PAST EVENTS
Friends & Family Concert - 24th February 2024
BBNI Solos & Ensembles Competition - 10th February 2024
Royal Garden Party Hillsborough - 24 May 2023
Royal Garden Party Hillsborough -2022
On the 5th July 2022, members of Comber Brass Band were honoured to be invited to play at the first annual garden party to be held at Hillsborough Castle since the beginning of the Covid pandemic.
The Princess Royal Princess Anne was guest of honour at the garden party, hosted by the then Secretary of State Brandon Lewis. Several hundred guests attended the event, many of whom were community and public sector workers from across Northern Ireland being honoured for their contributions to society.
Whit Friday Marches - 2022
On Friday 10th June the band played outside of Northern Ireland for the first time in it's history when it participated in the annual Whit Friday contests.
This is an event for brass bands that has a history dating back to at least 1884 and happens in the Saddleworth and Tameside areas of north west England.
Playing 'The Chieftain' as the street march and 'Castel Coch' as the contest march, the band was able to participate at the contests in Greenfield, Friezland, Upper Mill, Dobcross, Delph and Denshaw, which are all in the pituresque Saddleworth area.
Comber Brass 70th Anniversary - 2019
As part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of Comber Silver Band becoming a brass band, we held a successful free outdoor concert at the Lower Crescent in Comber on Sunday 23rd June 2019. Blessed by good weather we were able to play to a large audience.
We were joined by Ballygowan Concert Flute Band and the Band, Pipes and Drums of The Royal Irish Regiment.
Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Royal Visit- 2019
Comber Silver Band had the privilege to play at the reopening, by HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, of the refurbished Hillsborough Castle and Gardens on Tuesday 9th March 2019. After a £20m investment, including £16m by Historic Royal Palaces, the Castle and Gardens will be open to the public from 18th April 2019; visit https://www.hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle/visit/#gs.4g0aqf for more details.
Edmund de Wind VC - 2018
Comber Silver Band were honoured to be invited by North Down and Ards borough council to play at a ceremony on 21st March 2018 in The Square, Comber marking the centenary of the death of Comber man Second Lieutenant Edmund de Wind VC who died in action on that day in 1918. It was his gallantry in the face of the enemy, before his death that day, that won him his Victoria Cross.
Donaghadee Male Voice Choir -2017
Comber Silver Band was joined by Donaghadee Male Voice Choir and guest soloist Ruth Jennings for a joint concert on Saturday 11th November 2017 in Knockbreda Parish Church hall.
The band was honoured to share the stage with such a well-known choir as Donaghadee MVC for an evening of great music making.
Ruth is a local singer and actor who has had roles on TV, starred in pantomime and musical, as well as her own one woman show musical show Dole Dolly in the MAC, Belfast and her Christmas show Swinging Christmas in the Black Box, Belfast.
As the concert was on Armistice Day and on the eve of Remembrance Sunday we finished with music to mark this occasion. The band played an arrangement of Hans Zimmers 'Roll Tide' from the cold war epic 'Crimson Tide'; this piece finishes with the hymn 'Eternal Father Strong To Save, which was sung by Donaghadee MVC.
The concert concluded with the band accompanying the audience, Ruth and Donaghadee MVC in the medley 'Songs of the Great War'.
Comber Potato Festival - 2015
Comber Silver Band playing in Comber Square on Sunday 5th July 2015 at a service to mark the end of Comber Potato Week.
Andrews Memorial Hall Centenary - 2015
As part of the Andrews Hall Centenary Festival, Laureldale Brass Ensemble was invited to provide the music for a Service of Thanksgiving to be held in the hall on Sunday 26th April 2015.
Along with a few friends from Comber Silver Band, Laureldale accompanied the hymns and also performed suitable music before and after the service.
The Thomas Andrews Jr Shipbuilder Memorial Hall was opened on 29th January 1915 to honour one of Comber's most famous sons. He was the Chief Designer for Harland and Wolff Shipbuilders, Belfast and perished on the maiden voyage of the ill-fated RMS Titanic.
