Blog
The latest news and updates from Maidstone Wind Symphony.
MWS will pay respect to Forgotten Heroes at Concert of Remembrance
4th October 2022
MWS will pay respect to people who have lost their lives due to conflict in a special Concert of Remembrance at All Saint’s Church, Maidstone, on Saturday 12th November.
The concert programme will include a performance of Forgotten Heroes by British composer, Nigel Clarke. This piece was written in 2005 to mark 60 years since the end of World War II and is inspired by war veterans telling the younger generation that they must never forget those who laid down their lives in the name of freedom.
Carrying on the remembrance theme, Maidstone Wind Symphony will also perform Fields of Honour by Thierry Deleruyelle - a musical storytelling of the Battle of the Somme - and John Ireland’s Epic March; a patriotic orchestral work commissioned by the Ministry of Information in 1942 to foster community spirit and a national aspiration for peace.
Other programme highlights include William Walton’s Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, Trevor Sharpe’s At Close of Day/Last Post, and Edward Elgar’s Nimrod, which is played annually during the act of remembrance at London’s Cenotaph memorial.
The concert will also feature performances of Ralph Vaughn Williams’ Flourish for Wind Band and Paris Sketches by Martin Ellerby, the composter’s tribute to France’s capital city. Paris Sketches takes listeners on a musical journey through Saint Germain-des-Pres – the bohemian Latin Quarter, Pigalle – the Soho of Paris, Père Lachaise, and the old market, Les Halles.
Maidstone Wind Symphony’s Concert of Remembrance takes place at All Saint’s Church, Maidstone on Saturday 12th November at 7:30pm. Tickets cost £15 for adults and £10 for children/concessions, with free entry for under 5s. Book your tickets now.The Wait Continues...
15th September 2020
It is with regret that we must update you on our decision not to hold any full-band concerts in 2020.
This year has been one of unforeseen challenges that have changed the music world. With optimism, we had hoped to only postpone our concerts until the start of our new 2020/21 season this autumn.
However, after closely monitoring government guidelines and information regarding Covid-19 it has become clear that we have to make the difficult decision to postpone all full-band concerts until the end of the year.
Although we won't be doing any public performances as a band this year, we are looking at the possibility of larger virtual recordings alongside the smaller section ensemble recordings that we have shared on our social media platforms over the last few months.
We very much miss playing together and entertaining you with our music and look forward to performing for you again as soon as it is safe to do so. Subject to the latest developments with the pandemic, we hope to perform a concert of chamber music before Christmas, either in person or virtually. Watch this space!
Thank you for your ongoing support for everyone at MWS. Until we can meet again, please stay safe and enjoy this beautiful recording of the Vivaldi Piccolo Concerto featuring Anita Lane and the talented members of our flute section.
Concert Postponement
15th March 2020
After carefully monitoring the ongoing situation regarding coronavirus, we have regretfully decided to postpone our Journey to the Stars concert on 28 March 2020. We are exploring options to hold the event at a later date and will be contacting all ticket holders and workshop participants in the coming days.
Our main priority in taking this decision is the health and safety of our members and audience, and we have taken on board the actions of other groups and wind/brass organisations, as well as the general Government guidance as the picture continues to evolve.
At the current time we are continuing to monitor plans for our next concert, the Festival of Wind and Brass, on 3 May 2020.
In recognition of the impact of coronavirus on many of the musicians with whom we regularly perform, we are encouraging our supporters to donate to the The Royal Society of Musicians, a charity which helps freelance musicians losing income due to the ongoing situation and the hardships this presents. Please do donate if you are able.
