London Wind
Bands and Ensembles
Last updated
2nd April 2023
Contact me! 
|
Band
or Ensemble |
Conductor |
Rehersal Time and Venue |
Contact |
Notes |
Latest
Update |
|
Derek
Braddick |
Sunday
11:00 – 13:00 Nork Hall, |
or
|
This is a
friendly concert band with a new conductor and a large repertoire of lovely pieces
from film scores to marches to medleys of popular songs. All
players are welcome but you might find it helpful if you were at least a
grade 5 standard |
16/02/23 |
|
|
Robert
Mason |
Monday
20:00 – 22:00 Parish
Hall of St John’s Church, Sylvan Road, SE19 2RX |
A community
concert band which welcomes all woodwind, brass and percussion players. Our
members are of all ages and backgrounds – what we have in common is the
enjoyment we get from making music. Come and join us! |
22/04/19 |
||
|
Daryle Lowden |
Tuesday
19:30 St Richard
Reynolds School, Clifden Road, Twickenham, TW1 4LT |
We are an amateur
band with a friendly but professional attitude. We play at least six
concerts a year in venues around SW London including the Barnes Music
Festival. The band meets weekly with a break for school holidays, and the
venue is near Twickenham station. If you
play a wind, brass or percussion instrument to Grade 7 standard or above, we
would love to hear from you. |
08/04/19 |
||
|
Ian
Brookman |
Wednesday East
Barnet School. |
A community wind band which meet weekly on the borders of
Barnet, Enfield and Herts. All players welcome but we are especially looking
for French horn, euphonium, percussion and 2nd clarinets |
23/10/17 |
||
|
Andrew
Morley |
Monday
19:30 Maida Vale
Studios |
|
Please
visit our website for a list of current vacancies. |
09/09/12 |
|
|
Matthew
O'Keefe |
Tuesday
20:00 – 22:00 St
Barnabas Church Hall, Oakhill Road, Beckenham |
Horns,
trumpets and percussion. If you play an instrument which is not listed here,
and are interested in joining, please make contact anyway, as vacancies do
arise in other sections. |
20/01/19 |
||
|
Elizabeth
Worth |
Tuesday
20:00 – 22:00 Belvedere
Sports & Social Club, |
|
We are a
relaxed and friendly wind orchestra consisting of 50 members, and performing
a diverse programme at locations such as the Royal Parks, Hall Place Bexley
and The Orchard Theatre Dartford. We are currently recruiting percussionists,
trumpets, trombones and euphoniums. Instrumentalists should be approximately
Grade 8 standard. No audition is required. |
13/02/19 |
|
|
|
Monday
20:15 – 21:45 The Warren
Metropolitan Police Sports Club, Croydon Road, Hayes, BR2 7AL |
Jakki Purser 07947
665257 |
Formed in
September 2012, the band now features 40 members. We are currently
looking for new members to join us on Monday nights, all ages and abilities
are welcome. |
08/04/20 |
|
|
David
Morris |
Monday
19:00 – 21:00 Lumen URC, |
We welcome players
of flute, clarinet and bass clarinet. No audition. We are normally up to
strength and hold short waiting lists for flute and clarinet players. Our aim
is to provide a friendly relaxed group for adults to make music and improve
their playing. We put on concerts several times a year. We are a player-run
group with a professional musical director. |
20/03/22 |
||
|
Michael
McGowan |
Tuesday
19:00 – 21:00 The Band Room, Coram’s Fields |
An ensemble
dedicated to providing the opportunity for adults to play music in a relaxed
and friendly atmosphere. |
20/03/22 |
||
|
Martin
Gibbs |
Friday
20:00 – 22:00 Good
Shepherd Church Hall, Moorside Road, Downham, Bromley |
A really
friendly and fun band. We are very busy with engagements (see our website)
and play to a high standard. Please contact the band secretary to find out
about our current vacancies. |
24/03/08 |
||
|
Captain
David Cole |
Wednesday St John
the Evangelist, |
|
No
membership fees. Always welcoming new players of a high standard. Need not be
ex-forces. Many engagements throughout the year including Fairfield Hall,
