.png){kind=spacer}
Wessex Band Summer School
The Wessex Band Summer School is a week long summer course for brass, wind and percussion players of all levels and abilities. Under the expert direction of Musical Director Michael Fowles and the internationally renowned musical staff, students are given the chance to test themselves playing a wide and exciting range of music whilst having fun and making new friends.
The non-residential course is held at Sturminster Newton High School in the beautiful North Dorset countryside. Students are able to camp on-site, while some choose to stay in one of the many guest houses or hotels in the area. Camping, which is run by the Wessex Camping Committee fosters a sense of community on the course.
The Training Band is for brass, woodwind and percussion players from grade 1 up to grade 4 standard. Adults or young players are normally at the earlier stages of learning. The week provides a progressive introduction to group playing for the less experienced musician. There is group tuition and specialised tutorials. The week finishes with a concert for parents and friends.
The Brass Band (brass and percussion) and Wind Bands (brass, woodwind and percussion) are for players of all ages from around grade 4 upwards. The days are made up of full band and sectional rehearsals on an exciting programme of music with a variety of items to challenge everyone.
Each year our team of conductors selects a range of music, ranging from brand new compositions to timeless arrangements. Throughout the week students rehearse the music in full band rehearsals and sectionals. There is also one piece selected to be rehearsed and played by the Band of the Wessex Band Summer School, where members of both the wind and brass bands join forces.
Recent selections include 'Windows of the World' by Peter Graham, as well 'Cry of the Celts' and 'Hymn of the Highlands' by Phillip Sparke.
The Jaguar – Richards
March Prelude – Gregson
A Brief Symphony of Time – Dobson
Carnival Overture – Dvorak arr. Newsome
Kenilworth – Bliss
The Witch of the Westmerlands – Fisher arr. Harper
Mansions of the Lord – Wallace & Glennie-Smith arr. Baker
Nightingale Dances – Hall
Libertango – Piazolla arr. McElligot
Walk Like an Egyptian – Sternberg arr. Harper
Gaelforce – Graham
Shine as the Light – Graham
The Spirit of Brass – Somerset
Brass Canon – Pachebel arr Harvey
Cornish Cavalier – Moyle
Nearer My God to Thee – arr. Somerset
Apollo 13 – Horner arr. Barry
Silent Movie Suite – Ellerby
Pilatus Mountain of Dragons - Reineke
An Irish Posy – Farnon
Coronation March – Meyerbeer
The March of the King’s Men – Plater
The Bamboula – Coleridge Taylor
West Side Story – Bernstein
Hunting Polka – Strauss Jrr. arr. Lamb
Glen Miller – arr. Rogers
Candide Overture – Bernstein
The Big Country – Moross
Second Suite in F – Holst
Klezmer Karnival – Sparke
Choreography – Sheldon
El Camino Real – Reed
Windows of the World – Graham
The course concludes with concerts for both the training and main bands on Saturday 3rd August . The Training band concert will be on Saturday Morning with the Main Band concert on Saturday afternoon. Both concerts are held at the stunning Exchange Theatre in Sturminster Newton.
All senior band players are expected to attend the Training band concert in the morning, to show support for those hoping to progress into the Wind and Brass Bands in future years. Tickets for friends and family to attend the concerts are available from the helpdesk during the week. They sell out fast so book early to avoid disappointment!
The course is held at Sturminster Newton High School in the beautiful North Dorset countryside. Whilst not a residential course full catering is available during the day, for breakfast, snacks and lunch. Students are able to camp on site although some may choose to stay in one of the many guest houses or hotels in the area. Ample parking is available at the school for those delegates wishing to drive in each day.
Camping, which is run by the Wessex Camping Committee, fosters a sense of community on the course. We pride ourselves on the social side of the course and because we are not residential families are most welcome. Families can use the opportunity for parents to holiday in the area whilst their children attend the course during the day. We do of course have many older players as well.
The 2024 course takes place from Monday, 29th July 2024 to Saturday, 3rd August 2024 at:
Sturminster Newton High School
Bath Road,
Sturminster Newton,
Dorset,
DT10 1DT
Accommodation is not provided by the course, but members choose the style of accommodation that suits them, all of which is plentiful in the area:
To help you plan your accommodation and journeys, the course runs daily from 09:30 until 17:00. Many of the course attendees choose to stay on the campsite run by the Wessex Camping Committee. This is an independent committee, separate from the Wessex Band Summer School organisers. Please visit www.wessexcamping.com for further details.
