arrangements for Brass Band) was alongside arrangements of 'traditional' Christmas music by the likes of Morley Calvert, Peter Graham and Richard Philips.

For me, the highlight had to be Len Ballantine's arrangement of Morten Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium which sounded wonderful in the superb accoustic of the ancient building. The date is already booked for next year.