Croydon, Windsor Castle, Eastbourne Bandstand for a week, etc. |
24/09/16 |
|
|
Dwight
Pyle-Gray |
Monday Robertswood Combined School,
Denham Lane, Chalfont St. Peter |
Derek
Wilson, 33 Sanctuary Close, Harefield, Uxbridge, |
Chalfont
Concert Wind Band also has a training band for adult and children beginners |
15/10/12 |
|
|
Chase Rhythm and
Reeds |
Fred
Summerbell |
Monday St Philip
and St James Church, Hounslow Road, Whitton, Twickenham, TW2 7DY |
07798
624655 |
We are a
band of clarinet and saxophone players accompanied by a rhythm section. New
members will be made to feel very welcome, we support/coach
adult learners too. |
14/04/15 |
|
Karen
Betley |
Tuesday
18:00 – 19:30 The City
Lit, |
|
Explore
this wonderful repertoire. A balance of instruments is crucial so apply early
by contacting the music department directly to avoid disappointment. Entry
level is grade 5 (playing and sight-reading). You can enrol on this course
throughout the year. |
29/08/22 |
|
|
David
Smith |
Usually 3
Friday evenings and a Sunday afternoon prior to each concert. Near Tower
Hill tube |
Formed in
2006, CLSW is a group of woodwind and brass players based in and around
London. Our focus is on performing excellent symphonic windband
repertoire to a very high standard. We welcome enquiries from new players of
grade 8 standard and above. |
16/04/12 |
||
|
Shea
Lolin |
Monday
19:00 – 21:30 St. Olave’s Church Hall, Mark Lane, EC3R 7NB |
The City
Wind Orchestra is a friendly wind orchestra set up in 2009 for amateur wind,
brass and percussion musicians. Concerts given three times a year in the City
of London and consist mainly of original Wind Orchestra repertoire |
22/01/14 |
||
|
Cores End Concert
Band |
|
Tuesday
20:00 Cores End
URC, |
|
Cores End Concert Band is looking for founder
members to get started. We’re after high quality instrumentalists to form a
top class wind band, playing challenging works. |
16/07/10 |
|
David
Cox |
Wednesday Christchurch
Hall, Sumner Road, |
|
Award winning Band which welcomes all adult woodwind, brass and
percussion players without audition. Regular concerts in Fairfield Concert
Hall and other venues such as Croydon Minster and St Johns Smith Square.
Regular participation in National Concert Band Festival. Occasional trips
abroad. |
27/12/22 |
|
|
Jonathan
Milne |
Wednesday St. John
the Baptist Church, Wood Street, High Barnet, EN5 4BW |
07766
457929 |
Da Capo
Concert Band celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007. The Band
performs a good deal of the standard repertoire for wind band (and a lot else
besides): famous pieces by Holst, Vaughan Williams, Gordon Jacob and Philip
Sparke’s arrangements of major classical works; many of Warren Barker’s
sparkling medleys of show-tunes; popular marches; jazz and big band pieces;
and themes from film and television. The band is also exploring classic and
contemporary symphonic band works with a view to entertaining and challenging
both themselves and their audiences |
28/07/12 |
|
|
Ian
Harby |
Wednesday Glentworth Ex-Service Club, Lowfield Street Dartford, DA1 1JB |
|
Dartford
Concert Band is always keen to welcome new members to all sections of the
band. Trumpet, bassoon, and lower brass players would be particularly
welcome. |
10/06/19 |
|
|
Matthew
Hardy |
Friday
17:00 – 21:15 (Main band Shadwell
Centre, |
East
London Community Band is a community based non-auditioning band based in the Shadwell
Centre in Tower Hamlets. The band is open to members for all ages and all
abilities and we run the following ensembles: premier band for beginners,
early music group, jazz band, main band (for all members) and chamber band,
for more complex pieces. Lessons and instrument hire is available. We perform
regularly for charitable causes and public events. |
31/08/17 |
||
|
Paul
Hooper |
Friday
20:00 – 21:45 Christ Church
URC Chase Side, ENFIELD, EN2 6NJ |
We
