Events
Festival of Wind and Brass Saturday 1st of June 2024
(7pm) Pamoja Hall, Sevenoaks, Kent
SCWS is proud to return to Pamoja Hall for the resumption of the Festival of Wind and Brass after a prolonged hiatus. Founded by SCWS Music Director, Jonathan Crowhurst in 2016, the festival celebrates and connects the network of diverse local music ensembles, ranging from concert bands to brass bands and big bands performing traditional and contemporary music focussed on wind instruments. Past participants have included internationally renowned musicians such as trombonist Brett Baker, trumpeter Rex Richardson, tuba player Les Neish, flautist Andy Findon, and local BBC Young Musician of the Year winner, Matilda Lloyd. Among the ensembles that have taken part in previous years are the award-winning Maidstone Wind Symphony, Redbridge Brass Band, The Medway Band, BAE Brass Band, and Southern Counties Youth Band. Details of those participating in 2024 will be announced shortly.
Tickets here
The Snowman Saturday 14th of Dec 2024
SCWS is pleased to present a wonderful and magical Christmas experience featuring traditional seasonal favourites such as Sleigh Ride and Christmas Festival plus a full-length presentation of the iconic movie “The Snowman” based on the timeless Raymond Briggs classic book of the same name. The film will be shown on a large screen above the orchestra which will provide a live soundtrack. Guest soloists from Weald of Kent Grammar School will sing “Walking in the Air”, the aria made famous by Aled Jones. We welcome one-and-all to join us for this festival of Christmas cheer suitable for children of all ages …including those of more mature years!
Tickets TBC
Festival of Wind and Brass Sunday 18th of May 2025
(7pm) Pamoja Hall, Sevenoaks, Kent
SCWS is proud to return to Pamoja Hall for the Festival of Wind and Brass. Founded by SCWS Music Director, Jonathan Crowhurst in 2016, the festival celebrates and connects the network of diverse local music ensembles, ranging from concert bands to brass bands and big bands performing traditional and contemporary music focussed on wind instruments. Past participants have included internationally renowned musicians such as trombonist Brett Baker, trumpeter Rex Richardson, tuba player Les Neish, flautist Andy Findon, and local BBC Young Musician of the Year winner, Matilda Lloyd. Among the ensembles that have taken part in previous years are the award-winning Maidstone Wind Symphony, Redbridge Brass Band, The Medway Band, BAE Brass Band, and Southern Counties Youth Band. Details of those participating in 2025 will be announced shortly.
picture credit © fietzfotos
Past events
The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace
Sunday 29th October 2023, 7:00 pm
Chapel of St Augustine, Tonbridge School, Tonbridge TN10 3AG
Tickets £15 Adults | £10 Concessions
SCWS launches its third season with a rousing performance of Johan de Meij's “Sinfonie der Leider” (“Symphony of Songs”) for solo voice, children's choir, and wind orchestra. Inspired by a selection of 19th-century German poems, the composition links musical metaphors with emotions to evoke and explore the themes of death, rebirth, new life, and optimism.
This is elegantly complemented in the second half with Karl Jenkin’s “The Armed Man”, an intensely dramatic and hauntingly beautiful choral work in which the composer masterfully navigates the contrary themes of menace and serenity, desolation and comfort. Though intended as a poignant admonition of the horror of all conflict, the piece culminates in a rousing and emotive affirmation of man’s intrinsic desire for peace and hope …for all humanity.
Concert of Remembrance
Featuring Weald Voices
St Cecilia Wind Symphony