We're always looking for new players. We value commitment and enthusiasm over musical qualifications and warmly welcome players of all standards and backgrounds.
Rehearsals
We meet every Thursday evening at St. George's Church Centre, Tuffley, Gloucester (directions below). Rehearsal starts promptly at 7.30pm so we recommend arriving by 7.15pm in order to set up. We normally finish at 9pm.
Rehearsals comprise working on pieces for our forthcoming performances, with a short break halfway through the evening. The last quarter of an hour or so is often devoted to "requests" during which members of the band can choose to play their favourite pieces from our repertoire.
Note that we usually don't meet during school holidays and sometimes rehearsals have to be cancelled for other reasons. Check our calendar for details or if in any doubt, contact us first.
We charge a small fee of 50p at each rehearsal, which helps to cover our running costs. However, we'll even waive this modest amount for your first rehearsal - so come along, you really do have nothing to lose.
There's no formality to joining - just turn up on a Thursday evening. If you'd prefer to talk to us first, call us or email us for more information.
Membership requirements
We are a symphonic wind band and therefore welcome players of all standard woodwind and brass instruments, plus kit percussion. If you specialise in larger percussion instruments (e.g. glockenspiel, timpani), we would still be interested in hearing from you - particularly if you have your own instruments - but contact us first to make sure we can physically fit you in the rehearsal venue.
We may also be interested in you if you play certain other instruments including string bass or keyboard.
Our players range from professionally-trained musicians to near-beginners and we welcome players of any age (indeed, our current conductors both joined the band when they were still at school). Whatever your previous experience, we're confident we'll find you a role that will be challenging, stimulating and, above all, fun!
Directions
Please see our map and directions to Charter Band rehearsal and concert venues.
Find out more
Please explore this site to find out more about us. You may be particularly interested in our list of forthcoming concerts and our repertoire.
Alternatively, please contact us with your questions.
We look forward to welcoming you to Charter Band soon.
