Demelza Concert with Chris Thomas

Chris Thomas - The "Noble" Trombone

Demelza Concert with Chris Thomas

Chris Thomas - The "Noble" Trombone

Saturday 16th October saw the band give its first indoor concert since the start of the Covid pandemic – and what a concert it was! The occasion was what has become our annual fund raising concert for Demelza Hospice and Chris Thomas, principal trombonist of the Cory Band was our guest soloist. The day began with a morning workshop for the Cranbrook Training Band and members of the Shepway Brass Academy who, after warming up with some work on hymn tunes, concentrated on Philip Sparke’s ‘A Malvern Suite’. The two and a half hour workshop simply flew by as Chris provided all sorts of insights into the piece along with playing anecdotes, demonstrations and jokes. From the comments afterward, everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and went away with ideas to work on.

Next up was the band’s afternoon rehearsal with Chris who was able to very quickly put everyone at ease (myself included) with both the quality of his playing and his ability to cope with our accompaniment! Once again the time passed by incredibly quickly and the band was left open mouthed by the speed, range and quality of Chris’ trombone playing.

Finally came the evening concert. An unexpected and very pleasant surprise was that we had to delay the start for a few minutes due to the number of people who had turned up.

The programme started with Dan Price’s Starburst and it certainly had the hairs rising on the back of a number of necks in the audience as the band filled St Dunstan’s Church with a high quality sound. This was followed by an introduction from the Reverend Ann Polllington, Vicar of St. Dunstan’s and a short resume of what Demelza does from one of its representatives. Several more pieces (the programme is listed later) followed until it was the time for our guest to take to the stage. Chris began with Henry Geehl’s ‘Romanza’ and followed it with Brian Bowen’s ‘The Noble Trombone’. Having explained the stories behind both pieces, Chris then proceeded to perform them with tremendous style and elegance, leaving everyone waiting for more! The first half ended with Steve Sykes’ arrangement of Jeff Eayne’s ‘The Eve of the War’ – Steve was our guest five years ago so this was particularly apt.

After the interval the Training Band took centre place and performed four pieces. Their playing was absolutely exemplary and was a great credit to the hard work and practice that they’ve all put it in since being able to rehearse together again.

Next up was a presentation to three people who have given an enormous amount to the band over a great many years.

Robin Traves, who has both conducted and taught the Training Band members for the past twenty five years, has made the decision to retire from both bands. His contribution has been enormous and his input to both will be greatly missed.

Dave Pettifer, who joined on cornet with his daughter Emma, has been a stalwart within the band. Never afraid to get his hands dirty, Dave, as Band Manager for many years, has repaired equipment, lugged kit around and generally been invaluable as a player and an organiser.

Finally Richard Warren who joined some fifteen years ago. Richard, who is leaving the area for family reasons, has spent most of that band time as our principal cornet, he also served a stint as Concert Secretary. It is difficult, if not impossible, to put into words just how much Richard’s playing, quiet and generous attitude and humour has benefitted the band. Suffice to say that he will be missed massively!

Abba Goes Brass and Libertango succeeded the presentations and then it was time for Chris Thomas’ second set of solos. Chris Bond’s ‘Aristotle’s Air’ (a duet with principal euphonium player David Newsom) and Arthur Prior’s ‘The Blue Bells of Scotland’ completed his virtuoso performance. Aristotle’s Air was beautifully played on trombone and euphonium and as for The Bluebells of Scotland – who knew that a trombone slide could move that quickly and accurately. The programme ended with Opus One and Queen’s Park Melody and then, by popular demand an encore ‘Let There Be Praise’.

All in all it was a tremendous day and one which will have the band talking about it for a long time to come. Thanks to everyone who was involved from playing to lighting and front of house etc. Given the size of the audience we should hopefully be able to donate a sizeable sum to Demelza which, of course, was the whole point of the concert in the first place.

Ian Lanceley

A proper way to say goodbye

The band were able to say goodbye to three of its "stalwarts" in proper style after being denied the opportunity for so long by Covid Restrictions. We were delighted that both Robin and Dave were able to come along to the concert and each received a rather nice bottle of wine to say thankyou for over 30 and 20 years service respectively. It was also sadly Richard's last concert with us after over 15 years of "Mostly" leading the cornets and despite an aversion to counting bars rest and clapping in time, he has otherwise done an amazing job and will be a very difficult person to replace. He too will get to enjoy a nice bottle of wine as he relocates to another part of the Country - Richard we wish you well and please come back to see us if you are ever in the area.

Robin Traves receives a retirement present !

Dave Pettifer receives a retirement present !

Richard Warren receives a leaving present !

You can click on a programme item to view its recording (if available) in a new window. To view the whole concert, use the playlist in the Video section above. This year our concert was not officially recorded but we were lucky enough to secure a copy of most of the programme from an audience member.

Chris Thomas

What the Web says about our "Star Soloist"

Chris began playing at the age of 12, under the experienced tutelage of John Leach. Membership of the Mid Glamorgan Youth Band (with most of the current Cory Band!) and then the National Youth Brass Band of Wales ensured swift progress.

At the age of 16, he detoured across the Severn Bridge to Sun Life and spent four years there before joining the Cory Band as Solo Trombone in 1989. A long road that went through Stockport, Auckland, Bedwas & Tredegar led back to Ton Pentre, when Chris re-joined Cory in May, 2000.

Chris has been British Trombone Champion on numerous occasions. He was British Open Solo Champion twice and has represented UK banding twice in the 'International Brass Musician of the Year' championships, with one win and one runner-up spot.

He was trombone tutor to the National Youth Brass Bands of Wales & Switzerland and has performed as Soloist with them on a number of occasions, the most recent of which was in July, 2007, where he was featured in Alun Hoddinott's Concerto Grosso. In 2011, he joined the tutoring staff of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and the National Youth Children's Band of Great Britain. He will again tutor the 2012 NYBBGB at their Easter course in Taunton.

In November 2009, Chris won the Don Lusher award at the Brass in Concert Championships, as the outstanding trombone player at the contest and in 2011 he was awarded best instrumentalist at the Welsh Regional Championships.

Excerpt from Brassband World (2016)

( https://www.brassbandworld.co.uk/news/689/www.primavistamusikk.com)

Christopher joined Cory in 2000, and was part of the famous ‘Double’ winning line-up during his first year. He has remained with the band for the last sixteen years, winning five British Open Championships (’00, ‘02, ‘07, ‘09, ’11) five European Championships (’08, ’09, ‘10’, ’13, ’16), three National Championships (’00, ’13, ’15), and a World Championship (’09).

During his distinguished career with the band he has also been an integral soloist having given performances of Gareth Wood’s Concerto for Trombone, Derek Bourgeois’s Trombone Concerto, recorded his own solo album - The Noble Trombone, and appeared as guest soloist with many other ensembles throughout the world, including Canada’s professional Hannaford Street Silver Band.

For over twelve years of his tenure with the World’s number 1 ranked band, Christopher Thomas played under Robert Childs, who in his book, Cory, Cory, Hallelujah! singles out the star soloist as being one of the outstanding trombonists of his generation, adding: “I’m sure if he hadn’t dedicated his life to brass bands, and over a decade to Cory, he could quite easily be sat in the Principal trombonist’s chair at one of the UK’s leading professional orchestras.”

Christopher is clearly a highly respected trombonist, and has undoubtedly been a significant part of Cory’s success during the last sixteen years.