are a new and rapidly expanding adult concert wind band rehearsing in Enfield
on Friday evenings. We
are a very friendly group and welcome all wind, brass and percussion players
of any standard. |
28/08/18 |
||
|
Greg
White |
Sunday
10:00-12:30 Boreham Village Hall, Main
Road, Boreham, CHELMSFORD, |
Jan
Flanders 07976 310647 |
The
Essex Yeomanry Band (formed in 1809) has an extensive library of music from
traditional military band scores through to overtures, show tunes, jazz and
novelty numbers. We are the only UK civilian band that is permitted to wear
King's Uniform. New players are always welcome. |
07/02/23 |
|
|
Mike
Smith |
Tuesday
19:45 – 22:00 Anthony
Roper Primary School, Eynsford, Dartford |
07785
233623 |
Attracting
players from all over the South East of England, Eynsford
Concert Band retains a core of long-standing members and enjoys welcoming new
and visiting players. The band tours overseas regularly, and aspires to
attain the highest standards of musicianship within a social and friendly
environment. We current have vacancies for Clarinet, Percussion, Tuba
and French Horn of a competent standard and have recently established
a Young Musicians’ Academy to nurture our younger members. |
26/09/17 |
|
|
|
Wednesday
evening Herne
Hill, SE24 |
|
We
are a community big band playing swing and jazz standards. Please
contact for us more information or check out our website or Facebook page |
09/03/16 |
|
|
|
Friday
19:00 – 20:30 Main Hall,
Ewell Castle School, Church Street, Ewell, EPSOM, |
|
New
members are very welcome, level Grade 3+ |
21/01/19 |
|
|
Fortismere Community Brass |
Paul
Hooper |
Saturday
10:00 – 12 :00 Fortismere Music Centre, Fortismere School, Tetherdown,
N10 1NE |
|
We are a
brand new brass band so are looking for players on most parts. Please contact
us for more details. |
07/03/13 |
|
Rob
Richardson |
Monday
19:30 – 22:00 St. John’s
Church, |
We
currently have a vacancy for a percussionist |
05/01/13 |
||
|
|
Thursday
19:30 – 21:30 Ebbsfleet Rainbow Centre,
Rose Street, Northfleet |
|
Always
happy to meet other musicians. Please visit our web site for more
information. |
28/03/06 |
|
|
Chris
Lloyd |
Thursday
19:50 Holy
Trinity Church, Southend Crescent, |
|
New
players are always welcome provided a vacancy exists. All we ask is a
commitment to attend rehearsals regularly and an ability to read standard repertoire.
Most of our players have achieved around Grade 8 standard or better |
25/05/07 |
|
|
Peter
Legge |
Friday
19:30 – 21:00 Platform
9, |
Established
about 1860 as the Great Western Railway Paddington Staff Band. There was a
Brass Band until 1922 when the Staff Military Band came about. Today it is
open to all to come along and make Music. |
21/01/19 |
||
|
Grant
Bentley |
Sunday
10:00 – 12:00 Harrow
Arts Centre, Uxbridge Road, |
|
The band is open to players of all abilities and we aim
to deliver a high standard of performance. There are no minimum entry
standards, musical grade requirements or auditions, although some previous
ensemble experience would be an advantage. We aim to help all players improve
their performance skills and we play a wide variety of music. The band
currently has vacancies for most instruments. |
24/09/16 |
|
|
David
Smart |
Monday
19:30 – 21:30 St. Botoloph’s without Bishopsgate Church Hall, Bishopsgate,
EC2M 3TL |
|
A new band
created in 2014 to support the Help for Heroes charity through music
performances. We have vacancies for French Horn, Trumpet/Cornet, Euphonium,
Tuba and Percussion. |
02/09/14 |
|
|
Drew
Taylor-Moore / Robbie Henderson |
Tuesday
during term time 19:00-20:30 Reach
Academy, |
Hounslow
Community Brass Band for adults is a supportive, relaxed environment where
absolute beginners can learn to play, those going to instrument lessons can
experience playing in a band, or you can get back to playing an instrument
you last touched many decades ago. No experience needed, just enthusiasm.
