As another busy season draws to a close, let's remind ourselves of what our ensembles have been up to over the past twelve months...
Chester Community Orchestra

A momentous twelve months for our founding orchestra saw them not only take on yet more challenging repertoire, but also change their name!
CCO started the year as The Jan Modelski Community Orchestra, as they had done for the past 23 years.

With another successful Christmas concert in the bag, the ensemble underwent a small re-brand with the aim of better reflecting the community it serves (see more in our blog here). The name change was met with huge positivity and their subsequent summer concert packed out St Thomas' Church. An influx of new members, all keen to join the community, left the orchestra in an incredibly strong position going into the summer break - and with the possibility of having to find a new home, being in grave danger of outgrowing their current rehearsal venue!
CCO look forward to another busy season after the break, with three concerts - including a showcase in conjunction with Chester Music Society - already booked into the calendar.
Wirral Community Orchestra
What a busy year for WCO! The orchestra ensured they had a busy Christmas by managing to book two concerts in the space of seven days; they absolutely relished the challenge, and their hard work was rewarded by a standing ovation from the audience at their first gig 'over the water' in Aigburth. With confidence high, WCO headed to another new venue for a spring concert - this time receiving a rapturous response from an audience a little closer to home in Neston.

2024 was the 10th anniversary of their association with musical director Jan Modelski, and what better way to celebrate than with a summer jubilee concert. The orchestra selected their favourite pieces from the past ten years and presented them to a packed audience in Hoylake - followed by some very delicious cake!
Having reflected on their incredible growth since 2014, WCO now very much look forward to spending the next decade (and more!) making even more fantastic music - with Jan at the helm - to build on the success of the past ten years.
Chester Big Band
After the jubilation of winning the Community Bands title at the Eisteddfod before the summer break, anyone could have been forgiven for thinking that the band would have a little rest and regroup, a chance to reflect... not this band. A little over two weeks after returning from their summer break, CBB were back onstage at Chester Zoo, performing on a large trailer to crowds attending their annual Wildlife Connections Festival. Six weeks later, another festival beckoned: this time in the stunning grounds of Cholmondeley Castle, where the band braved the Autumn chill on an outdoor stage to entertain the crowds at the estate's final festival of the year. Two more gigs - a charity ball and a fundraiser for their rehearsal venue - kept CBB busy until the end of 2023; a well earned break followed as the band updated their repertoire ahead of new challenges in 2024.

Indeed, the band's first gig of 2024 didn't arrive until the first weekend of June, but it was worth the lengthy preparation: a return to Storyhouse to host their second 'own' concert, this time with increased capacity and famous support from Anjeza Shahini, Albania's popular music princess and former Eurovision star. The evening was a storming success, but once again there was no rest for the wicked as the band prepared their attempt to regain their crown at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
On an unseasonably rainy July day in North Wales, CBB proudly made their debut on the International Pavillion stage with an ambitious programme, fit to challenge for the title; despite their fantastic performance, it was clear that their competitors had also brought their A-game and on this occasion the Community Bands title went to Wrexham Concert Band. Far from suffering dampened spirits, the band brushed themselves off and headed straight to The Globe stage to entertain a bumper crowd of music lovers.

Finally, less than a week after their exertions in Llangollen, the band ended their season in Wrexham - this time as support act to another famous name. As part of the D-Day anniversary commemorations, CBB were proud to open a gig for none other than the D-Day Darlings as they headlined the Proms In The Park series. What a way to close a busy season!
With three gigs already booked in for the end of 2024, it's clear that Chester Big Band show no signs of slowing down in their quest to become one of the area's premier entertainment acts.
Wirral Big Band & Wirral Pop Orchestra

Following another successful year in the early life of these two Wirral ensembles, WBB and WPO charged full steam ahead into the new season with several concert dates already confirmed. Their joint annual Christmas party at St Anne's Parish Centre was another roaring success, with a packed audience treated to a huge range of musical entertainment - alongside an excellent buffet! However, in the background there were already plans afoot for the two ensembles - who started out the season as the Jan Modelski Big Band and Pop Orchestra - to have a little rebrand as, much like Chester Community Orchestra, they wanted to ensure their names reflected their community.

WBB and WPO took some time in the new year to consolidate their repertoire in preparation for the year ahead. In the summer - armed with their swanky new logos and fresh music - the ensembles returned to Vale Park for the second year running to provide an afternoon of top al fresco entertainment for picnickers and ice cream lovers enjoying a beautiful sunny afternoon in the park's stunning surroundings. The concert was so successful that both WBB and WPO have already been rebooked for Summer 2025!
The ensembles will now enjoy a well deserved break before venturing off to venues old and new in the new season.
Whilst all our ensembles already have very busy calendars of their own to look forward to, the whole community is extremely excited to start preparations for a momentous event in our calendar: the 25th anniversary of Modelski Music. Watch this space for exciting news of our celebrations as we enter our milestone year!
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