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Past Concerts:

Tuba to Cuba - February 2003

 

16th February 2003
Marx Memorial Library.
 Featuring just ten musicians, the inaugural concert included mainly solo pieces, including excerpts from Handel’s Messiah and modern work for tuba by Derek Bourgeois. The concert was rounded off… nicely by a rendition (some would say massacre) of The Animals’ House of the Rising Sun, performed by Ben Burrell, Nezih Savaskan, Nick Newland, Antonia Mott, Ben Wells and Tarquin Calver.

Tuba to Cuba 2 - August 2003

 

 31st August 2003 – The Baritone Strikes Back!
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College
 Opening with four movements from Mozart’s Requiem, this concert was far bigger than the previous outing.  Accompanied by Anthony D’Souza (Piano) and Amy Stevens (Trombone), a choir of more than 60 gave voice to some of Mozart’s most beautiful work. Then came the soloists, more than 10 individual performers, again accompanied by Anthony and also Tarquin Calver. Joining in the fun was also the huge Symphonic Band who, under the baton of Co-Director Antonia Mott, blasted (with all due consideration to taste and decency) through Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave and John William’s stirring The Empire Strikes Back. A post concert barbecue was held in the playground of the venue before the audience returned to the hall for the Jazz Evening. Soloist Lynda Richardson, jazz trio General Funk (Ben Burrell, Karl Oloniluyi-Abel and Jamieel Caitaine-Thomas) and the huge Tuba to Cuba Big Band (led by Dafydd Williams) took to the stage between 7.00 and 10.00pm, and even got the representatives of the Cuban Embassy dancing!

Tuba to Cuba 3 - September 2004

 

4th September 2004
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College
Back, and bigger than ever! This time, 140 performers would take to the stage in one go. Again opening with a choral work under the direction of Nick Newland, the concert began with the assembled orchestra and choir give a rousing performance of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. More soloists quickly flooded the gaps, before being ousted by the Brass Band. Conducted by Antonia Mott, the ensemble gave a flawless rendition of the Second Suite in F by Gustav Holst. Following a short interval, and before more soloists appeared, the fifteen-strong Tuba Choir appeared to pump out a new arrangement of Souza’s Liberty Bell by Nick Newland. Closing the concert after Casey Evans sang Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate with the orchestra under John Skinner was the Symphonic Band who played Vaughn Williams’ Folk Song Suite before bowing to popular demand and again performing the Empire Strikes Back. For the second year in a row the concert was held at Askes, and a barbecue was held in the playground. The Jazz Evening again kicked-off with General Funk (with new drummer John Desbruslais) and this led to a stunning performance by Yvette Riby-Williams. Then, a complete surprise to all the students involved who studied at Aske’s, IT teacher Preet Dhanoa took to the stage and sang Chan-Chan with such passion that the guests from the Cuban Embassy thought he may have been Cuban!

Tuba to Cuba 4: Ecuador and More! – December 2004
 
  21st December 2004 - Ecuador and More!
St Catherine’s Church, Hatcham
Marking our first concert in aid of not only Cuban musicians but also the National Youth Brass Band of Ecuador, this concert was in a new format, and a new venue. Held at St Catherine’s Church, Hatcham, we moved the concert to the evening and decided to tackle two major works by Mozart. However, the Director decided this was far too serious so took to the stage with friend and tuba-playing colleague Alex Costley-White to perform John Fletcher’s arrangement of Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik! Antonia Mott gave a stunning performance of the Clarinet Concerto before a huge choir took to the stage and, along with the orchestra who were still smiling from their performance in the first half, performed the Requiem. With less than 4 hours rehearsal time, Tuba to Cuba first-timer Dr Christopher Maxim whipped all the performers into shape and it made for a terrific night of music.

Tuba to Cuba 5 - September 2005
 
  Saturday 3rd September - St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge
Delighted to perform in a new venue, every player and singer gave their most impressive efforts and made this concert a resounding success. Opening with Handel’s Zadok the Priest, the choir and orchestra established themselves with stunning power. Following this, the Tuba Choir took to the stage with a new arrangement of Rossini’s William Tell Overture! Tenor tuba solos by Dave Taylor of the Royal College of Music and John Storey of the Coldstream Guards set the pace, and we were also joined by George Wall of the Royal Opera House and three tubists under the age of 10! Then Marion Wood took charge for a beautiful performance of Barber’s Agnus Dei with the chamber choir, before Nick Newland’s arrangement of music by John Williams from the Star Wars films blew the roof off! However, the night was to come to a climax with Marion Wood conducting Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and soloists Rachel Jackson, Louise Oakes and Rob Parton stunned the audience.