We opened our performance with the National Anthem and then in traditional style we continued with a march, for this performance we started with Imperial echoes. We then played the following items I Vow to Thee My Country, Singing’ in the Rain and the Hymn tune Let the Lower Lights be Burning Arr L Johnston, The Stein Song, Best of Bond, The Old Gumbie Cat and the first solo item of the day was Blaydon Races performed by David French solo Euphonium; we closed the first half of the programme with the march Ravenswood.

The band then had a short break before opening the second half of our programme with the march Trafalgar, The Shepherd’s Song featuring our principal cornet player Debbie Caine and solo Euphonium player David French was the second item of the second half, the next item was The Floral Dance and then there were two more solo items The Way We Were performed by Harold Roberts Flugel Horn and Over the Rainbow performed by Sally Walker solo Horn. The selection Oklahoma followed the solo items and we closed this year’s Happy Mount Park concert with Jerusalem, Sussex by the Sea and Florentiner march.

We played two one hour sets of music and we were very warmly received by the shoppers and passers-by that were there to hear us play.

We performed a varied programme of music, which included such pieces as Jerusalem; there’ll always be an England and English folk song suite to mark the occasion. We also played the Film music from the film Gladiator. The bands Solo Euphonium player played the Euphonium solo Blaydon Races. Happy Birthday was played for two members of the Burneside Brass Academy band and also to mark HM Queens Birthday.

We played several marches such as Florentiner march, Le Reve Passe, Trafalgar and Imperial echoes, whilst we were playing outside it began to rain and so it was appropriate that we played Singing in the Rain, we also had in the programme the selection Oklahoma and it mark the 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic we played the Hymn tune Nearer my God to Thee and we closed the afternoons performance with the National Anthem.

The band were awarded 1st Place and The J W Latimer cup for the Entertainment class and during adjudication Mr Laurie Johnston the band’s MD was commended on his arrangement of The Rose.

We were also awarded Ulverston Town Band Shield for winning the Open Brass Band contest for 4th section and unregistered bands, once again Mr Laurie Johnston the band’s MD was commended on his arrangement of the hymn Let the Lower lights be burning.

The evening was rounded off by Mr David French the bands solo Euphonium player being awarded The James Fryer Memorial Shield for the best solo of the day.

A big well done to Burneside Brass.

The year started with the news that our MD Stuart Moore had decided to step down after five years in the post of Musical director and therefore the committee began the search for someone to take over this vacant post. After a brief search we were lucky enough to find Mr Laurie Johnston who was happy to take up this role and in March became the Musical Director for the band.

We have performed at many engagements throughout the year starting in March when we performed a concert in Lancaster in aid of Oxfam; this was the first engagement under the direction of Mr Laurie Johnston. We played at Party in the Park’s at both Hawkshead and at St Thomas’ Church in Kendal, marched through the streets of Ambleside for the annual Rush bearing ceremony and sat on the back of an articulated lorry playing music to the crowds that were out to enjoy the 2011 Kendal Carnival.

We competed in three contests throughout 2011, South Cumbria Music Festival where we were awarded 1st place for the open contest, next was Brass in Ripon contest where we were placed 5th, however we were awarded The Dean John Methuen Challenge Trophy for the best 4th section band outside the first three and at Hardraw our bass section we awarded the Andrew Popham Trophy for the Best Bass section in the 4th section bands. Whilst at the Hardraw contest we saw the actor who played the late Terry Woods from the TV soap Emmerdale we would like to think he was there to hear us play but he was actually there to support Harrogate Brass band.

We have also performed at two weddings one in Langdale and the other at Newby Bridge and at a 50th Birthday party in Kendal.

A few members of the band together with players from two other bands travelled to the Whit Friday marches where the scratch band “Shawter Brass” played the contest march Ravenswood in five villages, ending our first outing at this contest playing in the village of Delph.

In July the first ever MAD (Making a Difference) National Brass Band Day was held and we performed in Wainwright’s yard throughout the afternoon of Saturday 9th July.

October saw us hosting our annual Presidents evening where any member of the band can play a solo, duet or sectional piece of their choice to an invited audience.

