Introduction to Taunton Concert
Band
The present Concert Band can trace its roots back to May 1892 when
Taunton Town Band was formed. Like its predecessor, Taunton Concert Band
still performs summer concerts in Vivary Park, Taunton. In May 1995 when the
centenary of Vivary Park was celebrated, Taunton Deane Borough Council
invited the Concert Band to play on the 18th June 1995 to commemorate the
first ever concert on the Park Bandstand.
Originally the Band was a Brass Band and became known as Taunton Silver
Band. It was disbanded during the war years and was reformed on the 11th
February 1960 with a grant from the Taunton Borough Council of £1,500 to
purchase instruments.
In 1976, the Band became a Brass and Reed, or Wind Band, which allows
most orchestral instruments (other than strings) to be played. The name was
subsequently changed to "Taunton Concert Band".
In 1986, Martin Wills joined the Band as Musical Director. Martin
gained
his musical education by joining the Army as a Junior Bandsmen at the age of
15, at the then "Light Infantry Depot" Shrewsbury. Martin later
trained at Kneller Hall, the Royal Military School of Music Twickenham,
where he attended the pupils course (1972/73) and returned to complete the
world famous Bandmasters course in 1981/83, which includes learning to play
all the instruments of a military Band. This expertise is now well used as,
in addition to being Musical Director of the Concert Band, Martin is
employed by Somerset Music Service as a brass and woodwind teacher in
several Somerset Schools.
June
1998 the National Lottery awarded Taunton Concert £60,000 to purchase a
full set of new instruments and other equipment. The Band also commissioned
the "Three Towers Suite" composed by Roger May, which was
premiered on Saturday, April 29th 2000.
With the purchase of new instruments, such as Bassoon, Cor Anglais, Bass
& Alto Clarinets. Taunton Concert Band is able to put out a full
Symphonic Wind Band (Orchestra), meeting the demands of modern arrangements
and new works, such as the "Three Towers suite".
Robin
Bush Chairman of Somerset County Council presented the chairman’s Golden
Jubilee Award, to Martin Wills in the year 2002 for his outstanding contribution
to the County of Somerset. The award was for personal dedication and hard
work as musical director of the Taunton Concert Band.
