PHOENIX Concert Band performed an ‘Autumn Musical Spectacular’ to a large audience of locals and regular supporters at St Margaret’s Church, Queen’s Road, Ilkley on Saturday, November 7.

The Leeds based band draws its members of woodwind, brass and percussion players from across Yorkshire. The band’s repertoire covers a wide range of wind band music ranging from film scores, classical arrangements and dance band music through to contemporary compositions.

The musical director of the band is Keiron Anderson, a nationally acclaimed exponent of wind band music with extensive experience of playing, teaching, composing, conducting and adjudicating at all levels. Keiron is also the former head of Music and Drama at Ilkley Grammar School.

The band presented a programme of varied music including Sullivan’s Pineapple Poll, Symphonic Dances from Fiddler on the Roof and an arrangement of songs by Irving Berlin. In recognition of the concert being held the day before Remembrance Sunday, the band played John Williams' haunting melody ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ from the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis by Vaughan Williams. The proximity of Bonfire Night was also marked by the band’s first public performance of ‘Vesuvius’ by Frank Ticheli. This piece depicts the eponymous volcano, complete with hissing steam, crashing explosions, terrifying lava flows and spectacular pyrotechnics.

In addition to entertaining many people this concert raised over £150 for St Gemma's Hospice, Leeds from generous donations made for interval refreshments.

This event was the first time the Phoenix Concert Band has performed a concert in Ilkley for several years; it was very well received by the audience and the band hope to establish a regular fixture in the town. A second concert has been arranged for March 5, 2016, which will feature Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.