Musicians from the Shaftesbury Town Silver Band can trumpet news of their ensemble even further thanks to a donation of 50 musical scores from The Wessex Group.
The company, based in the North Dorset town, is celebrating its half century this year and each month is giving “50 somethings” to a good cause or charity.
It has provided sheet music for the musicians who play at community engagements and public events throughout the year.
The silver band has been making music since 1869 and like Wessex Group is an important part of the town and surrounding areas.
It relies on fundraising efforts and donations to keep playing and was particularly in need of band arrangements of hymns and carols, which it now has thanks to the donation.
The band, a registered charity, also brings on young musicians through its “Brass Roots” training section.
Sharon Hawkes, one of the band’s cornet players, said: “We always need musical scores not only to use for performances but for rehearsals, too. Practising playing with these scores is a great way of helping to build tone and control.
This donation from the Wessex Group is really helpful and means we can use our funds for other important things.
We perform throughout the year at various events and functions and we are always very busy from Remembrance Sunday through the whole Christmas period.”
Paul Mayo, Wessex Client Director, met the silver band members on Gold Hill to make the donation.
He said: “We thought we’d been in the town a long time, but the silver band has been playing here for nearly 150 years. We are very pleased to be able to help the band, whose members give up a lot of their time and energy to entertain people.
We hope that the Wessex Group and the Shaftesbury Town Silver Band will both be here for many years to come.”
Picture: Band members and Paul Mayo, Client Director of Wessex Group, on Gold Hill in Shaftesbury.
