Reg Charity SCO11887 Founded 1973

Dunbartonshire Concert Band

Musical Director: Robert Baxter

Concerts/Events Tours
Rehearsals Musical Director
Repertoire Music Library
Highlights History
Subscriptions New Members
Constitution Committee/AGM
Contacts Pictures
Chamber Groups Links
Friends of DCB Recordings
Dress code -



A community wind band for the Greater Glasgow area, supported by funds from...





The Dunbartonshire Concert Band (DCB) is a vibrant and successful community wind orchestra serving the Greater Glasgow area, supported by voluntary contributions and Making Music Scotland (formerly NFMS) with funds provided by the Scottish Arts Council. DCB was formed in 1973 and exists to give an outlet to the musical talents of amateur wind, brass and percussion players of all ages. We currently rehearse every Saturday morning in Cairns Church Hall (Milngavie) and have a membership coming from Dunbartonshire and the Greater Glasgow area. We give concerts throughout the year in venues large and small, both in and out of doors. The Band is available for a variety of fundraising, social and community events - please contact any committee member for details.

Winners (with Honours) at the 2003 Glasgow Music Festival          Silver Award at the 2003 National Concert Band Festival

Gold Award at the 2004 National Concert Band Festival         Silver Award at the 2006 National Concert Band Festival

Rehearsals

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Concerts and other events for 2009-2010:-

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  • ...Click here for previous years....!
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  • ... the list is continually being updated - please watch this space!
  • ... The Band is available for a variety of fundraising, social and community events - please contact any committee member for details.

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    Musical Director and Conductor

    Robert Baxter is a freelance trumpet player who lives in Blanefield. He began his musical life playing in local wind ensembles and brass bands in the Glasgow area (including DCB), and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland from 1985-89. He has a BA from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD), where he also undertook postgraduate studies in early music. He took over as Musical Director of DCB in June 2000, and is also the conductor of the Helensburgh Orchestral Society and the Dunbartonshire Wind Ensemble. Click here for further biographical details.

    A list of previous musical directors can be seen in the History section, below.

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    Chamber groups

    In addition to full band activities there are a number of ad hoc small groups that get together for pleasure and for occasional performances. Currently active groups include:

    Repertoire

    We have a comprehensive library of wind band music of all varieties, including some pieces composed specially for DCB.

    Click here for current playlist

    Click here for Christmas 2009 programme

    Music Library

    Click here for a complete list of music currently in our library. Band members are welcome to suggest pieces for rehearsal or performance.      Return to top
    Click here for recent additions
    Click here for Xmas list.

    Dress code for concerts

    Unless otherwise advised...
    • #1 Formal dress for evening concerts: men - dinner jackets, white shirt, black bow ties; women - all black.
    • #2 Less formal events:
      • (a) all black (black shirts/tops/bottoms - no ties), as alternative to #1, or...
      • (b) white tops, black bottoms, blue ties/scarves.
    • #3 Other outdoor occasions (especially Fintry in the summer and Mugdock in winter!): all-weather gear, wet suits, sou'westers, welly boots, etc.

    Friends of DCB

    Friends of DCB receive priority booking, discounts and advance warning of concerts and social events, free programme and interval refreshments at indoor concerts. Contact: any committee member.

    Recordings

    • 2009: "Bass in the Academy", recorded live at RSAMD in June 2009.
    • 2008: "Last Flight" recorded live at Cairns Church on 29 June 2008.
    • 2006: "Home Grown" - compositions by band members Arthur Main and Peter Longworth
    • 2004: Mid-Europe Festival Concert, with Mark O'Keeffe (Trumpet), Alan Reid (Bagpipes) - live recording [To a new Dawn (Phillip Sparke), Concertino I'r Gwyddel (Terry Johns), Ammerland (Jacob de Haan), Lord of the Rings (Shore/Brubaker), Gallimaufry (Guy Wolfenden), Highland Cathedral (trad.)]
    • 2002: "Dunbartonshire Concert Band in Concert" (CD recorded on Gozo).
    • 1996: Some of the backing for "Robert Burns: a woman's man" - a collection of Burns songs, arr. Peter Shand, sung by Romey Carr (Alba Records, ALBACD02)

        ...a few CD's still available - contact any committee member.

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    Tours

    Some highlights of previous sessions

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    History

    Arthur Main - one of the founder members of DCB - has written a definitive history of the Band, concentrating in particular on the early days since the first rehearsal in January 1973.

    Previous Musical Directors:

    Geoffrey HaydockJanuary 1973-December 1977 (jointly)
    Glyn BraggJanuary 1973-December 1986
    Adrian DroverJanuary 1987-June 1987
    H.C.R. (Ben) BentlySeptember 1987-January 1990
    James G. (Gerry) McCollFebruary 1990-June 1990
    Alan J. BellAugust 1990-June 1992
    Peter ShandAugust 1992-January 2000
    Andrew HollandFebruary 2000-June 2000
    Robert BaxterJune 2000-present

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    Constitution

    Child Policy Protection Statement

    The band encourages young people and children to join, and benefits from the membership of younger people. It is therefore important that they and their parents know that the band is a safe environment for them. The band is therefore committed to having a clear child protection policy so that procedures are clear in the event of any matter of concern being raised in relation to younger members. If the committee becomes aware that a member of the band has been convicted of any offence involving children, that member would be asked to leave with immediate effect. Furthermore, if there were any suggestion of improper conduct towards a child or young person by any band member, this would not be dealt with as an internal matter, but would be referred, in consultation with the parents of said child or young person, to the appropriate statutory agency, in the first instance, the police.

    DCB adheres to the Scottish Executive's Childrens Charter.

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    Subscriptions and Funding

    Currently a minimum of £85 per year (£45 unwaged) - normally payable in October, but deferred payments possible by arrangement with the Treasurer - pro rata for new members joining during the session. Gift Aid (formerly deeds of covenant) encouraged for members who pay income tax.

    In addition to subscriptions, concert receipts and other fundraising activities, the Band receives occasional grants for specific purposes from bodies such as local councils, Making Music Scotland, and the Scottish Arts Council "Awards for All" scheme.

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    New members

    No formal audition is required, but players must be prepared to commit themselves to regular rehearsals, personal practice and serious preparation for concert engagements.

    All players are welcome, but particular vacancies currently exist in the following sections:

    • Trumpets
    • Trombones
    • French Horns
    • Percussion
    Please contact one of the committee members for further details.

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    Committee Members

    Other duties:
    Registrar/Attendance coordinator - Hannah Newall (email: mollypuff@hotmail.com)
    Webmaster - Alan Cooper (email: alanc@chem.gla.ac.uk)
    Travel Group - Anneli Demberg (email: a.demberg@btinternet.com)
    Press Office - Moira Reid (email: reid26@tiscali.co.uk)
    Newsletter - Alison McCree & Moyra Hawthorn
    BASBWE representative - Anneli Demberg
    Making Music Scotland representative - Monika Mihm
    Making Music Scotland committee member - Anneli Demberg

    Trustees: Alan Cooper, Arthur Main, Julian Fosh, John Waller, Lindsay Davidson
    Auditors: tba Chartered Accountant: Robert Thomson

    AGM minutes (click on year) - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004(EGM) - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008

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    Contacts...

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    Picture Gallery

    (Under continual construction) We have placed these on separate pages, for the convenience of those who don't like to waste time downloading graphics all the time:-
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    Some links...

    Sponsors... Other friends and conductors... Other organisations.. Other Bands..

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    Sheet Music...

    Instruments and other thingies...

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    Miscellaneous...

    Some members have their own websites.... Return to top


    Page maintained by Alan Cooper