Royal Garden Party - 2014
Comber Silver were honoured to be invited to perform at a Royal Garden Party attended by Her Majesty, The Queen and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh during their recent three day visit to Northern Ireland.
The garden party took place on a sunny afternoon on Tuesday 24th June 2014 at Hillsborough Castle.
Lyndsay Chorale Concert - 2014
Comber Silver was invited to appear with the Lindsay Chorale at their Eighteenth Annual Concert on Friday 9th May 2014 at 2nd Saintfield Presbyterian Church.
Among the pieces that the band played were a few instrumental features. Adam Porteus played the cornet solo 'Buster Strikes Back' and was later joined by Kelly Kaya, Maurice Baalham and Ruth Thompson in the cornet feature '12th Street Rag'. Not to be outdone the horn section (Judith Thompson, Ken Browne, Lana Kaymak and James Millar-Hogg) performed two pieces - 'Winter' from Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' and The Beatles 1968 hit song 'Hey Jude'.
Both band and choir combined in Verdi's 'Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves' from the opera Nabucco for the concert finale.
The Lindsay Chorale were conducted by their director of music, John Dallas, and accompanied by Sheelagh Greer.
2022
Saturday 08/04/2022 - Brass Band League Spring contest - Strule Arts Centre, Omagh
Friday 03/06/2022 - Platinum Jubilee event - Knockbreda Parish Church
Saturday 04/06/2022 -Platinum Jubilee event - St Marks Church, Dundela
Friday 10/06/2022 - Whit Friday Marches - Saddleworth, Greater Manchester
2020
Saturday 15th February 2020 - BBL Solos and Ensembles contest - Belfast
Saturday 7th March 2020 - BBL 'Brass in Concert 2020' contest - Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown
2019
Wednesday 16th January 2019 - band AGM
Tuesday 12th February 2019 - charity event, Belfast City Hall
Saturday 16th February 2019 - Brass Band League Solos / Ensembles contest, Belfast
Saturday 2nd March 2019 -Valley 'Brass in Concert' entertainment contest, Fivemiletown
Saturday 6th April 2019 - Brass Band League Spring Festival - Strabane
Friday 31st May 2019 - Granshaw church fete, 7pm
Sunday 23rd June 2019 - Comber, 4.30pm
Saturday 29th June 2019 - Comber earlies potato festival, 2-4pm
Tuesday 4th July 2019 - 5th Anniversary of Comber Farmer's Market, Comber
Sunday 7th July 2019 - Parks concert - Moira Demesne, 3-4pm
Sunday 21st July 2019 - Parks concert - Moira Demesne, 3-4pm
Sunday 28th July 2019 - Parks concert - Woodvale Park, Belfast, 3-4pm
Sunday 4th August 2019 - Parks concert - Wallace Park, Lisburn, 3-4pm
Sunday 25th August 2019 - Parks concert - Lady Dixon Park, Belfast, 3-4pm
Saturday 12th October 2019 - NIBA contest, Armagh
Sunday 10th November 2019 - Remembrance Day, Comber
Saturday 23rd November 2019 - 70th anniversary concert, St Mary's church, Comber
Saturday 30th November 2019 - Newtownards square
Monday 2nd December 2019 - 7pm - Thriving Life Church, Newtownards
Sunday 8th December 2019 - 12-2pm - Folk Museum, Cultra
Saturday 14th December 2019 - 10.30am-12pm - Supervalu, Comber
Sunday 15th December 2019 - 3.30pm - Ballyhemlin church
