WO Mike Jefferies conducts the Concert Band
Thirty-six musically talented Air Cadets from across Central & East Region, Air Training Corps, came together at Royal Air Force Station, Henlow, to practice their musical skills in preparation for another busy year of performances.
Under the direction of Squadron Leader Alan Glover, both the Marching Band and the Concert Band were put through their paces during a weekend schedule of hard practice that aimed at unifying the many individual talents into high quality musical units.
Warrant Officer Mike Jefferies, Corps Bandmaster, was on hand to guide and encourage the young musicians of the Concert Band through the rehearsals of a repertoire of traditional and new musical pieces.
The drummers and Drum Majors of the Marching Band honed their skills outside in a sometimes bitter January wind . They were later joined by cadets from the Concert Band who also made up the Region’s Marching Band as they mastered the difficult task of carrying and playing their instruments whilst marching in step and maintaining their “dressings”.
“ The talent and enthusiasm of the cadets never ceases to amaze me and it was such a pleasure watching these individuals blending together to make such fine music” said the Region’s Media and Communications Officer, Squadron Leader Al Munns, during his visit to the weekend camp. Al continued; “none of this would be possible without the skill and dedication of the volunteer staff who have given up yet another weekend to ensure the Band Camp happened and the Region has musicians to be proud of”.
Central and East Region are still on the lookout for musicians of Grade 3 and above to join this talented group and fulfil the engagements already in the diary. If you are interested, please contact band.ce@aircadets.org