Who are the Drogheda Brass Band?
The Drogheda Brass Band is a much-loved institution in the town representing Drogheda and its communities since 1886. We are currently enjoying our most successful period ever as reigning National Brass Band champions of Ireland for the 4th year in succession. We have recently moved to an impressive new band-room in East Coast Business Park, Donore Road.

Why join our School of Music?
The principal aim of our organisation is to provide the people of Drogheda and surrounding areas with an opportunity to enjoy music in a safe, affordable, fun and educational environment. Over the years many past and current members have developed careers from the skills we provide – many have become professional players, composers and music teachers. This, combined with the incredible success of our senior band, proves that we succeed in developing skills to help students progress in whatever musical genres they choose.

Affordable Price
Our main objective is to make the extremely expensive (and often elitist) area of music education accessible, affordable and enjoyable for students. We currently charge €300 annually (with family discount and standing order discount options available). For this highly
competitive price you receive the following:

1. Entry to our book scheme – students are proved with the books required and don’t have to purchase any music.
2. Entry to our instrument rental scheme – all students receive brass instruments from the band.
3. Subsidised visits by professional brass tutors.
4. Subsidised competition entries.
5. Internationally-recognised grade examinations examined and certified by Trinity Guildhall, London.
6. Preparation for practical elements of Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations.

Group Learning
We strongly promote group learning. All classes are taught in groups meaning students socialise with people of their own age while learning to play as a soloist and as part of an ensemble. This builds friendships that last for life.

Investment
The Drogheda Brass Band is investing very heavily our School of Music. We have ambitious plans for the school because it is vital for our
continued success. In the last year we’ve purchase over 100 new books and CDs for our ever growing book scheme, 20 brand new brass
instruments for our instrument scheme and we’ve moved to a state of the art new band-room. We plan similar investment over the coming year to ensure our students enjoy a safe, clean, modern and interactive environment to enjoy music.

Qualified Teacher
Both classes will be taught by Aoife Crowley who has a BA in Applied Music from DKIT specialising in Music Education.

ANOTHER update from the new bandrooms and the rooms are starting to take shape. Only the main bandhall remains ceiling-less but work on that is beginning next Monday and should be complete in a week. All systems go for the end of April fingers crossed!!

Check the gallery here:

http://www.droghedabrassband.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3868

EXCITING time ahead for all at Drogheda Brass Band as progress on their new bandrooms at East Coast Business Park continues apace.

Having enjoyed a great day out on St Patrick’s Day marching in the Drogheda parade, the band are still in the throes of preparing for the national band championships in Limerick in April – a title they have won for the last three years running.

The timber-frame company are on site in the new bandrooms and are flying ahead with building studded walls for new corridors and rooms, as well as fitting out the main band hall. It is hoped all work will be finished by the end of April and the band are eagerly looking forward to heralding a new era of brass music in Drogheda.

The future of Drogheda Brass Band is very bright if the latest set of grade results from the students in their school of music is anything to go by.
On July 17th last, 21 nervous students sat grade exams ranging from initial recorder to Grade 8 set by the Trinity Guildhall School of Music, London.
Despite the nerves and tension on the day the students received the best results in a long time with Stephen Murray (Grade 8), Francis Daly (Grade 7), Amy Townley (Grade 4), Eoin Tunstead, Ian McCormack, Grace English (Grade 3), Hannah Plunkett, Aisling Reilly and Ciara Condra (recorder grade) all receiving distinctions.
Speaking after the grade exams, examiner Brendan Drummond of Trinity Guildhall said: “The standard of playing was really quite excellent. I have examined all over the British Isles and in Asia and these students are as good as any I’ve examined in the past. It’s difficult to believe it (the school of music) is an entirely amateur school.”
Director of the School of Music Barry Maher was delighted with the results. “The most pleasing part for me is the average result of 78%. When you consider that for a lot of students this was only their first or second exam this is a brilliant average.”
The teachers – Aoife Crowley, Mark Nutley, Sarah Flood, Francis Daly, Yvonne Cunningham, Eoin Tunstead and Fiona Shields – deserve a huge amount of credit according to Barry.
“The teachers are incredibly dedicated. They balance their work and playing commitments brilliantly to keep the students interested and motivated.”
Band chairman Tony Collins was delighted with the continuing success of the youth system saying: “The band is 123 years old this year. This wouldn’t be possible if it was not for the continued dedication of our teachers, students and committee members towards our youth policy.”
The results crown what has been an excellent six months for Drogheda Brass Band and its school of music. The senior band has retained the National Brass Band Championships for a third successive year and played at the European Championships in Belgium, while the students in the school of music have enjoyed success at local level, winning prizes and plaudits at the north eastern solo competitions.
The students are currently taking a well-deserved break and will start back again at the end of August. The school of music is enrolling a new beginner class for students aged 8-12. Please contact Barry Maher at barry.maher4@gmail.com before September 28th for more information or visit www.droghedabrassband.org

 

Drogheda Brass Band euphonium player Anthony Murphy, author of Island of the Setting Sun, met up with Drogheda-born composer Richard Rock at a band rehearsal recently.
Anthony presented Richard with a signed copy of the book, while in turn Richard gave Anthony a copy of the score of his composition “Island of the Setting Sun”, which was written for brass band. The presentation took place at the Drogheda Brass Band, which gave the piece its European debut in April at the European Brass Band Championships in Oostende in Belgium.
The piece is inspired by the book, and indeed Anthony contributed to the composer’s notes in the score which help explain the title. Richard took time during his visit home to conduct the Drogheda Brass Band through a few of his arrangements. He is looking forward to more books from Anthony which will hopefully form the basis of future compositions!

