Desford Colliery Band Tour of Bangkok, Thailand 2015 Following on from the hugely successful tour in October 2014, the band were approached to return to Thailand in May 2015.
The students and staff were amazed by the sound and technical ability of the bands performance, hopefully inspiring a new generation to take up music with a brass instrument. The band had little time to relax as they were back at the school in the evening for a more formal public concert. The following day the band had a free morning and the opportunity to explore the city of Pattaya. At the evenings rehearsal, the band were joined by composer David Hughes, David had brought a new arrangement specially for the band to perform.
The Desford Colliery Band came on the 25th of May, during the beginning of our dreaded assessment week. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely happy with the fact that we had to move the time of our History assessment, in order to watch a bunch of adults make noise onstage. But there I sat, in the boiling Globe Theatre with my arms crossed and my brows furrowed. They came on and I was about ready to nod off, but they began playing, and all my fatigue and irritation instantly evaporated. The first piece they played was the King’s Anthem, but they had sounded so fascinating and unique, that I almost hadn’t recognized the very song I have been continuously listening to for the past six years. I’ve only heard the King’s Anthem through solo instruments, computer recordings and vocals, though never have I ever heard it being played by a live professional brass band; and I loved every second of it. They made us ooh and aah with their diverse range of performances. In the short time we spent with them, they made our eyes widen and minds explode as their speedy euphonium player took the stage; they made us reminiscence our childhood days with their cover of “I Want to Be Like You” from The Jungle Book; they even took us to space through their music; and they made us sing our hearts out as they played “Let It Go” from Frozen. Nearing the end, they gave us a surprise – it was the chance to conduct the entire orchestra while playing the famous Frozen tune, and frankly I was one of those people. I had never been the type to do something as audacious as this, but there I stood, with my heart pounding like a drum and my legs shaking like a pair of maracas as I waited my turn. When I finally stood in the spotlight I began to conduct. I felt all my nerves disappear and instead exhilaration took its place. Dozens of eyes were watching me, and people were smiling through their instruments. It was incredible. Whether it was while being seated in the audience or off conducting onstage, the experience they gave us was extraordinary. I feel so lucky to have been a part of this, and I look forward to their next visit, where I would welcome them with open arms and ears.
The next day the band was up bright and early for their day at the Shrewsbury International school. There was a short rehearsal in the magnificent auditorium before performing three educational concerts to the students. Included in the programme was our rendition of Philip Harper’s arrangement of “Let it Go” from the Disney film 'Frozen' which bought the house down! Friday saw our last day of performances, children’s concerts led by trombone soloist John Barber and culminating with a public performance in the evening. Our thanks for this tour go to Ben Crocker for conducting the band on tour, Tom Davoren for rehearsing the band in the UK and of course Peter Smith and his team for the organisation.
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The band’s first engagement was at the Regents school In Pattaya where the band received a great reception from the students. The band performed an educational concert which described all about the instruments and the music played by a British brass band. 
Wednesday the band travelled to Bangkok via a scenic coach trip through the some of Thailand’s smaller towns and villages. They were greeted at their hotel by members of the Shrewsbury school where the band was to complete the remainder of their concerts.