Tuesday 17th December 2019 - 9-10pm - Percy French Society dinner - Culloden Hotel
Friday 20th December 2019 - 6.30-8pm - Supervalu, Comber
Friday 20th December 2019 - 6.30-9pm - Ards Shopping Centre
Saturday 21st December 2019 - 10.30am-12pm - Supervalu, Comber
2018
Sunday 23rd December 2018 - Carols by Candlelight - St Mary's Church, Comber
Saturday 22nd December 2018 - Comber town centre
Friday 21st December 2018 - Ards Shopping Centre, Newtownards
Wednesday 19th December 2018 - Ards Shopping Centre, Newtownards
Wednesday 19th December 2018 - Bloomfields Shopping Centre, Bangor
Thursday 13th December 2018 - Victoria Square shopping centre, Belfast
Monday 3rd December 2018 - Thriving Live Church, Newtownards
Saturday 24th November 2018 - Festival of Brass - QUB, Belfast
Sunday 11th November 2018 - Remembrance Day service - Comber Square
Sunday 2nd September 2018 - Lady Dixon Park, Belfast, 2pm
Sunday 29th July 2018 - parks concert - Moat Park, Dundonald
Sunday 1st July 2018 - parks concert - Moat Park, Dundonald
Sunday 24th June 2018 - Comber Earlies church services - The Square, Comber
Saturday 23rd June 2018 - Comber Earlies festival - The Square, Comber
Saturday 17th June 2018 - Botanic Park - Belfast
Saturday 2nd June 2018 - 2nd Comber Presbyterian church fete
Saturday 19 May 2018 - Granshaw church fete
Saturday 21st April 2018 - BBL Spring contest - Strabane
Wednesday 21st March 2018 - civic event, Comber Square
Sunday 4th February 2018 - rehearsal with Mike Fowles
Wednesday 17th January 2018 - Band AGM - 9pm
2017
Tuesday 19th December 2017 - Percy French Society dinner, Cultra
Sunday 17th December 2017 – Ballyhemlin non-subscribing Presbyterian carol service
Saturday 2nd December 2017 - Comber 2nd Presbyterian fair
Saturday 25th November 2017 - Brass in Concert, QUB
Sunday 12th November 2017 - Remembrance Day, Comber Square
Saturday 11th November 2017 - concert with Donaghadee Male Voice Choir, Knockbreda Parish church hall
Saturday 14th October 2017 - NIBA contest, Armagh
Sunday 6th August 2017 - Greenville Park, Belfast
Sunday 30th July 2017 - Moat Park, Dundonald
Sunday 16th July 2017 - Moat Park, Dundonald
Sunday 9th July 2017 - Lady Dixon Park, Belfast
Friday 23rd June 2017 - Armed Forces Day - Newtownards Square
Sunday 18th June 2017 - Comber 'Earlies' church service - Comber Square
Saturday 3rd June 2017 - 2nd Comber Presbyterian church fete
Saturday 20th May 2017 - Granshaw Church fete
Saturday 8th April 2017 - BBL Spring Contest, Strabane
Saturday 4th March 2017 - Valley 'Brass in Concert' entertainment contest, Fivemiletown
Saturday 11th February 2017 - Solos and ensembles contest, Belfast
Wednesday 18th January 2017 - AGM
2016
Sunday 18th December 2016 - Ballyhemlin non-subscribing Presbyterian Church
Friday 16th December 2016 - Bloomfields Shopping Centre, Bangor
Thursday 15th December 2016 - Ards Shopping Centre, Newtownards
Monday 12th December 2016 - Thriving Life church, Newtownards
Thursday 8th December 2016 - Ards Shopping Centre, Newtownards
Saturday 3rd December 2016 - Christmas Fair, 2nd Comber Presbyterian
Friday 2nd December 2016 - Bloomfields Shopping Centre, Bangor
Wednesday 30th November 2016 - Victoria Square, Belfast
