The gift of music is a notion quite literally realised by the Kingswood College Concert Band, whose tremendous performances support a multitude of partners in the community.
The gift of music is a notion quite literally realised by the Kingswood College Concert Band, whose tremendous performances support a multitude of partners in the community.
Although technically superb, the band is not solely about musical accomplishment and exhibition; their music is performed in the service of others. Indeed, their history of community engagement is integral to the identity of the band and is cherished by its members.
As band leader Rory Martindale told Grocott’s Mail, “I like to know that I am helping someone else by being a part of the band”.
Echoing Martindale’s sentiments, fellow band leader Meghan Timm explained, “You feel like you are working towards something more than just playing better”.
Originally a marching band, the Kingswood group has been educating young musicians and delighting audiences for 24 years now. It made the transition to a concert band in 1990.
These days the band has evolved into a wind orchestra extraordinaire. It currently boasts 36 members playing on 17 kinds of wind, brass and percussion instruments.
Pupils perform a vast repertoire, ranging from classical concertos to popular arrangements by both local and international acts like Coldplay and Freshlyground.
Martindale, on trumpet, and Timm, on lead clarinet, are embarking on their seventh and final year in the band, both qualifying to join in Grade 6.
As the highest of the three Kingswood school bands, performers have to master a particular standard before being able to join the Concert Band. And with three hours of weekly rehearsals and an ever-rising standard of excellence, it is not a commitment to be made half-heartedly.
“You have to be on a certain level,” Timm explained, “otherwise you wouldn’t really be able to cope.”
The loss of 17 matriculating performers last year was a source of anxiety for the 2013 ensemble, but the diminished band rose to the challenge with vigour when performing at the leavers’ valedictory evening.
“The residue really pulled it out of the bag with that one,” said the school’s music director, Stephen Holder, “It really was extraordinary”.
Following the performance, Holder was approached by a woman moved to tears.
Be it due to pure musical delight, or as a response to the band’s consistent attempts to raise funds for their many community partners, this kind of emotive response is not uncommon to band members.
“We have had many moving responses,” said Holder, “remarkable, and at times overwhelming.”
Transporting around 40 instruments is no mean feat and so the band is unable to tour as extensively as they may like, doing so no more than 12 times a year.
However, the band does an annual tour and last year travelled to Zimbabwe to perform at the Harare International Festival of the Arts.
The Concert Band’s first performance of 2013 will be at a cheese and wine event in aid of the Grahamstown Hospice this Friday.
