City of Chester Brass Band

The £44,000 Lottery Grant

In 1998 a successful lottery campaign resulted in a superb award from the National Lottery.

Coordinator David Else sums-up the exercise.

Final Report on the National Lottery Project 1996 - 1999:

• The Project included:

  • Purchasing a set of new instruments

  • Creating a Junior Band

  • Adapting the band room toilets and doorways to provide access for disabled people

  • Creating additional storage; improved security; redecoration; a promotional video

• The objectives of the Project were to:

  • Improve the quality and quantity of our music making

  • Train learners with a view to future main band members

  • Increase player and audience numbers

  • Open the facilities to disabled players

  • Increase public appreciation and understanding of brass band culture

• The Project was completed in October 1999.

• The new instruments have enabled the band to improve the quality of our playing. We have already performed concerts in five new locations in villages around Chester, with audiences averaging 50 - 60 per performance. In 2003 the band held its 150th celebration concert in the cathedral in front of several hundred people (with performances also by the Training Band).

• The old instruments have been passed on to new players, and a Junior Band (The City of Chester Training Band) has been formed, currently with over 30 players (2006). The instruments have also been used in open workshops with both adult and junior first-timers. The promo video was delivered behind schedule, and has never been used in anger. Specific actions to include the disabled and from minorities are in-place.

• Several Training Band members are now full main band players, and others join the main band in rehearsals and outings.

• The adaptions of the band room have improved access for disabled people. The benefit was evident during the filming of the promo video by a local college, allowing participation by a wheelchair-bound film student.

• A newsletter (BrassNotes) was started in October 99, as part of the moves to increase public awareness and appreciation of banding. This was stopped in 2003, but regular contributions are made to the main band publications. In addition this web site www.chesterbrass.co.uk , launched in Dec 98 and revamped in Feb 2000, is widening our contact-base. We have gained several Junior and senior players through the web alone! A trophy was donated to the Chester Competitive Music Festival, and many stories have appeared in the regions newspapers. The band site was revamped again in 2006 and it is intended to restart the BrassNotes newsletter by email.

• There is a new enthusiasm in the band directly linked to the outcome of the Project, and a team spirit certainly built during the redecoration phase! Rehearsals are well attended and the band has been 'in-the-frame' in recent contests - in 2002 the band was promoted from the fourth to the third section.

• The figures...

Expenditure:

Expenditure
Instruments and other activities £48,954 Funding
Westminster Foundation £2,000 Chester City Council £1,200 Donations £600 Band Funds £136 Labour (band members*) £955 Lottery Grant £44,063

* labour valued at £50/day. The time spent by band members was much, much greater than this. What is shown is the value of labour required to meet the lottery award re partnership funding.