East of England Coop Band and Norwich Citadel Band Raise Over £2000 for YMCA Norfolk
The East of England Coop Band was delighted to join forces with Norwich Citadel Band of The Salvation Army for a wonderful evening of music-making at Norwich Citadel on Saturday 9th May 2026. The concert, entitled “Brassed Off” and held in support of YMCA Norfolk, raised over £2000 for the charity.
The evening opened with a fine programme from the host band, featuring five varied items including the festival march Able and Bruce Broughton’s powerful Covenant. Two outstanding soloists, both of whom perform regularly with both bands, were also featured during the concert. Harry Stubbs, Principal Euphonium with the East of England Coop Band, gave a beautifully expressive performance of Song of the Brother accompanied by Norwich Citadel Band, while Soprano Cornet player Jason Beattie dazzled the audience with Philip Sparke’s ever-popular Flowerdale.
Blue Rondo a la Turk (Dave Brubeck arr. Kevin Edwards)
The East of England Coop Band’s own contribution to the programme included the march Viva Birkinshaw, the energetic Blue Rondo a la Turk (see video above), and the evocative Legends of Cyfartha. The band also performed Variations on Was Lebet by Andrew Wainwright, the test piece used at the recent London & Southern Counties Championship, where the band achieved the distinction of becoming runners-up and secured qualification for the National Finals in September.
The concert concluded with four massed band items featuring players from both ensembles, culminating in a majestic performance of Wagner’s Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral in the arrangement by William Himes.
It was a fantastic evening with both bands in superb form, and the audience responded warmly throughout.
The next opportunity to hear the East of England Coop Band in Suffolk will be at St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge on Saturday 6th June at 7.00pm. Before then, however, the band looks forward to making its debut appearance at the famous Whit Friday Marches competitions.