About

About Taunton Concert Band

Taunton Concert Band is a symphonic wind band that has been a part of the Taunton community since 1892. Originally known as the Taunton Town Band, we have a rich history of musical excellence and community involvement. The band is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of musicianship while fostering a friendly and social environment.

Members come from all over Somerset, and the band retains a core of long-standing players who are passionate about music. We perform a variety of concerts throughout the year, showcasing a wide range of musical styles and genres. The band is also a registered charity, committed to enriching the cultural life of Taunton and its surrounding areas.

Rehearsal Times

Training Band: 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm Friday.
Main Band: 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm Friday.

Additional main band rehearsals are held by sections on alternate Sundays from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm from January to April (one-week brass, the following week woodwind).

Venue

Oakwood Church Centre, Obridge Road, Taunton TA2 7PU

Musical Director: Martin Wills​

Martin Wills has been our Musical Director since 1986. Martin was born in Ilton and started to learn the cornet at 15; he joined the Army as a Junior Bandsman in the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry seeing service in many countries. Martin also studied the bassoon at the famous Royal Military School of Music (Kneller Hall) under Ronald Wailer. After 8 years with the 2nd Battalion Light Infantry, Martin returned to the Light Infantry Depot as an Instructor of Woodwind and Brass instruments and in 1980 returned to Kneller Hall to complete the Bandmasters Course which included learning how to play all the instruments of the military band. This expertise was and is now well used – in addition to being Musical Director of Taunton Concert Band, Martin was employed as a Full Time Tutor with the Somerset Music Service and is Co-Manager of the Somerset County Youth Orchestra. Robin Bush Chairman of Somerset County Council presented the chairman’s Golden Jubilee Award, to Martin in 2002 for his outstanding contribution to the County of Somerset. The award was for personal dedication and hard work as Musical Director of Taunton Concert Band. In 2013 Martin was awarded two further awards for his services to music. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Certificate presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset and the Special Services to the Rifles Regiment award, presented by the His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

ASSOCIATIONS

John Packer Ltd

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We have been professionally servicing the needs of woodwind & brass players, of all stages and standards, throughout the UK for more than 30 years. The initial axiom of ‘serve as you would be served’ has remained a central theme. It is always our intention to act as a friendly catalyst to help a customer with a problem to become a customer without one.
Buying an instrument from us is like joining an exclusive club – it gives you access to all our resources and facilities: huge choice; a wealth of experience; an independent viewpoint; total technical back up and friendly, intelligent and efficient service.

Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre

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Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre is a multipurpose space that provides arts activities for the whole community. We offer over 150 nights of live performance, and over 600 hours of community classes per year.
Completed in January 2000 through a £1 million donation from the Tacchi-Morris Trust, together with a £2.1 million grant from National Lottery Funds, Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre holds state-of-the-art performance facilities. As well of being a centre of excellence for the performing arts, Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre aims to inspire all the community to get involved in the arts, be it coming to watch one of our shows, or taking part yourself!
Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre was developed through support from Kathleen Tacchi-Morris and continued support from the Tacchi-Morris Trust and Heathfield Community School. Core to our being is continuing the legacy of pacifism that echoed throughout every aspect of Kathleen Tacchi-Morris’s life.
As well as our busy programme of dance, theatre and music, we also run a whole range of community classes open to all the family and host approximately eight visual art exhibitions annually in our gallery space.
We are open weekdays 10am–4pm, and an hour before curtain-up on show nights. If you would like to find out more about Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, or get involved yourself, why not pay us a visit or drop us a line? We look forward to meeting you!

The Windband Association

Wind Band Association
The Windband Association is a new and exciting organisation dedicated to providing opportunities for amateur and professional windband players of all standards to make music with other like-minded musicians from across the UK.  Each year we organise a weekend festival of music making, socialising and entertainment.

Taunton Association of Performing Arts

TAPA
The main role of Taunton Association of Performing Arts is to produce a diary of performing arts events taking place in Somerset, England. This diary is produced online on this website to make it available to both performing groups and the public.

Taunton Concert Band is a symphonic wind band that was started back in 1892. The band aspires to attain the highest standards of musicianship within a social and friendly environment.

Registered Charity Number: 1055567

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