Friday 16th September 2016 -Culture Night, Belfast
Thursday 21st July 2016 - Rose week - Lady Dixon Park - 7.30 - 8.30 pm
Saturday 9th July 2016 - Combat Stress coffee morning, 1st Comber Presbyterian
Sunday 3rd July 2016 - Wallace Park, Lisburn
Sunday 26th June 2016 - Comber Potato Festival - Afternoon
Saturday 12th March 2016 - dinner concert
Saturday 27th February 2016 - Valley 'Brass in Concert' entertainment contest, Fivemiletown
Saturday 13th February 2016 - Solos and ensembles contest, Belfast
2015
Sunday 20th December 2015 - carol service - Thriving Life Church, Newtownards
Saturday 5th December 2015 - carol playing - 2nd Presbyterian Church, Comber
Sunday 8th November 2015 - Remembrance Day, Comber
Saturday 7th November 2015 - concert - 1st Presbyterian Church, Comber
Sunday 18th October 2015 - Harvest festival church service, Unitarian Church, Comber
Saturday 17th October 2015 - NIBA Championship of Ireland Contest - Marketplace Theatre, Armagh
Friday 18th September 2015 - Culture Night, Belfast - 7pm
Sunday 23rd August 2015 - Dunmurry Park, Belfast - 3-4pm
Sunday 26th July 2015 - Comber Square - 3-4pm
Sunday 5th July 2015 - Comber Square - 3.30-4.30pm
Sunday 7th June 2015 - Botanic Park, Belfast - 2-3pm
Saturday 6th June 2015 - 2nd Presbyterian Church fete, Comber
Sunday 17th May 2015 - St Johns Church of Ireland, Castlereagh, Belfast
Sunday 26th April 2015 - Andrews Hall Centenary Festival Service of Thanksgiving (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Saturday 25th April 2015 - BBL Spring Festival contest - The Alley Theatre, Strabane
Saturday7th March 2015 - Valley 'Brass in Concert' entertainment contest - Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown
Saturday 14th February 2015 - Solo & Ensemble competition - Malone Presbyterian Church halls, Belfast
2014
Sunday 21st December 2014 - Thriving Life church, Newtownards
Wednesday 17th December 2014 - Croagh Patrick nursing home - 7-8pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Wednesday 10th December 2014 - Bloomfield's Shopping Centre, Bangor - 7-8.30pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Wednesday 3rd December 2014 - Weir Court, Comber - 7-7.30pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Tuesday 2nd December 2014 - Mount Alexander, Comber - 7-7.30pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
22nd-23rd November 2014 - Festival of Brass - Queen's University, Belfast
Sunday 9th November 2014 - Remembrance Sunday - Comber Square
Saturday 18th October 2014 - NIBA Championship of Ireland Contest - Marketplace Theatre, Armagh
Saturday 27th September - WW1 Concert Commemoration Concert - Hill Hall Presbyterian Church, Lisburn
Friday 19th September 2014 - Culture Night - Belfast Cathedral Quarter
Sunday 17th August - Comber Square - 3-4pm
Sunday 13th July - Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, Belfast - 3-4pm
Tuesday 24th June - Hillsborough Castle
Saturday 21st June - Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, Belfast - 2-3pm
Sunday 18th May - service - St John's Church of Ireland, Belfast
Friday 9th May 2014 - concert with the Lindsay Chorale in Second Saintfield Presbyterian Church.
