All I can say is - WOW!
We performed our first concert of the 2025/26 season last night, at the beautiful Carntyne & Cranhill Parish Church in Glasgow's East End. We didn't have the best preparation for this concert, to be honest. First, Storm Amy meant we couldn't have one of our rehearsals, and the school holidays meant we couldn't have a rehearsal on the Friday before the concert. To top it all off, we had some last-minute call-offs from some of our players, meaning we went into the gig last night with a slightly depleted band, using some music from last year's programme, that we hadn't rehearsed or played since June, and with an MD feeling more than a tad concerned about what was going to happen when he brought down the stick!
Well, I needn't have worried. The band sounded fabulous, most of the points that could have gone wrong didn't, and the only obvious mistake was committed by yours truly, but the band coped with that admirably, and the audience probably didn't even notice!
After the concert was finished, I had the privilege of speaking to a number of audience members. One lady came up to me and said she was nearly in tears at how much she enjoyed the concert, and the sheer joy of music that was emanating from the band. Another chap was an ex-percussionist, and was very impressed at how the percussion team, and the rest of the band, were playing with smiles on their faces while having their eyes glued to the stick.
As we were packing up, the church's minister, Rhona, presented me with a bunch of flowers! I don't think I've ever had a bunch of flowers for any of my performances, either with an instrument or a stick! They are now taking pride of place in my kitchen.
My thanks go once again to the wonderful group of players that I stand in front of every Friday, for such a fabulous concert. We are out again in two weeks time, this time visiting our friends at Dennistoun New Parish Church, and if we can replicate the concert from last night, I will be a VERY happy chappy!
MT the MD