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Welcome to Spectrum Music

This is your number one source for everything on the band. Spectrum Music are a 30+ piece concert wind band specialising in swing, popular, stage & screen music. Based in Kingskerswell, Newton Abbot, South Devon we are available for gigs, parties, functions, weddings, bandstands, theme events & festivals all throughout the Southwest and beyond
Use the menu in the top right to look around, here you can access all the latest news and information about the band. If you are just discovering Spectrum, get to know the band through Our Story and enjoy browsing and catching up on our classic material on soundcloud.
Fancy seeing Spectrum live? Dates of shows and festival appearances will be announced here as soon as they are added to the calendar. Be sure to check back often to see what’s new, or find out when the site is updated by following the band on your favourite social media.
EventsBook UsOur Story

Our Story

Spectrum Music was formed in January 1997 and was so named because it caters for a range of musical tastes and boasts players from very diverse backgrounds. The players are aged from early teens to not quite eligible for a free TV license and some have been with the organization for over 25 years.
The origins of the group can be traced back to 1908 when the Highweek and Wolborough bands combined to form Newton Abbot town band. It underwent many name changes and guises as a brass band before converting to a Concert Wind band. The band now has an extensive library covering music from stage, screen and popular standards which is financed from an Annual Membership of £50, supplemented by paid concerts and events throughout South Devon.
The players also enjoy an annual tour which in the past has taken the band to such places as Brugge, Boulogne, Mont Saint-Michel, St Malo, Ypres, Honfleur to name just a few. This has enabled us to play in some fantastic venues including Menin Gate, Brugge town square, Bath bandstand and Cardiff’s Glanfa stage at the prestigious Millennium Centre. Also were privileged to perform the very first wedding at the historical Kent’s Cavern.

Current Vacancies

We currently have vacancies for the following instruments. Please note that the minimum required playing standard is ideally Grade 5.

  • French Horn
  • Bassoon
  • Bass Trombone
  • Trumpet

If you play any of these instruments, please contact us using our contact form here

We’ve Travelled A Little Over The Years

Every year in September the band goes on tour to play at a few venues for a very social long weekend away.

Meet The Committee

team member

Ed Keeley, ARCM, A(Mus)LCM, BBCM, psm

Director Of Music

Ed is a highly respected conductor, musical director, and published composer/arranger. His Military career spanning 39 years saw him rise through the ranks of the British Army from musician to Director of Music, earning him the officer rank of Major. This role demanded not only his conducting skills but the ability to plan, organise and administrate many tours around the world for Bands and Orchestras of 35-60 musicians to perform for high profile Royal and State visits, (including Presidents Barak Obama, Sarkozy and Putin), The Lord Mayor’s Show and Lord Mayor’s Banquets.

Ed enjoyed a private audience with H.M. The Queen and Prince Philip on their State visit to Brunei whilst he was in command of the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas. As Director of Music for The Royal Engineers he conducted at high profile sporting events such as England International matches at Wembley, Twickenham, Cardiff and Royal Polo at Windsor with The Honourable Artillery Company Band.

Prior to relocation to Dubai in 2013, Ed Keeley trained and conducted brass bands, winning 1st Prize – West Midlands Entertainments Contest in 2011 and 1st Prize Southern Counties Area Brass Band Contest where he also won Best conductor in 2012 with Olney Brass.

In Dubai he worked for 8 years as an Instructor for the UAE Armed Forces, teaching conducting and the trombone. Whilst in the UAE Ed conducted the NSO Symphony Orchestra, the Il Divo Orchestra, the Dubai Wind Band, and formed a new orchestra performing more appealing and accessible music – The Dubai Pops Orchestra.

Ed has now retired to North Devon to be close to his family, and plays trombone with Hatherleigh Silver Band.

team member

Roger Carter

Assistant Director Of Music
team member

Andrew Robinson

Chairman & Gig Coordinator
team member

Kate Lee

Secretary

Clarinettist Kate has been a member of the band since 2002 but has been playing in orchestras, bands and different ensembles since the year dot when she was 11. Over the years, she has taken on different roles within Spectrum, Secretary, even Chairman and now takes responsibility for organising the band’s annual tour. Kate is a teacher at a Torbay primary school and is always keen to look for opportunities for her choir and orchestra pupils to perform with the band so that they have the benefit of being involved in high quality, live music. When she is not teaching or playing, Kate is a keen cyclist and often arrives at Summer gigs on 2 wheels.

team member

Becci Carter

Treasurer
team member

Ash Blagdon

Information & Technology Manager

Ash has been playing Alto Sax since he was 12 and lives in Paignton. Ash has been with the band since 1997 and has played with numerous bands over the years coinciding with Spectrum. In his spare time he likes to watch the F1, shoot 360 photography, web design, running his own blog AshBlagdon.com and is always looking to travel parts of the world he hasn’t been to.

team member

Ruth Wride

Membership Secretary
team member

Julie Day

Librarian
team member

Helen Brewer

Compliance Officer
team member

Mark Clarvis

Social Events
team member

Mike Wines

Rehearsals Manager
team member

Phil Pritchard

Quartermaster
team member

Speccy

Mascot

Band Players

Section Leaders*

team member

TBC

Sax & Horns
team member

Becci Carter

Floboes (Flutes & Oboes)
team member

Kate Lee

Clarinets
team member

TBC

Trumpets
team member

TBC

Bass & Percussion

Players

Flute/Piccolo

  • Louise Darvid
  • Sarah Noakes
  • Debbie Weible

Oboe/Cor Anglais

  • Becci Carter*
  • Judith Knight
  • Sally Megee

Bassoon

  • Melanie Langdon
  • -Position Vacant-

Alto Saxophone

  • Ash Blagdon
  • Sian Manley
  • Kerrie Pearse
  • Ruth Wride

Tenor Saxophone

  • Julie Day
  • Tim Chittell
  • Phil Pritchard

Baritone Saxophone

  • David England
  • Andrew Robinson

Bb Clarinet

  • Lisa Baitup
  • Paula Bell
  • Helen Brewer
  • Julie Clarvis
  • Dave Clayton
  • Steve Gibbs
  • Susan Lyle
  • Helen McManus
  • Roger Treweek
  • Julia Verwey
  • Mike Wines

Alto Clarinet

  • Martin Hill

Bass Clarinet

  • Kate Lee*

Horn

  • Lorraine Clayton
  • Sheila Lord
  • -Position Vacant-

Trumpet/Cornet

  • Richard Heathman
  • Chris Neary
  • Louise Perrins
  • -Position Vacant-
  • -Position Vacant-
  • -Position Vacant-

Trombone

  • Charlotte Clarvis
  • -Position Vacant-
  • -Position Vacant-
  • -Position Vacant-

Euphonium

  • Roger Carter

Tuba

  • Mark Clarvis
  • -Position Vacant-

String Bass

  • Peter Furnish

Percussion

  • Mike Weible

How To Join The Band

Who can join?

Spectrum Music is a very welcoming group. We do ask that you can play an instrument ideally grade 5 standard, but if you are interested in coming along to a rehearsal and finding out more about us, please use the contact form to get in touch here. You are welcome to come along to rehearsals to see how you get on, with a view to then joining as a member.

Subscriptions

Subs are currently set at £50 per annum, with concessions for members in full time education.

Where To Find Us

Rehearsals take place on a Wednesday evening, set up ready to start at 19:30 and finishing at 21:30, with a short break in the middle.

Contact Us

If you’re interested in joining the band or would like to book us then get in touch, either by using facebook or email at @spectrummusiccw