(Please note: WBSS is not responsible for content on external sites)
The course is run by a dedicated and talented team of tutors and conductors. Many of the staff are either musicians or music teachers and many are ex-Wessex Band students themselves. Tutors are involved with full band rehearsals and also take a section from their relevant band for sectional rehearsals.
Widely regarded as one of the leading conductors of his generation Michael hails from the rich musical tradition of North Staffordshire and is an Honours and Post-Graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music.
He is Musical Director of Foden’s Band. Having worked with many of the country’s leading bands Michael has a reputation for entertaining concert programming and high standards in competition. He is well known for having transferable skills having won Championship section contests with 10 different bands either in regular working relationships or on a freelance basis. As such he is much in demand both in the UK and abroad.
Michael is also a member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and has officiated at numerous Regional Qualifying contests, The National Finals, Butlins Mineworkers Festival and the Swiss Nationals amongst others.
Educational work also forms an important part of Michael’s musical life. He is Course Director of both the Wessex Band Summer School and Fodens Armagh Summer School. As well as returning to the RNCM as a regular guest conductor he undertakes much training work throughout the UK with bands of all levels from championship to youth including being Musical Director of Fodens Youth Band, Associate Conductor and Musical Adviser of Lions Youth Band and Music Adviser to the North East Midlands Brass Band Association Youth Band. He is also a regular guest conductor for school and youth workshops in Leicestershire, Staffordshire and Northern Ireland with both Brass and Wind Bands.
Michael has written articles and reviews for both Brass Band World and British Bandsman, given many premiere performances, conducted concerto appearances of eminent soloists and directed many commercial CDs and broadcasts for both BBC Radio 2 and 3.
Matt Stimpson is head of the Creativity Faculty at Beckfoot School, Bingley, where he leads the Art, Design and Technology, Music and Performing Arts teams and has the pleasure of teaching music ... more
I began playing my clarinet at the age of 9 and my sax at the age of 11 achieving grade 8 at the age of 13. Music has been the love of my life. I studied music at Huddersfield University where I ... more
Born in Treorchy in the Rhondda Valley. Anna started playing at the age of 12 under the guidance of Ieaun Morgan MBE . Progressing to Principal cornet with the Treorchy Youth Band and Mid Glamorgan ... more
Having been born into a Brass Banding family, music has always been in Becky's blood!
Becky learned to play Cornet with Ratby Band at the age of 5 and still plays with them in the C ... more
Damon has been a teacher and professional musician for over 30 years. He started his musical career in the Royal Artillery Band, after training at the renowned "Royal Military School of Musi ... more
Mike began playing at the age of 7 with the Poynton Youth Brass band where he progressed through the ranks to the principal cornet seat. During this time he was also principal cornet with Hazel G ... more
Born in Cornwall in 1944, David began piano lessons at the age of eight and later played cornet with Bodmin Town Band. In 1960 he enlisted with his county regiment, The Somerset and Cornwall Ligh ... more
Following a career as an army musician took over as Musical Director of Camborne Youth Band in 1999 and formed Camborne B Band (now known as Camborne Brass) in 2001. Camborne Youth Band won its f ... more
Jon is a Soprano cornet, Bb cornet and trumpet player, currently playing with the Fairey Band of Stockport. Starting at age 9 on the cornet Jon worked his way to playing principal cornet with Cre ... more
Kirsty began playing the piano at the age of 6 in her home town of Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire and at the age of 9 started playing the cornet with Shipston Town Junior Band. By the age of 1 ... more
Tracey is an ex-principle clarinetist of the Wessex Band Summer School.
