Timeline
SWON Tour to the Isle of Wight
SWON Goes to the Isle of Wight on a tour that was postponed for 2 years due to the Covid Pandemic. We have very successful concerts in Cowes and Shanklin.
New MD: Dwight Pile-Gray
SWON appoints a new musical director, Dwight Pile-Gray, in October 2021
Full Rehearsals Resume
SWON resumes full band rehearsals and a normal term schedule.
Playing Together Again
As restrictions ease, SWON gets back to playing in smaller, socially-distanced groups for a short summer term.
Virtual Challenges
In an effort to keep playing during the lockdowns, SWON band members take on at-home challenges to record and share music from around the world and different genres.
Covid-19 Pandemic
As with many other organisations, SWON suspends planned programme and rehearsals due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
New musical director: Christopher Braime
After several successful years with Matthew Hardy, SWON welcomes a new musical director; Christopher Braime.
20th Anniversary & Premiere of ‘Vortex’
SWON celebrates 20 years and premieres Vortex, a work commissioned by the orchestra and composed by Leo Geyer. Read more about Vortex here.
SWON brings Formby Band to London
Following our successful collaboration in 2017, SWON invited Formby Band to London and, alongside Finchley Children’s Music Group, reprised a performance of To The Stars!
Tour to Poole & Bournemouth
SWON has a very successful tour to Poole & Bournemouth, playing open-air concerts in Poole town centre, at Upton Country Park and on Bournemouth Lower Gardens bandstand.
Rhapsody in Blue
SWON performs a sell-out concert at St Martin’s Gospel Oak, featuring an amazing performance of Rhapsody in Blue with guest soloist Joseph Havlat
New Concert Venue – St Martin’s Gospel Oak
SWON begins a new collaboration with St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak, as a concert venue. The church has a great community following and hosts a number of different musical events throughout the year.
Tour to Liverpool & collaboration with Formby Band
SWON went on tour to Liverpool in June 2017 and took part in a collaboration with Formby Band and a local choir to perform a special joint piece – To the Stars!
Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto with Zach Eastop
SWON was pleased to welcome guest soloist Zachary Eastop, former Young Musician of the Year finalist, for a performance of Arutunian’s Concerto for Trumpet at 2017’s Winter Concert. This was also a charity fundraiser for the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation.
SWON earns gold in NCBF
SWON earns a gold award in the National Concert Band Festival
Gregson’s Tuba Concerto with Raymond Hearne
In December 2015, we welcomed Raymond Hearne for a performance of Simon Gregson’s Tuba Concerto, one of the most prominent works for solo tuba.
SWON earns gold in NCBF
SWON earns a gold award in the National Concert Band Festival
SWON earns gold in NCBF
SWON earns a gold award in the National Concert Band Festival
SWON welcomes Matthew Hardy as Musical Director
SWON was pleased to welcome Matthew Hardy as its new Musical Director in May 2014.
Young Composers Competition
Sponsored by music publishers Stainer and Bell, and judged by our own musical director Matthew Hardy, Keith Allen – Musical director of Birmingham Symphonic Winds and director of National Concert Band Festival; Nicholas Williams – Publishing director at Stainer and Bell, and Roger Cawkwell – Freelance London composer, arranger, conductor, multi instrumentalist, and good friend of SWON.
The results were as follows:
First Place: Trans-Siberian Railway, Alfie Pugh
Second Place: Swallow Canyon, Thomas Carr
Third Place: The Circadian Rhythm of Mr Nails, Henry Mitton
Tour to Reims
SWON went on tour to Reims, France
SWON welcomes Adam Cooke as Musical Director
SWON welcomed Adam Cooke as new Musical Director.
Tour to Antwerp
SWON went on tour to Antwerp, Belgium.
SWON welcomes Grace Rossiter as Musical Director
SWON welcomed Grace Rossiter as its new Musical Director in 2004.
Proms at St Jude’s
SWON returned to Proms at St Jude’s in 2003
Charity concert for The National Autistic Society
SWON has often supported causes that are important to members, and this was no exception with a concert given in March 2003 in support of The National Autistic Society. The programme included Selections from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific and Holst’s Second Suite in F.
Proms at St Jude’s
SWON was proud to be part of the Proms programme at St Jude-on-the-Hill in Golders Green. The programme included the Vaughan Williams Concerto for Tuba with guest soloist Stephen Wick, Walton’s Crown Imperial March and works by Holst and Chaminade.
Guest soloist and more collaboration
SWON continued its collaboration with Brooklands Junior School and were delighted to have internationally acclaimed saxophonist Sarah Markham performing with them at a summer concert at St Jude’s.
Further grant from Barnet council
SWON benefited further from Barnet Council’s small grants scheme in early 2001, with a £500 grant to put towards new sheet music.
Childs Hill School Centenary Concert
SWON was involved with Childs Hill School’s Centenary celebrations, performing a concert there in July 2000.
SWON’s first joint concert
SWON began its history of collaboration with other ensembles with a joint concert with Brookland Junior School Wind Band in April 2000.
Mozart & Much More Momentous Music
SWON continued to grow, giving concerts in March and July 1999 which included music from Vaughan Williams, Gershwin, Mozart and more.
SWON gains patronship
SWON was proud to announce that The Lord Colwyn accepted becoming a patron of SWON in April 1999. Just a few months later, the Mayor of Barnet also accepted an invitation to become a patron.
Grant from Barnet Council
SWON was awarded a much needed £620 grant from Barnet Council to be spent on running costs and orchestral equipment.
SWON’s first Christmas
SWON’s first concert was a Christmas affair, with pieces including Vaughan Williams – Folk Song Suite, Prokofiev – Spartakiade, Selections from Gershwin, and Memories of Mancini
SWON is born
SWON is founded by Stephen Kersley and its first conductor, Stuart Allen in September 1998. Initial membership was driven by advertising in the local papers.