Thank you for helping us to

This project is now closed - but you can support the band at our new page - CLICK HERE!

Comprised of four bands, Mini Brass, Training Band, Evolution Band and the “Senior Band”, Bilton Silver embraces players from age 4 to 90, from complete beginners to experienced players. The bands perform at many events throughout the year, from “Last Night of the Proms” concerts, Remembrance Services and parades, to summer fetes, weddings, town and village celebrations, fundraising concerts for various organisations, and carol services.

Bilton Silver's #SaveOurBand Campaign

In November 2020, our band was at a critical stage in its 127 year history. We had over 100 enthusiastic members of all ages from the local community, but we had not been able to play together since March. We have a fantastic band room, but we were unable use it to rehearse because the room has not been COVID-secure...

Our #SaveOurBand campaign launched on November 19th, and within just one week, we had reached our initial target of £6,000 to enable us to install a mechanical fresh air ventilation system as the first stage of making our band room COVID-secure. Our stretch target of £10,000 was achieved a couple of days before the campaign ended on December 19th.

We have been bowled over throughout by the love and generosity shown towards the band – thank you, thank you, thank you.

How we did it

As well as the amazingly generous donations from our friends, supporters and well-wishers, we also offered rewards and set up fundraisers. There was something for everyone, including a COVID regulation-aware reindeer visiting the doorsteps of our chocolate raffle winners.

Rewards and Fundraisers

The whole band team got really busy, coming up with a fantastic selection of rewards to offer. These ranged from hand-made Christmas cards, beautiful hand-painted silk scarves by a local Rugby artist and band member, houseplants to spruce up your home, will writing by our resident band expert, CDs to bring the Bilton Band sound into your own home, music lessons with our principal cornet player, Jodie Fisher, as well as the opportunity to conduct our band!

We even had a hugely-successful sponsored exercise event – 273 Hours in 24 – where members of all the bands pledged to do a number of hours exercise, be it running, walking, sailing, kick-boxing or gardening, to make up the massive 273 hours of rehearsals and concerts together the Bilton Silver family of bands had missed by the beginning of December 2020.

How the funds have been used

With the first target of £6,000 we were able to order the fresh air ventilation system. In a residential area, it is not possible to play with the doors and windows open. With the COVID regulations likely to be with us for some time, having a properly ventilated facility will allow us to hold small group rehearsals again, moving to larger groups over time, dependent on social distancing regulations.

NEWS: installation was completed on 18th December 2020.

With the stretch target of £10,000 we have an additional £4,000, to purchase: 

• COVID-protective acoustic screens
• Bell covers for all members of the band
• Outside lighting to allow for a safe one-way system to be implemented in and out of the band room
• Sanitising stations and cleaning supplies
• Signage 

and we will use a special donation to pay for media equipment to stream rehearsals and performances from the band room so we can start to connect with our audiences again.

Beyond the Pandemic

These significant investments are adding COVID safety measures to the band room as well as adding future value. The ventilation will improve the playing environment in our band room, as well as being eco-certified with its heat exchange and automatic humidity controls, and the acoustic screens will offer hearing protection for the players.

What happens next?

For the foreseeable months into 2021, raising an income from live performances and social gatherings is not going to be possible.

Our mini brass players are missing Tuckshop; our senior band members are missing the Barline and banter that followed rehearsals, and our internal social activities to generate income are on hold.

Of course, ongoing costs, such as insurance and services, have not gone away. So, we continue to raise donations to support use of the band room for our small groups. 

Please continue to support our band…

Questions? Get hold of us via the Band's website, the Contact Project tab above, or on social media.

Read updates here....

Our original appeal video is here...

About Bilton Silver

Our "band family" consists of four bands: Mini-Brass, Training Band, Evolution Band and the Senior Band. Membership is free and instruments are provided, so we ensure the band is as inclusive as possible.

Meet Our Bands

Senior Band

Founded in 1893, Bilton Silver (Rugby) Band is a traditional contesting band, placed in the First Section of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain (Midlands Area).

As well as contests, the band performs at many events throughout the year, both in the local area, and further afield.

Although the band is referred to as the “Senior Band” we have players of all ages, just like the other bands in the Bilton Silver family.

Our Musical Director is the hugely experienced Tony Hodgetts, graduate of the Royal Military School of Music (Kneller Hall) and former Director of Music for The Royal Army of Oman Band.

Evolution Band

Bilton Silver Evolution Band is another contesting band, competing in the 4th Section of the National Brass Band Championships. Evolution Band was formed in 2017, and is conducted by Jack Fisher, who has played in all the Bilton Silver Bands, and was a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. Evolution Band consists of members of all ages but especially our developing younger players. This gives them a taste of playing in competitions and the level required. In fact, we are proud to say we have some of the youngest players in many of the competitions we enter.

Mini Brass and Training Band

We have both adult beginners and children of all ages in Mini Brass, a half-hour group making music together under the endless commitment and enthusiasm of Mrs Diane Fisher.

"Friday nights are not the same without the wonderful, crazy, inclusive, Training Band. Witnessing Di take charge of a large number of excited children, teenagers, and adult learners all with brass instruments and somehow getting us to produce something that is pretty decent is a weekly miracle! Training band also builds the Bilton Band community, and we have missed the opportunity this year to play [in concerts].”

“I constantly receive comments from parents/grandparents etc. expressing their gratitude to Bilton Silver for what it does for the children of Bilton village and beyond. They are particularly surprised when told that there are no charges for membership... and that we can even supply an instrument free of charge. This is a team organisation and Training Band and Mini Brass were thriving, pre-COVID. Many people gave their time willingly and free of charge to encourage and give opportunity to so many young musicians. I can’t wait to get back.” Diane Fisher, Musical Director, Bilton Silver Training Band

OUR BAND MISSION STATEMENT

Bilton Silver (Rugby) Band aims to provide high quality opportunities to play and listen to brass music, thereby perpetuating a century-plus tradition and sustaining our musical heritage. It seeks to provide inclusive opportunities to learn and perform and to strive for a sense of fulfilment across all ability levels in an overriding pursuit of excellence, whilst offering a service that fulfils the requests of the wider community.

About #SaveOurBrassBands

Brass bands exist in every corner of the UK, with over 30,000 people of all ages and standards taking part in weekly activity – rehearsing, performing and providing entertainment for their local community.

But we risk losing this forever.

In 2020, Brass Bands saw their main source of income disappear in an instant when they ceased being able to perform in March in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

As we move into 2021, we still don’t know when normal performances will be able to take place. A significant loss in income over the summer months, paired with necessary expenditure needed to make rehearsal spaces COVID compliant means that many Brass Bands are in a perilous financial situation.

Without urgent support, we could lose our nation’s amazing Brass Bands. Please help us to make sure they survive this crisis and will be there to be enjoyed by future generations.

#SaveOurBrassBands

#SaveOurBand

Please donate, share this page widely and do what you can to help us to make sure our Brass Bands survive this crisis.