Instruments are available or bring your own. Any brass instrument or drums. |
26/09/19 |
||
|
Roger
Greenwood / Chris Hooker |
2nd
and 4th Fridays of the month (term-time) Christ
Church Hall, Oakleigh Park North, N20 9AR |
Based in
Barnet Borough, we are a small orchestra of the clarinet family, performing 2
– 3 times a year. New players required and enquiries most welcome |
13/02/10 |
||
|
Rob
Wiffen |
Thursday
20:00 – 22:00 Old Deer
Park, Richmond upon Thames |
|
Boosey & Hawkes Gold
Award winning band! Must be committed. We particularly have vacancies for
trombones, euphoniums and horns. |
13/02/13 |
|
|
Sam
Huston |
Thursday
19:45 – 22:00 Herne Hill
United Church, Red Post Hill, SE24 9PW |
We are an
exciting community band in the Herne Hill area. All enquiries welcome. We are
currently looking for horns and a second tuba. |
29/08/22 |
||
|
John
Hargreaves |
Sunday
10:45 – 12:45 Prendergast
School, Hilly Fields, |
Friendly
band, good standard, rehearses and performs private and public concerts all
year round in London and South East. Fantastic range of music in band
library. Admission by committee vetting and audition. Grade 8 plus. Founded
1967, Radio 2 & 3 broadcasts, won TV Times National Band contest. For
further details check our website address. To come to a trial rehearsal
contact us via our email address. |
28/06/17 |
||
|
Adam
Broughton |
Tuesday
20:00 – 22:00 St. Mark’s
Church Hall, Church Hill Road, Surbiton, KT6 4LS |
|
We are a
thriving band that plays good music to a high standard. We are continually expanding
our repertoire and aim to give several concerts each year. We come from all
walks of life and our playing ability ranges from around Grade 8 to
semi-professional standard. We welcome players of any age who are of about
this standard. If you are interested, you would be welcome to come to one of
our Tuesday rehearsals. We currently have vacancies for oboe, bassoon, tuba,
trombone and percussion. |
19/01/18 |
|
|
Tom
Briers |
Thursday
19:00 – 21:00 Pimlico |
|
Affiliated with the London Gay Symphony Orchestra,
we are a friendly group that aims to develop our musicianship to a high
standard in a supportive environment which is free from prejudice. We are open
to players of all sexualities, there are no auditions, and we accept a range
of abilities. We have pressing vacancies for saxophones, trumpets, trombones
and horns, but players of other wind, brass and percussion are also welcome. |
30/12/09 |
|
|
Stuart
Longley |
2nd,
3rd and 4th Friday of every month Victoria/Pimlico
area |
|
We are
open to players of all types of saxophones and of all abilities without
audition. We particularly welcome players of baritones and the more
exotic types of saxophones. |
22/01/12 |
|
|
Fred
Slide |
Friday
17:30 – 20:00 West
Finchley |
LYCB gives
a range of performances |
04/10/22 |
||
|
Peter
Lutton |
Alternate
Wednesdays 20:00 – 22:00 Surbiton,
KT5 |
The Lucas Wind Ensemble is a friendly, relaxed group of wind players
(plus horns, double bass and conductor), established in 1969. We perform
three concerts per year in the local area and mainly play western classical
music, including pieces composed specially for us. Please contact us to find
out about current vacancies/deps. Grade 8+ standard |
24/09/12 |
||
|
Madison Band |
|
Tuesday
20:00 – 22:00 Meadows
Community Hall, Church Road, Richmond, (near Richmond station) |
Mike
Ruggles |
Vacancies
– trombone players, trumpet player, baritone sax player |
04/01/04 |
|
Arnold
Bibby |
Wednesday Merton
Park, SW19 |
We are a friendly bunch of musicians meeting weekly to play a wide
variety of musical genres ranging from Abba to Zampa
and anything in between. We perform several concerts a year and our concert
programmes reflect the band’s mantra - “to
entertain rather than educate” our audiences. We welcome new players Grade 6+. At the moment we are would
especially welcome a baritone saxophone, trumpets and French horn players but
even if you don’t play these instruments please don’t let that stop you from
contacting us |
24/06/19 |
||
|
Michael
Robinson |
Sunday
10:00 – 12:00 Teddington
Constitutional Club |
|
We are a
Community Concert Band with a core of former service bandsmen and a wide
