Join us for a free concert in Howard Davis Park from 7.30pm on Wednesday 9 July.
La Ronde Concert Band of Jersey
Just over forty years ago, in 1982, a small band of keen amateur musicians playing woodwind and brass instruments met in the canteen of Highlands College to make music. At that time it was to be a 10 week experiment, initiated by peripatetic brass teacher, Neil Sawyer. The band rehearsed sitting in a circle so that the players could all see Neil who led the rehearsals whilst also playing trombone. Hence the name La Ronde. (French word for circle and semibreve) The experiment endured and over four decades later the band still meets on a Wednesday evening to rehearse. It has expanded since its early days with members numbering 35-40, including a percussionist and now meets at Chateau Vermont, the home of the Jersey Academy of Music.
Currently around 25 players make up the woodwind section of clarinets, flutes, piccolos oboes, bassoon and saxophones whilst about 10/12 players make up the brass section of French horns, trumpets, fluegel horn, trombones, euphonium and tuba. All supported by the percussionist.
