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This year sees the band celebrate 40 years with Norman Pendray as their principle Cornet. This firm rock in stormy seas has enabled the band to survive and thrive where other bands have stumbled. Norman joined the Band at the grand old age of 12, walking the two miles each way to Band practice and following a long tradition of Pendrays in St Pinnock Band. Joe Armstrong then took the band as conductor, having been a Euphonium star with Grimethorpe Band, Norman made steady progress under his tutelage and was appointed to solo cornet in 1969 at just 17 years of age. He was part of the 1977 West of England Champion Quartet
and was offered a position with Grimethorpe
Band. Fortunately for St Pinnock Norman had
a farm to run, which meant milking 120 cows
twice a day, contest or not.
Norman has also taken up the conductors
baton in his time and conducted the band,
and Bodmin Band. His work with St Pinnock
Junior Band brought forward some excellent
players who are still with the band today.
In 1975 Norman married Fiona Whitehead, a horn player with the band, to produce the Bands first in-house wedding
The great bandsman George Thompson taught Norman about practicing with a suspended cornet to improve technique and put less pressure on his lips, we all very much hope that there are plenty more years in those lips yet.
and was offered a position with Grimethorpe
Band. Fortunately for St Pinnock Norman had
a farm to run, which meant milking 120 cows
twice a day, contest or not.
Norman has also taken up the conductors
baton in his time and conducted the band,
and Bodmin Band. His work with St Pinnock
Junior Band brought forward some excellent
players who are still with the band today.
In 1975 Norman married Fiona Whitehead, a horn player with the band, to produce the Bands first in-house wedding
The great bandsman George Thompson taught Norman about practicing with a suspended cornet to improve technique and put less pressure on his lips, we all very much hope that there are plenty more years in those lips yet.
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April - May
This month found the band working hard to prepare a new programme for the summer and its Bodmin Concert in particular. Jeremy had the band doing a musical intensive Gym workout twice a week to improve stamina and sound. The blood sweat and tears paid off as the band produced one of its best performances ever in the public rooms at Bodmin. Expertly compeered by Phillip Hunt from Radio Cornwall, and supported by the St Germans Singers the band produced some real Gems. Dan Tamblyn gave a faultless rendition of Helter Skelter on the Xylophone, which proved to be a real show stopper. Three rather fetching young ladies from a local religious order then gave the trombone section a rest and treated the audience their version of " I will follow Him" from the movie Sister Act. With other great performances from the horn and cornet sections, we all await what the Bass section will dream up for a future feature.
The Band then went on to start the summer gig sessions by providing a traditional Garden Fete musical back drop to the Heligan Gardens Spring Festival. The Band could be heard the length of the gardens and drew a fair audience on a cold and draughty day. To keep warm, we played a fair number of pieces almost back tp back, and certainly earned our fee, although did not get to look around the gardens
2009
The Band were thrilled to hear the results of this years Gwent Youth Brass Solo competition,where are irrepressible Soprano Cornet player Brendon Caddy won an armful of titles. Not content with first place in the slow melody 12-13 years he also went on to take first place in the air varie 15 years and under , followed by second place in the open slow melody competition : more than enough to earn a mention in dispatches from 4barsrest.
When not taking part in St Pinnock's busy round of engagements, Brendon also occupies the Soprano seat in the National youth band and St Dennis Youth Band. Undoubtedly a name to watch for the future years, the band very much enjoy the presence of a possible future star in their ranks and the entertainment he brings to the ever stoical cornet section.
At a more local level, Brendon's revolutionary patented sheet music filing system was reputed to have enabled him to be the first player to get the next piece of music on his stand on at least one occasion last month. Our Principal cornet is however disputing this.
A special cheer should go to Brendon's parents, who have taken the " Mums Taxi " service to a whole new level
http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?=9940
When not taking part in St Pinnock's busy round of engagements, Brendon also occupies the Soprano seat in the National youth band and St Dennis Youth Band. Undoubtedly a name to watch for the future years, the band very much enjoy the presence of a possible future star in their ranks and the entertainment he brings to the ever stoical cornet section.
At a more local level, Brendon's revolutionary patented sheet music filing system was reputed to have enabled him to be the first player to get the next piece of music on his stand on at least one occasion last month. Our Principal cornet is however disputing this.
A special cheer should go to Brendon's parents, who have taken the " Mums Taxi " service to a whole new level
http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?=9940
Brendon Caddy
Dan Tamblyn
June
Our heartiest congratulations go to Rachel Crabb, who has just been awarded the prestigious Robert Lewin Scholarship from the organisations, Awards for Young Musicians. This would be fantastic in itself, but is made even more so by the fact that she has undergone two serious spinal ops in the last year and been forced to change from playing Eb Bass to Euphonium. Rachel started playing with the junior band on cornet but found her real talent playing the Bass. As well as being a committed regular player and committee member of St Pinnock, she is in regular demand from other bands to act as Dep, and often plays for St Dennis Youth and Cornwall Youth Brass Band. She has given many fine performances with St Pinnock, playing with a style and composure seldom seen in such a young player.
The audition was in London, and required Rachel to play two contrasting pieces and pass an interview with a panel of trustees. The award is worth £2000 and will set her well on the way to her ambition of making a career out of her musical talents.
The audition was in London, and required Rachel to play two contrasting pieces and pass an interview with a panel of trustees. The award is worth £2000 and will set her well on the way to her ambition of making a career out of her musical talents.
Rachel Crabb
Photo by Tom Windsor
tomwindsor@mac.com
Click here for the link to the Plymouth Herald