Concert at Erdington

On Thursday, 29 March 2012, the Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough) exchanged its regular rehearsal for a concert at St. Margaret’s Church in nearby Erdington. An appreciative audience gathered to hear the band on an evening when members of both the band and the audience were more than a little concerned about travel arrangements because of the fuel shortage.

The evening contained the usual blend of entertainment and spiritual sincerity to which audiences at Birmingham Citadel Band concerts have become accustomed. The four soloists – Neil Blessett (horn), Mark Sharman (trombone), David Taylor (euphonium) and Edward Dixon (tuba) – all brought something different. From the secular to the sacred and lyric to virtuoso, each soloist performed to the highest standard.

Deputy Bandmaster Mark Sharman took the baton for the lively Shalom as the evening continued with a blend of contemporary and traditional Salvation Army repertoire. The program was compèred by Bandmaster Lamplough and a poignant thought was given by Chris Wren-Kirkham as a link between For Our Trangressions and the first-half finale, Vitae Aeternum.