World Champions, Ballygowan Concert Flute Band celebrates 150 years of family, passion and music with special concert

Formed in 1876, Ballygowan Concert Flute Band brings together members from all areas of the community for a collective musical experience.

The band differs from other flute bands in that it contains eight different types of flute, ranging from the tiny piccolo right up to the large double contrabass.

Consequently it can play full orchestral music, when the parts for all different instruments are transcribed for the eight different flutes.

Members play a vast range of music – from marches, hits from well-known musicals and Irish traditional music to classical competition test pieces.

There are just over 20 such concert flute bands across Northern Ireland, some of which also take part in the Twelfth, as does Ballygowan.

“Our purpose is to provide a facility for any person to play, or learn to play a flute or percussion instrument to the best of their ability,” said trustee, treasurer and first flautist Victoria Gibson.

“The high point of the band's competition history was probably in 1990 when we won a world championship for the first time,” she added.

In 1988 the band started a 31-year unbroken series of BBC radio broadcasts as a result of top performances at the world championship, which included 14 firsts and 14 runner-up spots.

“Practising for these competitions really helps keep our standards up but for me the greatest feature of the band is that it is such a close-knit community with a strong social life,” she added.

“Everybody is always looking out for each other. The ages of our members ranges from eight to 87 so it is very intergenerational.”

There are currently around 45 members, most of whom can trace family roots back to original members of the band in 1876.

Over the years no less than 18 members have received the 50 years service medal from the Flute Band League – adding up to over 900 years service by 18 members.

Some six or seven families are also among the current membership.

“As well as the Twelfth we also play a lot of community events as well as park engagements and church events. We can provide either small or large ensembles depending on the event – we are here to be hired,” she added.

“We are also very proud of the tuition program in place for young aspiring flautists and percussionists which is supported through the Ulster Scots Agency.

“Children have progressed through their music exams to grade eight level and then keep involved with the band as their hobby.

“One of our recent success stories is the appointment of my nephew Andrew Douglas as the piccolo player of the Ulster Orchestra – the epitome of homegrown success.”

The band is currently fundraising for a new parading/outdoor engagement uniform and this will be purchased to mark the milestone 150th anniversary.

Members are putting on a 150th anniversary celebration tomorrow at Ballygowan Presbyterian Church Halls – which is sadly sold out.

The band can be hired via Victoria Gibson on [email protected]