Comber Brass
Welcome to the website of Comber Brass - the name for Comber Silver Band.
Based in the town of Comber in County Down, located at the northwest corner of Strangford Lough, there has been a Comber band for over 110 years.
With many band members coming from the Comber area, the band is proud to be at the heart of the community and performs at many engagements to strengthen this relationship.
Future events
Following a busy summer parks concert program Comber Silver band are now preparing for two major events happening in the autumn:
- The annual North of Ireland Bands Association (NIBA) contest
- A 70th anniversary concert
The NIBA contest will be on Saturday 12th October 2019 in the Market Theatre, Armagh. This is a 'set work' contest where all competing bands perform the same work. As a second section band, Comber Silver will be performing the 'Purcell Variations' by Scottish composer Kenneth Downie (pictured right). Extensive reheasals have already started on this very challenging work.
As a finale to our 70th anniversary year the band will host a concert on Saturday 23rd November 2019 in St Mary's Church of Ireland, Comber starting at 7.30pm. Our special guests for the evening wil be 'The Swing Gals' and the Dr. Wright Memorial Pipe band.
Entrance to the concert is free, but a voluntary donation of £10 to help support the band's charitable purposes would be appreciated, but is not a condition that affects the right of the ticket holder to free admission to the concert.
Tickets are available from band members, Livingstone Newsagents, Cleland Newsagents and by telephoning 07974 699 524.
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.
Comber Brass - Royal Visit
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 Hillsbourgh 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.
Contest success
At this years Brass Band League Solos and Ensembles the band had some successful Entries. Our quartet of James Millikin (cornet), Judith Thompson (Cornet), Laura Salt (Horn) and Kirk Lyndsey (Bass) were placed first in the B Quartet section.
The quintet of James Millikin (cornet), Judith Thompson (Flugel), Laura Salt (Horn), Wesley Thompson (Euphonium) and Kirk Lyndsey (Bass) were placed second in the Senior Ensemble B section. Our septet were placed third in the same section.
Our Principle Euphonium, Matthew Lawrie, also a member of the 1st Old Boys Youth Band was placed second in the 17 and Under Solo competiton.
Audio recordings
To hear a recording of our performance at the Queen's Festival of Brass 2018 please click on the link below (this will open a new webpage).
To hear a recording of our performance of Viking Age at the One Hundred and First Championship of Ireland Band's contest, please click on the link below (this will open a new webpage.)
Comber Silver Band performed Parnassus at the Brass Band League Spring Festival 2018.To hear the recording please click on the link below (this will open a new webpage.)
Comber Silver Band in concert.
This is a picture of the Comber Amatuer Silver Band that appeared in the Newtownards Chronicle as the band had won the Presidents Cup, the Ulster Cup and the McConnell Cup in the year 1953-54.
If anyone has anymore information about these competitions, or other pictures or newspaper clippings of the band, please either email them using the link on our Contact page or they can be dropped into the band practice on a Wednesday evening.
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