Special Guest at Birmingham Rehearsal

Television presenter Nick Owen visited the rehearsal of the Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Graham Lamplough) on Wednesday, 9 December 2009 in preparation for their collaboration at the “Rejoice” concert scheduled for the following Sunday.

The English composer Philip Lane was born in Cheltenham in 1950 and was educated at Birmingham University. He now perhaps best known as a composer for television and film, but he has also composed program music to accompany the much-loved Christmas poem ’Twas the Night before Christmas. This item will be featured at the “Rejoice” concert, especially transcribed for the Birmingham Citadel Band and Nick Owen by Paul Sharman.

During the rehearsal, Owen seemed at home performing with the band, despite his statements that he had not done this before. The Midlands Today presenter, who was educated at Shrewsbury School and Leeds University, became a household name in the 1990s when he co-hosted BBC1 breakfast television with Anne Diamond, after having been a popular television journalist for many years. Despite his fame, his combination of wit and professionalism instantly put the band at ease.

Mr. Owen spoke briefly about his association with Birmingham Citadel’s chosen charity for this year’s Symphony Hall spectacular, Edward’s Trust, and thanked the band and Birmingham Citadel Corps for their support.