Time to make sweet music, No matter what your instrument we have a band for you!
BBC Elstree Concert Band was founded more than twenty years ago at the BBC's Elstree Studios. It now has over 40 regular players and an eclectic repertoire from Gershwin to Beethoven, from John Barry to Elgar.
Every year it gives a number of public concerts in the London area and further afield in support of reputable causes. The band also tours every couple of years both in the UK and Europe.
There's a rehearsal every Monday evening at BBC Maida Vale Studios in Delaware Road from 7.30-9.15pm. The concert band repertoire calls for full brass and woodwind sections plus percussion and string bass, all players are roughly grade 8 standard with relevant playing experience. The band's Musical Director is Andrew Morley (Trinity College of Music, London) and the Principal Guest conductor is Mike Crisp.
Beebflutes is a small and friendly group of flautists who meet fortnightly at lunchtime in W12. We play intermediate music, from all styles and our standard is roughly grade 6 upwards - though we'd welcome hearing from people at earlier stages of playing. Beebflutes have performed in W12 to raise money for Children In Need and further events are planned.
BBC Ariel Orchestra is the newest Music Connect Group ensemble. It meets approximately every fortnight at Maida Vale on Sunday afternoons, and members are approximately Grade 8 standard. Our repertoire includes Mendelssohn, Dvorak and Beethoven symphonies. Please get in touch for information about vacancies. If you're at an earlier stage of playing, please do get in touch, we're interested in developing some intermediate opportunities. We're a very friendly, encouraging group and sessions are followed by a well-earned trip to the pub.
The Ariel Big Band is currently reorganising, but please do get in touch so we can let you know when we re-start. We play a wide variety of music from the jazz based Big Band repertoire and have been rehearsed by a variety of MDs, many of them big names in the world of music. Occasionally the band plays gigs - previous venues have included BBC Club bars, the Barbican Foyer, not to mention numerous pubs.
Cost to join – £10
