It was a full house at the charity concert by Whaley Bridge Brass Band, which took place at the Uniting Church on Sunday 20th May.  The concert, arranged by Lorraine Jenkins who suffers herself with the disease, was a very successful, enjoyable afternoon. Hoping that the concert would be the most successful of our charity concerts we were not disappointed and raised a whopping £905 for the local Macclesfield and District (incorporating High Peak) branch of the MS Society. The concert was the first outing of the band's new conductor Matt Shaw and also included a performance by the learner band. Lorraine especially would like to thank all those who supported this extremely worthwhile cause.

WBB are delighted to welcome Matt Shaw as their new Musical Director. Matt, who hails from Stockport, graduated from the RNCM last year where he studied Bass Trombone. As well as playing with the Championship Section Bollington Brass Band, he conducts Shaw Swing, his own big band, and has also performed with the Hallé Orchestra.

There are exciting times ahead for Whaley Bridge Band as Matt puts them through their paces on traditional brass band music but also adds new variety to their repertoire.

“ I am delighted to have been appointed as musical director for Whaley Bridge Band” Matt told us. “It is my intention to expand the band’s current repertoire to include more swing influenced pieces, allowing me to draw upon knowledge gained from my previous position as a big band director. I am looking forward to working with the band, and I am eagerly anticipating my début performance with WBB later this month.”

The Band have a very full programme of engagements over the next few weeks, so there is plenty of opportunity to see Matt in action during May and June: full details on the band’s website whaleybridgebrassband.weebly.com Not to be missed is Whaley Rose Queen Festival on Saturday 30th June when Matt will lead a massed band of over forty players with Whaley Bridge Learner Band joining the seniors at the head of the carnival parade through the town.