Birmingham Citadel Band welcomed a special guest to their Wednesday night rehearsal. TV presenter NIck Owen rehearsed with the band ahead of their collaboration on Sunday at Birmingham’s magnificent Symphony Hall.
The English composer Philip Lane was born in Cheltenham in 1950 and was educated at Birmingham University. He is now perhaps best know as a composer for TV and film, but he is also the composer of programme music to accompany the much loved Christmas Poem, “‘Twas the night before Christmas”. This will be featured in Sunday’s “Rejoice” concert at Symphony Hall and has been specially transcribed for Birmingham Citadel Band and Nick Owen by Paul Sharman.
Nick Owen rehearsed with BCB and seemed at home performing with the band, despite stating that he had not done this before.
The Midlands Today presenter, who was educated at Shrewsbury School and Leeds University, became a house-hold name in the 1990’s when he co-hosted BBC1 breakfast television with Anne Diamond, although he had been a popular TV journalistic personality for many years. And yet, despite his fame, a combination of wit and professionalism instantly put the band at ease.
Mr Owen spoke briefly about his association with Birmingham Citadel’s chosen charity for this year’s Symphony Hall spectacular (Edward’s Trust) and thanked BCB and Birmingham Citadel Corps for their support. “Rejoice” promises to be an excellent event once again and “The Night Before Christmas” will be a highlight for those who attend this year. BCB’s other major contribution to the concert will be Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s “A Christmas Finale” which was written for the Black Dyke Band.