Tracey graduated from the University of Salford in 2000 with an honours degree in Band Musicianship. At Salford she s ... more
Ruth has been playing her oboe since the age of 7. She studied the oboe, singing and piano at the Royal Academy of Music under the guidance, among others, of Lady Barbirolli and Janet Craxton. As ... more
Rebecca began learning to play the tenor horn at the tender age of 5 playing in the Delph Primary School Brass Band and the local Delph Youth Band. Soon after, she became a member of the newly fo ... more
The LEGEND that is Mike Warriner, a former player and winner of the Andrew Pitts Plate of the course has been the Baritone Tutor at Wessex since 2004. Currently based in Preston, Mike originally ... more
Jim is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and music educator with a busy performing schedule, playing both reeds and brass, with many of the UK’s leading jazz and classical ensembl ... more
Shaun Farrington began learning the trombone at the age of 11 and from very early on he knew that he wanted career in music. In 2005 he graduated from the university of Salford and was also the r ... more
After developing an addiction to the recorder at the age of 5, I was encouraged to progress onto the clarinet and saxophone achieving Grade 8 Distinctions in both by the age of 13 followed by Grade ... more
Stewart started his playing career in the Forest of Dean with the Lydbrook Band, progressing through their ranks to the position of Solo Euphonium. A move to local rivals, Cinderford, followed wh ... more
Having been influenced by music throughout his childhood, James has successfully paved a career for himself as a percussionist, and is highly sought after. He started playing when he was 4 and wa ... more
Music has played a major part in Alli's life from an early age. His energy and personality are perfectly suited to playing percussion.
Alli began playing percussion through the bands and or ... more
A former member of the National Youth Wind Orchestra, Nicky Walton graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in 1993. She was also awarded two professional performance diplomas (merit an ... more
The course could not run without the tireless work and dedication of the committee and helpers on the course. They work throughout the year to ensure the course happens and is of the quality we have all come to expect. From the committee who organise every detail of the course, to the people who staff the information desk, to the dedicated team of early-birds we call the catering staff, we could not provide the course without them.
The current executive committee oversees the day to day running of the course throughout the year and particularly during the week
What do they do outside of the course?
Outside the course I am the Head of Creativity at Beckfoot School, Bingley. I am also the conductor of the Delph Youth Band.
... more
Outside the course I am a Driving Instructor and play Tenor Horn in Verwood Concert Brass. I've played in the local band since 1971.
My first course was held at Cranborne Middle School an ... more
What is their role within Wessex?
Course Treasurer and member of the Executive Committee
What do they do outside of the course?
Chair ... more
What do they do outside of the course?
Alli is a Family Support Adviser and Drama Teacher for SNAP Charity. He spends his time either directing, playing percussion for or acting in ... more
The course could not run without the tireless work and dedication of the committee and helpers on the course. They work throughout the year to ensure the course happens and is of the quality we have all come to expect. From the committee who organise every detail of the course, to the people who staff the information desk, to the dedicated team of early-birds we call the catering staff, we could not provide the course without them.
As with all voluntary organisations we always welcome new help and support, from the big to the small. If you would like to help out, either by standing on the general committee or by helping out with the many tasks that oil the cogs of the Wessex week itself, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The Wessex Band Summer School recognises the efforts of course members through a series of awards given each year. This can range from the most improvement seen during the week, to commitment and dedication over a number of years.
Simply select the year you wish to view
This Shield is presented in memory of the course director who died in 1986 and is awarded for commitment dedication and contribution over a number of years.
This plate is presented in memory of the co-founder of the course in 1970 who was tragically killed in a motor accident and is awarded to the member making the most progress during the week in either the Brass Band or Wind Band.
Peter Jury from the recording company gave this Cup to be awarded to the student under 15 making the most progress.
Awarded to the student making the most progress during the week in the Wind Band
Awarded to the student making the most progress during the week in the Brass Band
Presented by the course founder John and Magaret Grinnell in 1994 to celebrate the 25th course. This is awarded to the most outstanding member of the Training Band.
This is in memory of Anela Lowe one of the original Training Band Condutors. This was first awarded in 2003 to the member of the Training Band making the most progress.
This cup was first awarded in 2006 by Elinor our Wind Tutor and is presented to the adult student making the most progress in the Brass Band.
This cup was first awarded in 2006 by Elinor our Wind Tutor and is presented to the adult student making the most progress in the Wind Band.
This cup was first awarded in 2006 by Elinor our Wind Tutor and is presented to the adult student making the most progress in the Training Band.
Ron's son Tim was a past principal euphonium player for several years and this cup is presented in Rons memory for the euphonium player making the most progress.
This was presented in 2006 by Louise's family. Her daughter Gemma has been one of the course percussionists and it was fitting that this awarded to the percussionist making the most progress.
This award was first presented in 2012, in memory of our Tutor Wes Garner by the family to the second or third cornet player making the most progress through the week.
