Welcome to St. Swithun's Brass Band

No... the band isn't for sale I'm afraid, but please don't let that stop you from pledging support if you can.

We are a group of amateur musicians from Bridport in Dorset.   Every one of our twenty-three players are volunteers.   They turn up week on week throughout the year to rehearse and to play at the concerts we host.   Almost all of the engagements we undertake are free.   Although we have a few collection buckets and our players each pay a small monthly subscription, our band desperately needs more support.   It is always a sad day to see a band folding for lack of funds or members.

Brass bands are a long-standing British tradition.   We provide entertainment and traditional music for our audience's enjoyment and for the simple pleasure of getting together with like-minded people to create music.   However, we cannot do this unless we can buy instruments, uniforms, music scores, music stands, insurance, instrument repairs and pay for the hire of our practice hall.   We do provide our own tea and biscuits though.   We also run a free training band where anyone can come along and learn to play an instrument.   Students get to take their loaned instruments home in order to contiue practicing.

As you can imagine, instruments are our biggest expense.   Some of our band members play their own but some instruments are simply too expensive to expect our members to buy.   For example, a half decent second-hand tuba costs in excess of £3,000.   We need more instruments for our students and band members to use.   We will accept instruments if you have one you'd like to donate.   Naturally, it will need to be of sufficient quality to be played in a band.

Take a look at our band's webpage... St. Swithun's Brass Band.   If you are on holiday and in the area come and watch us at one of our open concerts.   See the website for concert dates.