repertoire who perform regularly in Hampton and other venues. The band goes
from strength to strength but would always be glad to meet new good players
in any section. |
31/05/21 |
|
|
Leslie
Lake |
Wednesday The Maryfield Hall, Leysdown Road, |
|
21/01/19 |
||
|
Miles
Harwood |
Thursday
19:30 – 21:30 John
Savage Centre, Fencepiece Road, Barkingside,
Ilford, |
|
A friendly
community concert band established in 1996. New members welcome (minimum
standard Grade 6), especially trombones, euphoniums and tubas. |
08/01/13 |
|
|
Mike
Robinson |
Monday
& Wednesday Northwood
Headquarters, |
07917
087273 |
A versatile and
hardworking concert band, performing regularly at a wide range of venues in
both the surrounding area as well as in Central London. The repertoire is
both challenging as well as fun and includes popular tunes, big band/swing,
and orchestral transcriptions right through to modern day symphonic wind band
compositions. We rehearse in a new purpose built facility and all equipment
is available to loan if required. As well as the musical aspect the band also
enjoys a sociable side away from the stand. All enquiries always welcome. |
20/05/13 |
|
|
Brian
Cox |
Sunday
afternoon (twice a month) Addington
Village, Croydon |
We are a friendly concert band who enjoy producing good music to
the best of our ability. If you share our ambition and play a wind, brass or
percussion instrument to Grade 5 standard or above we would love to hear from
you. |
16/05/11 |
||
|
Noteworthies Woodwind Band |
Maurice
Pritchard |
Thursdays
during term times Sutton
College of Liberal Arts, St. Nicholas Way, Sutton, SM1 1EA |
We are a
friendly relaxed group of musicians, mainly clarinets, but also keen to hear
from flute, oboe and bassoon players, ideally equivalent to Grade 4 and
above. |
15/10/12 |
|
|
Sharon
Moloney |
Alternate
Mondays East
Dulwich |
We welcome
players of all flutes and of all ages and standards. We also offer
opportunities to play alto and bass flute for those that are interested! |
25/02/13 |
||
|
Roy
Garman |
Monday St Marys
Church Hall, Worlds End Lane, Orpington, BR6 6AG |
Roy
Garman 01689
854657 |
The
Beginners band is for all ages and musical abilities and includes group
lessons and playing easy-to-learn tunes. The Main band plays a wide variety of music
and performs at local events such as fetes, Charity events and concerts |
10/06/19 |
|
|
Stephanie
Reeve |
Alternate
Sundays 10:00 The Old
Station Building, Alexandra Palace, N22 |
|
A large open-access woodwind ensemble, which aims to
give intermediate adult players the experience of playing in a larger
ensemble and at the same time improving intonation, sight-reading and
ensemble skills. The Band now comprises about 45 regular players and there
are also many opportunities for playing in chamber groups. There is an
associated summer course in Deal, Kent which takes place over a weekend in
July. |
26/09/15 |
|
|
Chris
McGinity |
Thursday
20:00 – 22:00 Christ
Church, |
|
The
Phoenix Concert Band aims to set high standards in its performances, giving
playing opportunities to musicians at the upper end of ability. Players are generally minimum
Grade 6 – some well
above – so do call if you would like to come
along. We don’t audition,
we’d rather you came along for a few rehearsals to see how it goes. |
24/07/10 |
|
|
Tony
Ryan |
Friday 19:15
The Hall,
Christ Church, Christchurch Park, SUTTON, SM2 5TN |
|
We
are a concert wind band consisting of adult learner musicians. We continue to
welcome new players with little experience of ensemble playing although we do
ask for Grade 4 proficiency or above. |
21/01/19 |
|
|
Mark
Poland |
Wednesday Raleigh
Road United Church |
RSCB is a
concert band looking to expand our membership to all instruments but
specifically brass and oboes. We are a group of amateur musicians who enjoy
playing a wide variation of ballet music, marches, medleys, themes and more! |
26/06/19 |
||
|
Peter
Stockdale |
Monday
19:30 – 21:30 RAF
Uxbridge |
Brian
Hoare |
We need an
experienced solo/lead flute player. We will also consider other
instrumentalists of Grade 6 and above |
27/01/03 |
|
|
Sophie
Carville |
Tuesday
19:30 – 21:30 Morden Baptist
Church, Crown Lane, Morden, |
We are a
fun, welcoming band based in South West London. We currently have around 35