DROGHEDA Brass Band are thrilled to announce that they have secured a building in the East Coast Business Park which they say will provide the expansion of their top-class school of music.
Following negotiations with Drogheda Borough Council and Town Clerk Des Foley, the band had originally agreed to purchase a site from the council at Toberboice Lane, Mell. However, with the economic downturn, the band’s committee decided that this plan, which would have left the band with a minimum shortfall of e220,000, was not viable.
Following an extensive search, they secured this new building and with legal work due to commence this week, the band hope to move into the 3,000 sq ft building before the end of the year.
The main rehearsal room for the band will be soundproofed to top class standard following a recent visit of band officers and conductor to the recently-refurbished Garda Band headquarters in Dublin with the band’s architect for the project Declan Walsh.
Mr Walsh gave the committee officers a detailed tour of the building last weekend with his plans which will include room for development on a second floor, allowing continued expansion of the school of music.
‘This new building, and its location, will give us a superb facility,’ band secretary Michael Plunkett commented. ‘With Funtasia, the 24-hour Tesco store, Lidl, Aldi, The Sound Shop and the retail park with Harvey Norman, Argos, KFC and others nearby, there will be easy, free parking for parents and students of the school of music plus a range of extras on our doorstep.’
The band will continue their fundraising efforts over the next few years but with a much-reduced shortfall on the new building over their original plan they hope to leave the organisation debt free as soon as possible.
‘We are grateful to Drogheda Borough Council, and in particular Cllr Paul Bell, who was heavily involved in the negotiations for our original site, and also Town Clerk Des Foley who was very understanding when we informed him of our need to change plans. We are grateful for their understanding and cooperation and hope that the site at Mell can be used by the borough council or another deserving local organisation,’ said Michael.

ELECTRIC Avenue and Geriko have been lined up by Drogheda Brass Band for what should be a packed house in the Westcourt Hotel on Saturday, November 15th, for a fundraising party night.
Having sold out the venue over the bank holiday weekend recently, Electric Avenue fans will be scrambling to make sure they have their hands on a ticket for the hottest gig in town this side of Christmas!
With DJ Justin also lined up to get the party atmosphere going, this is sure to be a night to remember.
The event is being organised by the fundraising committee of Drogheda Brass Band and all proceeds from the night will go towards offsetting the costs of building their new purpose-built bandrooms.
Electric Avenue are one of the hottest properties on the gigging scene in the north east and have sold out venues wherever they play.
This talented nine-piece outfit play all the best of the 80s, the songs you remember and the tunes you want to dance to. Always guaranteed to get you dancing and leave you with a smile of reminiscence on your face, this is a great chance to see Electric Avenue live on stage in the comfortable surroundings of the Westcourt Hotel.
Local three-piece Geriko have a cult following in town and have had since they first hit the scene a number of years back. Famous for their theme nights in town, the lads have been working on new material and this is a huge chance to catch these new tunes lives for the first time.
The brass band have already sent letters round to companies in town seeking donations, sponsorship and raffle prizes but anyone who would like to contribute in any way at all can do so by contacting Brian Murphy on 086-8238174 or brian.murphy@droghedabrassband.org
Generous contributions have already been secured from AIB Drogheda, Boyne Valley Country Club, Thomas Byrne TD, Fergus O’Dowd TD, Boylesports (Trinity St), Hoey’s Butchers, The Salt House, Scholar’s Townhouse Hotel, Marks and Spencers, Sorrento’s, Premier Periclase, Ming Garden and Gala Cleaners.

NATIONAL brass band champions of Ireland, Drogheda Brass Band, are on the lookout for new members to start a beginners class immediately.
The band currently number 80 members of all ages, and their school of music is enrolling again, providing another group of local children with an internationally recognised music certificate due to their association with the Trinity Guildhall College in London.
The band’s success at the nationals qualifies them to represent Ireland in the European Brass Band Championship in Ostende, Belgium, next May.
They are currently busy preparing for the North of Ireland National Band Championships, to be held in Armagh on November 1st.
The two-time champion band, awaiting final go-ahead for their new purpose-built facility at Toberboice Lane, Mell, have been a major contributor to the musical history of Drogheda since its inception back in 1886.
Anyone interested in joining the brass band can get in touch with the director of their school of music, Maria Burns, on 086-1078051.
It is envisaged to start the class before the end of October and parents are encouraged to enroll their children as soon as possible.

The band’s annual flag day takes place this Saturday, June 14th, all day in Drogheda and surrounding areas so watch out for our members and please support our good cause.

It’s that time of year once again. Schools are finished, exams almost completed and Summer Sounds is just a month away. Once again the band are delighted to announce that Alan Bourne, accompanied by his wife Claire and tutor Alice Jones, will return to take the senior and junior band through their paces. This, for many, is the highlight of the year and this year will be no different. The course begins on Saturday, July 19th, and will run right through until Friday, July 25th, when the band will give a concert in a venue that has yet to be decided. Keep the date free in your diary as this is one show you don’t want to miss!