In November we recorded our first CD entitled Merry Christmas Carols with Burneside Brass. It was also the first time the we were invited to play at the Kendal Remembrance service held at the Parish Church and later in the afternoon we travelled to Windermere to provide musical support for the Remembrance service which was held in the village.

December was a very busy month for the band with many Christmas engagements taking place throughout the month, including two concerts, the Light a life service at St John’s Hospice Lancaster, a Carol service at St Herbert’s Church Windermere as well as playing Christmas Carols in various locations, at one of these locations the Britain’s got talent winner Paul Potts was lucky enough to hear Burneside Brass playing some great Christmas music. The Kendal Lions used our CD to announce the arrival of Santa as they travelled around the streets of Kendal taking him to see the local children.

We said goodbye to Mrs Maggie Lees 1st Horn who left the band after 10 years service with Burneside Brass she has moved to Cheshire to be closer to her family and on her last night she presented the band with the Maggie Lees Trophy which was awarded for the very first time to David Baines Soprano Cornet.

We gave a warm welcome to Lucy White who joined Burneside Brass in September and filled the 2nd Trombone vacancy, Steven Bryant moved from 3rd Cornet over to the Bass Section on Eb Bass.

As this year closes we look forward to another busy year in 2012, we welcome anyone wishing to play with Burneside brass, rehearsal night is Thursday 7.30- 9.30 at Burneside Cricket Club.

On Sunday 18th December we provided musical support for the Rotary Club of Windermere coffee and carol event at the Hydro Hotel Bowness on Windermere. We played several Christmas carols and four solo items to those gathered there to enjoy this event they were White Christmas, a descriptive piece of music entitled Christmas, the Cornet Trio Buglers Holiday performed by Debbie Caine, Graham Hartley and Dave Higson and the March Christmastime arranged by our MD Mr Laurie Johnston.

On our return to the stand we opened with the march Barnard Castle, followed by the Tenor Horn solo Over the Rainbow performed by Sally Walker our solo horn player, Buglers Holiday was the next item on the programme performed by Debbie Caine (principal cornet), Graham Hartley and Dave Higson (Solo cornets). We then completed the rest of the evening with Pirates of the Caribbean, Candlelight Carol, Who is he, Sleigh ride, Frosty the Snowman and the march Christmastime arranged by Mr L Johnston.

On Sunday we returned to the Booths store in Kendal where once again we played Christmas carols to the busy shoppers from 11.00am until 3.00pm. We were very well received by the shoppers and the staff at both Booths and Artisan cafe.

Christmas Concert with Burneside Brass

Our First official engagement of the 2011 Christmas Season was to host our Christmas Concert which we held at St Thomas’ Church in Kendal on Friday 2nd December. We were joined this year by the school choir from St Thomas’ School.

The concert was opened with the March Barnard Castle and then we performed a varied programme of music to the audience. The programme included Christmas carols sung by the School Choir from St Thomas’ School, Film themed music, Christmas music, the Tenor Horn solo Over the Rainbow performed by Sally Walker and the Cornet Trio Buglers Holiday performed by Debbie Caine, Graham Hartley and Dave Higson.

Hawkshead Christmas Fair

On Saturday 3rd December Burneside Brass provided musical entertainment at the Hawkshead Christmas Fair, we played festive music from 3pm till 4pm and then after a short interlude in one of the local hostelries we played again from 4.30pm until the close of the fair at 5pm. An enjoyable afternoon was had by all.

St John’s Hospice Lancaster

On Sunday 4th December we provided musical support for the Light up a Life Service at St John’s Hospice in Lancaster, we played the ingoing voluntaries whilst those attending took their places for the service, lead the congregation during the singing of the carols and performed Candlelight Carol as the outgoing voluntary.

The following evening Friday 25^th November Burneside Brass held a coffee evening at the Village hall in Underbarrow, the evening was a great success with many stalls, a large raffle, a small section of the band playing Christmas carols and as much tea and coffee as those attending would like to drink. The evening went well and a substantial amount of money was raised for band funds.