Welcome to Friary Diary issue 82 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band.
STOP PRESS: ISOBEL DAWS NAMED 4BARSREST PLAYER OF THE YEAR – READ MORE BELOW!
4BARSREST PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
We were absolutely thrilled to learn that brass website 4barsrest named Isobel Daws as their Player of the Year. Judged by no fewer than 18 leading lights in the brass banding world, including 4barsrest’s Iwan Fox and Malcolm Wood, David Childs (himself a five times winner of the award) and Steven Mead, Izzi was a clear winner. 4barsrest described her as ‘a trombonist of rare musical talents and progressive outlook’: high praise indeed. Izzi joins a roll of honour of other past winners such as Cory’s Tom Hutchinson, Helen Williams and Steve Stewart. Warmest congratulations! Runner-up was Foden’s superb euphonium player, Gary Curtin. For full details, please go to www.4barsrest.com. I’m also delighted that, as she leaves Friary to pursue what promises to be a wonderful musical career, Izzi agreed to be my ‘interviewee of the month.’ Please see the Player Feature below.
HARTLEY WINTNEY CONCERT:
Our next concert takes place at 2.30pm on Sunday 30th January at the Victoria Hall, Hartley Wintney. Tickets are £15 plus 68p booking fee (under 18s £10 plus 45p booking fee) and can be bought via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/KXDpJYIUVjyo We do hope you are able to join us.
UNIBRASS GALA CONCERT:
As mentioned above, Isobel Daws is this month’s featured player: thank you and farewell, Izzi, and on behalf of everyone at Friary, all the very best for the future. We will cherish the memories of your playing with Friary (not least your Brass in Concert performances in 2019 and last year as Princess Isobel), and will watch your career with immense interest.
Do you come from a musical family – if so, what did they play?
I grew up in the Salvation Army, and my whole family played an instrument. My Dad played the cornet and practised a lot at home, so I was constantly surrounded by brass playing!
When did you first start playing a brass instrument, and what was it?
I began playing the cornet aged three!
If that wasn’t a trombone, when did you switch?
I switched to the trombone aged eight or nine – apparently I was too loud on the cornet!
What bands have you played for regularly?
I started playing in Friary in 2014, but when I moved to Manchester for sixth form, I played in the Fairey Band for two years.
What do you particularly like about playing with Friary?
I love how the band is such a happy community, and really enjoy being around people that love playing together regularly!
Do you play or have you played any other instruments apart from the trombone?
I have Grade 8 Piano, but never play any more.
What’s your most memorable banding moment?
It must be my first contest on Principal Trombone with Friary playing Lone Wolf (not sure full title). It was amazing to stand up and play a solo at the Albert Hall!
What would you most like to achieve in the musical world? My dream is to have a job in a professional orchestra, but I would also love to be able to continue playing with my trombone quartet, Bone-afide and perform globally!
Are you involved with any other types of music?
I typically just play classical music, but have jazz lessons at my conservatoire (Royal Academy of Music) which is definitely broadening my skills!
Apart from brass, what other genres of music do you enjoy?
I love listening to jazz and funk music!
If you were cast away on a desert island, what would be your top three music pieces you’d like to listen to - and why?
Strauss - Alpine Symphony. My dream is to play 1st Trombone in Alpine Symphony in an orchestra one day. I just think the piece is so incredible and the trombone part is amazing!
Natalie Cole - This Will Be. My favourite film when I was younger was ‘Parent Trap’ and this song is in the film. I was obsessed with it then and still am!
Ella Fitzgerald - Someone to Watch Over Me. I think this tune is just beautiful. I could listen to it all day! It’s so nice to listen to something completely different to the classical music that I play every day and really important for my ears!
RANKING NEWS:
As of 13th December, Friary is 19th in the world. For full ranking details, please go to https://www.4barsrest.com/rankings/