Saturday 12th April - BBL Spring Festival contest - The Alley Theatre, Strabane
Saturday 1st March - Valley 'Brass in Concert' entertainment contest - Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown
Saturday 15th February - Solo & Ensemble competition - Malone Presbyterian church halls, Belfast
2013
Sunday 22nd December 2013 - Thriving Life church - Newtownards (Comber Silver)
Saturday 21st December 2013 - outside the Portview Trade centre, Belfast, 1-2pm (Comber Silver)
Wednesday 18th December - Croagh Patrick nursing home, 7-8pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Saturday 14th December 2013 - Logans Fashions, Cloughmills, 11am (Comber Silver)
Wednesday 11th December 2013 - Weir Court, 6.45-7.45pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Saturday 7th December 2013 - Comber Primary School, 12-2pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Sunday 1st December 2013 - Mount Stewart, 2-3pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Saturday 30th November 2013 - Glenveigh school, 1-2pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Thursday 28th November 2013 - 'Fair in the Square', Comber, 6-6.30pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Friday 22nd November 2013 - Forestside Shopping Centre, 6-7pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Saturday 23rd - Sunday 24th November 2013 - Festival of Brass, Queens University, Belfast
Sunday 10th November 2013 - Remembrance Day - Comber square
Saturday 19th October 2013 - NIBA contest - Marketplace Theatre, Armagh
Saturday 28th September 2013 - Lisbane coffee morning in aid for the Children's Hospice
Sunday 4th August 2013 - Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, Belfast 3-4pm
Saturday 8th June 2013 - Ormeau Park, Belfast 2-3pm
Saturday 1st June 2013 - 2nd Comber Presbyterian fete 2-3pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Sunday 19th May 2013 - St. John's Church of Ireland, Belfast
Saturday 18th May 2013 - Comber Primary School 11.30am-12.30pm (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Saturday 27th April 2013 - Brass Band League Spring Festival Contest - The Alley Theatre, Strabane
Friday 29th March 2013 - Good Friday service - Comber Square
Saturday 16th March 2013 - St Patrick's Day event
Saturday 2nd March 2013 - Valley "Brass In Concert" Entertainment Contest - Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown
Saturday 16th February 2013 - Brass Band League Solos & Quartets Competition - Malone Presbyterian Church Halls, Belfast
2012
Sunday 30th December 2012 - City Hall, Belfast
Sunday 23rd December 2012 - City Hall, Belfast
Sunday 23rd December 2012 - Thriving Life Church, Newtownards
Wednesday 19th December 2012 – Croagh Patrick nursing home (Laureldale)
Wednesday 12th December 2012 - Ards shopping centre (Laureldale)
Sunday 9th December 2012 - Bloomfield shopping centre (Laureldale)
Sunday 2nd December 2012 - Breffni nursing home (Laureldale)
Friday 30th November 2012 - Newtownards Square Christmas lights (Laureldale)
Saturday 24th November 2012 - Festival of Brass contest, Queen's University Belfast (Laureldale)
Friday 23rd November 2012 - Forestside shopping centre (Laureldale)
Sunday 11th October 2012 - Remembrance service, Comber square
Sunday 14th October 2012 - 1st Comber Presbyterian Church harvest service
Saturday 13th October 2012 - NIBA contest, Marketplace Theatre, Armagh
Saturday 22nd September 2012 - Ulster Covenant Anniversary: Commemorative Family Day - Lord Londonderry Park, Newtownards (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Saturday 22nd September 2012 - Pretty 'n' Pink breast cancer event - Quarry Road, Lisbane (Comber Silver Band)
Sunday 2nd September 2012 - Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon's Park, Belfast
Saturday 28th July 2012 - Waterworks Park, Belfast
Saturday 16th June 2012 - summer fete, St Dorothea’s Church of Ireland, Belfast
Sunday 20th May 2012 - St. John's Church of Ireland, Belfast
Saturday 19th May 2012 - Comber Primary School (Laureldale Brass Ensemble)
Sunday 22nd April 2012 - Titanic Service, Comber Unitarian Church
Sunday 15th April 2012 - Titanic Service, 2nd Comber Presbyterian Church
Saturday 14th April 2012 - Titanic Service, Comber square
Saturday 25th February 2012 - Valley 'Brass in Concert' contest, Fivemiletown
2011
Sunday 18th December 2011 - St. Mary's Church of Ireland, Comber
Sunday 18th December 2011 - Thriving Life church, Newtownards
Thursday 15th December 2011 - Dundonald Ice Bowl
Saturday 26th November 2011 - entertainments contest, Queens University Belfast
Thursday 24th November 2011 - Fair in the Square, Comber
Sunday 12th November 2011 - Remembrance Day, Comber
Saturday 22nd October 2011 - NIBA contest, Marketplace Theatre, Armagh
Sunday 26th June 2011 - Comber Earlies Potato Church Service - Comber Square
Sunday 31st July 2011 - Hillsborough Castle and Gardens