## BALLYWALTER FLUTE BAND ## TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 5 APRIL 2023 TO 4 APRIL 2024 The band celebrated its 70[th] Anniversary with a dinner held in Bangor FC Social club. The highlight of the year was receiving notification that ourselves along with Kellswater Flute Band had been selected to appear at the Belfast International Tattoo at the SSE Arena Belfast in September. A lot of practice both from a playing and marching perspective was required and this involved numerous practices at Ballymacarrett Orange Hall for the music side and travelling to the Jim Baker Stadium in Antrim to perfect the marching routine. All the practice proved worthwhile as the bands produced an excellent display of musicianship and marching at the 3 performances in the SSE Arena. The band participated in a number of parades during the year including Loyal Order parades, Royal British Legion, and other parades organised by bands. A contingent from the band travelled to Dublin to take part in the annual St Patricks day parade as part of a Flute Band Association massed band. On the Contest platform the band won the Grade II championship at the annual North of Ireland Bands Association Championships held in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh. Following this success the band decided for the first time in many years to compete in the Championship grade at the annual Flute Band Association Own Choice Contest held in Lisburn, finishing a very creditable 3[rd] place. Young members of the band took part in the Flute Band Association Solos and Small Ensembles competition with success in various sections.Our youth also played for residents at Summerhill Residential Home and provided Christmas music at Cockle Row cottages in Groomsport. As part of a Christmas Tree Festival at Glastry Presbyterian Church the band decorated a tree with a variety of band memorabilia. We had a number of social evenings during the year for the youth of the band which quite a number of adults also attended including Ten Pin Bowling at Dundonald Ice Bowl. The band played at a service to mark the coronation of King Charles III at Glastry Presbyterian Church. In February the band installed our sole surviving founder member Mr John Walsh as President of the band. During the year the band organised its usual fundraising venture such as Pub Quiz and Fair Day. At Christmas the band played at the Holy Trinity Parish Church Ballywalter Carol Service as well as the Christmas Tree switch on. We also were invited to play at Millisle and Ballycopeland Presbyterian Church afternoon of carol singing. The band played at Bloomfield Shopping Centre in the lead up to Christmas with collection going to a local charity. Denis Boston Secretary APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES OF BALLYWALTER FLUTE BAND