members but are always looking for more players, particularly brass. See our
website for the full list of current vacancies. We welcome players of all
abilities, and there's no need to audition, although given the standard of
music we play Grade 5 or above is advised. We have a varied repertoire and
regularly play concerts and at events. |
02/04/23 |
||
|
Dimitri
Chrysostomou |
Thursday
20:00 Mostyn Road Methodist
Church, Mostyn Road, SW9 6PH |
we are
particularly looking for new players across the following instruments: Bb
clarinet, bass clarinet, contra-bass clarinet, horn, tenor and bass trombone,
euphonium, tuba, drums/drum kit, timpani, tuned percussion. |
22/12/18 |
||
|
Matthew
Hardy |
Wednesday Martin
Junior School, Plane Tree Walk, N2 9JP |
|
An
enthusiastic and friendly wind orchestra. We welcome new players
especially brass, percussion and lower woodwind. We perform three concerts
a year. |
21/01/15 |
|
|
Martin
Hinckley |
Thursday
20:00 – 22:00 The Whitehouse YMCA, |
A
very friendly adult ensemble playing a wide and varied repertoire mainly for
our own benefit but with some concerts. We are always on the lookout for new
members, ideally Grade 5 or above on Eb, Bb, Alto,
Bass or Contra-alto/bass clarinet. |
22/10/18 |
||
|
|
Monday
19:30 – 21:00 The Drama Studio, Helena Romanes School & 6th Form, |
|
"Take
Note" is an exciting and newly formed concert band based in mid Essex.
We're an enthusiastic and sociable collective of all ages and we're looking
to grow over time into something very special. If
you're a musician of at least grade 5 standard or a
similar ability and you'd like to join us at rehearsals to make some music,
then contact us and tell us about yourself and your musical experience. |
12/09/18 |
|
|
Harvey
Baigent |
First
Sunday of the month – call to confirm Aylesbury |
Vale Winds is a thriving wind band that aims to play good
music to a very high standard. The band aims to continually expand repertoire
as well as perform several concerts a year. Playing abilities ranging
from Grade 8 to professional standard. We welcome players of any age
who are of this standard; particularly clarinets, horns and percussion. If
you are interested you would be welcome to come to one of our rehearsals. |
27/08/10 |
||
|
Norma
Whitson |
Thursday
20:00-21:30 Martin Way
Methodist Church, |
|
The band was founded in October 2012. We have 27 regular
players and a few more who join us when they can. We
have a good mix of instruments, but are always willing to welcome new players
aged 18+ where there are vacancies. Our standard varies from Grade 3 to Grade
8 and above. We have a wide repertoire: jazz, show tunes, fim
and TV themes, pop and rock songs, and even a bit of classical. We aim for up
to six concerts/performances a year. |
26/09/19 |
|
|
|
Thursday
19:00-21:00 Whitton
Community Centre, Percy Road Whitton, |
A relaxed band which plays swing, latin
jazz, funk and rock in a Big Band format. Instruments: Trumpet, Sax, Trombone, Clarinet, Flute, Tuba,
Piano, Guitar, Bass, Vibes, Drum / Percussion. We welcome all these
instruments and have a particular need for Trombone and Sax. You need to know be Grade 3 upwards and be able to read
music but here you can get experience not only the jazz / funk and rock
idiom, but also improve your ensemble and sectional playing. |
24/09/21 |
||
|
Whitton Wind
Orchestra |
Claire
Richmond |
Wednesday Whitton Community Centre, Percy Road, Whitton, |
|
Friendly supportive rehearsal orchestra,
welcomes players of all wind instruments from about Grade 4 standard upwards. |
08/04/15 |
|
Dennis
Mycroft |
Monday
19:30 - 21:30 Bromley
Youth Music Trust, |
|
The
symphonic wind band for past members of the Bromley Youth Concert Band. |
07/09/07 |
|
Links
BASBWE (British Association of Symphonic Bands
and Wind Ensembles) National Concert Band Festival This page
is a shameless rip-off of Geoff Rousell’s excellent
resource listing amateur orchestras in Britain ( UK Amateur Orchestras ). My
intention is very similar to his, namely to help players find a group to play
in. All the
information here is in the public domain, but if it is inaccurate or you want
it removed, or if you’d like to see your band here, send me an email. |
|