Who we are
East Sussex Concert Band is a friendly, dynamic and sociable concert band rehearsing in Newick, East Sussex on Wednesday evenings. Members of the band hail from all over the county, playing a variety of attractive and interesting music to a high standard. The band performs throughout East Sussex and the surrounding area, often raising money for local charities and organisations - with regular summer gigs on bandstands, in parks, on the seafront and in historic houses. The band also performs a few indoor concerts throughout the year and undertakes occasional tours in the UK and beyond. Jonathan Bailey, Music Director since the band’s inception in 1987, brings his passion and enthusiasm for all genres of music, especially his love of swing, to inspire excellence and delight audiences.
A few words from our conductor
“Decades ago I arrived in East Sussex both as a professional musician working mainly in the theatre and a teacher concentrating on part time instrumental teaching in state and private schools. I was invited to head up a small team organising the East Sussex Symphonic Wind Orchestra and I conducted the band for several years, rehearsing both in the county music centre and on residential courses. We had some memorable successes - playing in a festival at the Albert Hall - running week-long ski trips with concerts on the pistes - winning a national competition for concert bands. Many young players from those days went on to become professional musicians and teachers. The band grew as did the children and in the late 80’s the existing musicians collectively decided to continue as an independent community band, and I continued conducting the renamed East Sussex Concert Band. There are still very active members now well into their 40's (or beyond!) who were children in that original county orchestra when I first arrived on the scene.”