Meet the Band

Musical Director

Christopher Music

Chris started conducting at the age of 8 when he took part in the primary school production of “Oliver” where he was selected to conduct the other children singing “Food Glorious Food” and has enjoyed conducting ever since.

After moving to Gibraltar in 2000, he was asked to be the Musical Director of the ex-Royal Marine Band, a post he held until 2015 just before returning to the UK. During this time, he produced and directed many concerts in Gibraltar and Spain including Last Night of the Proms, an Andrew Lloyd Webber evening alongside a 40-strong choir on the National Day stage and Les Misérables in Concert in St Michaels cave with 80 performers from Gibraltar and nearby Spain.

Chris is currently the Musical Director of the Abington Wind Band, Principal Euphonium at Rushden Mission Band & Principal Trombone for The Old Savoy Jazz Band as well as a member of the Nene Valley Community Band.

Flutes

**Jude:** I rediscovered my love of the flute in 2002, after 20 years off, when I joined AWB. And the past 19 years have been a riot of laughter at rehearsals, serious banter with my fave conductor, and some classic gigs on the bandstand. My only regret is that we haven’t yet tried out being a ukulele orchestra as well.

**Chris:** Retired from work and moved to Northampton in 2015 and joined AWB in time to prepare for my first concert at Christmas. I enjoy the practices, the concerts and the people and long may I be able to carry on

**Rachel:** Started playing the flute at primary school (and I’m still no better!). After a long break I joined AWB in 2015 as 2nd flute and love the camaraderie and playing in concerts.

**Helen:** I’ve been playing flute since I was 9 but hadn’t played in a group since I was at school – I joined AWB as a 2nd flute in 2019 and didn’t really have a clue what I was doing!
However after a while I began to see what a lovely group I had joined and really looked forward to rehearsals.
Since then I have joined Nene Valley Community band as a 1st flute and Naseby village band -I am also a flautist of a recently established jazz band called Just Jazz
I am also very proud to say that I am just starting my 2nd turn as chairperson for the band I love being able to oversee decisions we make for the band being a part of how the band continues to progress.

Peter: I started playing the flute at about 50, really to encourage my younger son, but loved it and joined AWB soon after. I would be a 3rd flute, but for the fact that we only have 1st’s and 2nd’s! Always a musical dabbler, I play loads of instruments “a little bit”, but I’m a choir singer by passion and a folkie at heart, with the nyckelharpa being my other main musical love. I’m also a Vice-chairman of Halsway Manor Society (The National Centre for Folk Arts) in Somerset, supporting and encouraging folk participation for all.

Oboe and Cor Anglais

**Amy**: I play the oboe and the Cor Anglais. I’ve been in the band for 2 and a half years. This has been a great place for me to get back into playing regularly. Always friendly and supportive, the band plays a wide range of pieces to satisfy all tastes and levels. Our activities during lockdown – a whole band edit of “Bring Me Sunshine,” our “Sunday Night Proms,” (where we all shared music on a theme for the week) and also quizzes, were things I looked forward to during the long hard months.

Clarinets

**Rachel** – I played the flute and piano when younger and started playing the clarinet later in life. I’ve been playing in band for 7 years and Love the “clarinet babes”!

**Amanda**: I achieved Grade 8 clarinet whilst at school but only joined the band in 2018, not having played for approximately 30 years. Now I play every Sunday with a great group of people and I love it.

**Åsa**: I’m brand new to the band and a happy 3rd clarinet. I started to play in Sweden when I was 10. Last time I played in a band was in 1994 in Germany. Now the kids are grown up I thought it was time for a bit of focus on me again. So far I have thoroughly enjoyed it, everyone have been so nice and welcoming.

**Sarah:** I joined the band as 3rd clarinet a few years ago having not played for about 10 years and I’m now doing my best as a second! I enjoy playing with such a friendly group of people and look forward to Sundays for the chance to spend time away from work!

**Jackie:** I love playing with this band. I learnt a lot of new music and like the journey!

**Jamie:** I have only been playing since Christmas 2023, but absolutely loving the learning process – and having wind band once a week is the highlight of my practicing

**Judith**: I have been a member of AWB for just over 5 years, starting playing 3^rd clarinet with my Bb instrument, but have subsequently during the last 3 years started playing bass clarinet with the band. I love it’s deep rich tones and along with the other bass instruments, like to think we are the “rhythmic and harmonic foundation of the band!”

Saxophones

**Anne:** I play Alto and Tenor saxophone. I learnt to play as an adult and joined the band about 5 or 6 years ago. I love any opportunity to play with other people as it’s great fun and you learn a lot.

**Simon**: I first joined AWB after many years of not playing an instrument and started the Alto sax as a member of the back row. When allowed, I also play tenor!

**Sue**: Started playing saxophone late in life never having played any instruments. I alternate between alto and tenor but am currently playing tenor. Still learning on the job…

**Margaret**: I was first invited to join this newly formed band when I was 17 and playing clarinet in another local band. I move around between alto sax, bari sax and clarinet but do love the sound of the baritone – especially when played by someone else!

Bassoon

Trumpets

**Ian B:** I joined the band over 20 years ago as I wanted a regular commitment to make sure I practiced regularly and improve my playing. I am now retired but when I was working, coming to rehearsals on Sunday evenings meant that I was relaxed at the beginning of the working week.

French Horns

**Carol**: I started playing at school on a borrowed Tenor Horn, but being in Windsor there weren’t many Brass Bands! I was bought a second hand French Horn (from the Central Band of the RAF) and played in Wind Bands and orchestras until I went to University. After just playing for Christmas at church and odd other things, I didn’t play regularly until my eldest son went to a Saturday music centre where I filled a gap in their Wind Band. With my boys getting involved with NMPAT I was introduced to the Abington Wind Band by Rachel Coles over 15 years ago and joined her Mum, Monica, in the Horn section. I now generally play 1^st Horn. I’m the band librarian trying to keep track of our some 400 pieces of music and making sure everyone has a part to play.

Euphonium

**Sophie**: I started playing a baritone (horn) when I was 9 after hearing a brass band play in a shopping centre. I fell in love with how they sounded and I’ve loved playing ever since! I started playing a euphonium about 5 years ago for a bigger and better range. I joined AWB in 2017 and I have loved meeting new people and playing in lots of new places.

Trombones

**Carl**: I began playing the Trombone when I started secondary school at eleven and played in various groups, progressing through the county system. However, I took the difficult decision to stop playing in order to concentrate on my final year of A Levels and other than occasional private practice (much to the annoyance of the neighbours,) I hadn’t played regularly again until joining AWB. In 2016 I was encouraged to join AWB by another band member and have enjoyed every minute of it since, offering plenty of bum notes along the way! I currently enjoy the challenge of playing 1^st Trombone.

**Rosemary**: 2nd Trombone player. Late starter:slow learner! However, returning to my alma mater in Kettering Road, and playing alongside the supportive and friendly crowd that is Abington Wind Band, is helping me to catch up.

**Paul**: I’m a mature beginner (very mature) and started to learn the trombone when I grew ever more fed up with looking at unplayed instruments after the children left home. Also, I very much missed going to their concerts and decided that there was only one thing for it, and that was to learn myself. I started with the AWB as seventh trombone, so there was always plenty of help and support available when I could only play what I could play. I’ve now switched to the bass trombone; as Pavarotti said when asked if he was afraid of the high notes, ‘Of course, what sane man is not!

Tuba

**Brian:** Rarely seen behind his instrument but often heard, Brian joined the band in 1984 and enjoys playing all styles of music (apart from Sing Sing Sing). Brian also plays the flute in another band.

Bass

Percussion

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