History

Andrew Bassey (pictured right, NOW's Musical Director and founder) had extensive experience as a professional bassoonist, teacher and conductor of bands, orchestras, and wind ensembles both in England and South Africa. After leaving Northampton Concert Band (Andrew was there MD from October 2003 to July 2005) a number of players asked him to form a new ensemble that would be led by his professional expertise; NOW was born.

NOW has a simple yet ambitious aim; to educate people in the art of wind band performance using mainly (but not exclusively)music written by living English composers and to have a very good time at the same time; NOW members can be involved in making all this reality.

Then we needed a website and a logo. Ian Facer (trumpet) volunteered and began work on our first website and by December 2005 we became part of cyberspace. Ian launched the present site in January 2007. In October 2007, Simon, a friend of Andrew's for several years, and a professional web designer was approached to take over the site after Ian stepped down, and has since spent time in getting the site fully up to date.

While the website was under construction work was underway for a logo. Many members contributed but Jo Burge (clarinet) had the final inspiration. Lucy Hacker (flute) enlisted the help of a friend, Barry Cheney, who is a professional graphic designer to create the finished product you see today (top of each page).

Planning for NOW's Celebration Inaugural Concert Tour came next with the production at CTC Corby of our first CD - 'CELEBRATION', in which Jemima Clarke has her debut with us as violin soloist in Calvin Custer's excellent arrangement of John William's evocative theme to Schindler's List.

Andrew did not want NOW to perform in the usual black with its austere and funereal look. We wanted a fresh colourful look that which would help our audiences feel more comfortable with us, especially as we would be playing music that would be on the whole unfamiliar, and let us be recognisable as the exciting groundbreaking ensemble we are. Andrew looked to the beautiful and optimistic colours of the morning sunrise; colours of joy and hope...

The inspiration for the colours came from Matthew's (Andrew's eldest son) 'Son-rise' programme; a groundbreaking child-led parent-run therapy for children or adults challenged by autism. For Andrew, Son-rise's philosophy of having joy in the present and great hope for the future coupled with the necessary energy, excitement and enthusiasm needed to succeed resonated with beginning a new band playing new unexplored music.

The next challenge was choosing the correct colours and the right shades so that they blend together and putting them in the right order. We are grateful to the artistic expertise of Anne Marie Bryant a very good friend of NOW.

After producing our celebration CD we were invited to perform on the famous Anvil Arts Theatre in Basingstoke for a Showcase Concert with the World Projects London International Wind Band Festival.This came as a result of a late cancellation from the excellent KEW Wind Orchestra. Keith Allen, the Festival organiser had to put a group on at very short notice, and having watched NOW's development from afar, and being impressed by our MD, Andrew Bassey, in previous festivals decided to give us a chance.

On 26th November 2006 NOW performed in the regional of the National Concert Band Festival' prestigious open class and received a gold award for their performance of Philip Sparke's Between the Two Rivers.

NOW was a tremendous success and as a result were invited to perform in Carnegie Hall, New york City on March 26th 2008.

Thanks for all these achievements go to the players for working even though numbers have been low at times. Very Special thanks of course to our extraordinary Musical Director, Andrew Bassey for believing in us and developing us into a wonderful ensemble. The best is yet to come!!!

Further acknowledgements: Thanks also go to Graham Hawker of Viking Press for his help with banners, business cards, stamps, car stickers etc. Special thanks go to Julie Shaw (Northampton School for Girls) and Barry Johnson (Northampton School for Girls) for their use of percussion in the first year, and Towcester Studio Band for percussion use subsequently. Thank you to our accountant Donna Gold from the Beginner Band.

Above: Musical Director Andrew Bassey.