Bicester Concert Band

Bicester Concert Band is a well-established and thriving community band.

Watch our performances of Sway, recorded from our homes during the 2020 lockdown, and ofThe Theme from Inspector Clouseau, recorded in 2021:

Watch video on YouTube

Our members
Over the last two decades Bicester Concert Band has provided all of its members with a nurturing environment in which to improve their skills. We have always welcomed players of all abilities and, by practising and home as well as attending the weekly rehearsals, we have all found our playing has improved.

While we would still like to accommodate all players, these days we tend to work on more challenging music, and new members find it more rewarding if they have enough playing experience to be able to sight-read our easier pieces, and to play harder pieces by putting in some practice at home in between rehearsals. We do not expect perfection (we'd all have to leave if that were the case!), but a certain amount of playing experience is desirable.

If you are interested in joining the band, do get in touch. We invite potential new members to come along for a couple of sessions for free, so that they can find out if we are the sort of music group that they are looking for, and so that we can be sure that there is a place for them in the band.

Booking the Band
The band is available for bookings in Bicester and the surrounding area. It has a varied repertoire and can tailor music to suit most occasions. If you would like to find out more about booking the band, do get in touch via the contact page or email us directly - info@bicesterconcertband.org.uk.

Our Conductor

Wendy, a Graduate of the Guildhall School of Music, is a talented woodwind teacher and conductor. Besides BCB she also conducts West Oxfordshire Winds (WOW), West Oxfordshire Clarinets (WOC), West Oxfordshire Learners (WOL) and Freeland Orchestra. Primarily an oboist, she performs regularly with many local orchestras and groups including The Oxford Sinfonia, the Cotswold Chamber Orchestra and the Pavlova Quintet. She also enjoys playing Double Bass and often performs with the Radcliffe Orchestra and St Giles Orchestra.

Music within the community
Bicester Concert Band has played an important role in Bicester life since its inception twenty years ago. As well as arranging its own concerts, it has featured at the Bicester Christmas Lights Ceremony, at Thame’s Remembrance service, and at many local fetes and charity events. Every year, in all kinds of weather, it has played on the bandstand in Garth Park. In 2018 the band played in St Edburg's Church during their Christmas Tree Festival. It was lovely to be able to take part in this festive event and to perform surrounded by sixty decorated trees. We are hoping that this will become an annual event.

Rehearsals
Band rehearsals take place every Tuesday in term time in the superb acoustic of St Edburg’s School hall, Kingsmere. We meet at 7.30pm in order to set up and be ready to play at 7.45pm, we finish at 9.45pm and we have a half-time break for coffee and a chat.

Getting here
St Edburg's School is located on the Kingsmere development in Bicester. From the A41, turn into Pioneer Way just by the Premier Inn. Continue straight ahead, passing, on your right, the entrance to the shops. When you reach a crossroads, turn left to stay on Pioneer Way. The school will be on your left.

Join us!

If you are interested in joining the band, please contact Rosalind Mason (Chair) or Kathleen Greenway (Secretary) through our facebook page, via the contact form (the message does reach us even though you will be shown a 'server not found' message), or by emailing us directly -
info@bicesterconcertband.org.uk. At the moment we almost have our maximum of forty members. If we reach our maximum, potential new members will be placed on a waiting list.