About the GSCB
GSCB is a friendly community band comprising around 35 woodwind, brass and percussion players. We do not audition members, but we strive to maintain and improve a high standard. We perform several concerts a year, including formal Spring and Christmas concerts as well as outdoor concerts at Wallingford Castle and Henley and Forbury Bandstands. We also play for local fetes and other events throughout the summer.​​
GSCB also has a Starter Band for those looking to gain (or develop) experience of playing in a group, with currently around 40 musicians. Don't be fooled by the name - its standards of performance are still high and the music challenging enough to keep some excellent musicians interested! However, the pace of rehearsals is slightly less intense, and there is more opportunity to go back over things until they're absolutely right in a supportive and friendly group.
Below are our rehearsal venue and times. Both bands are always happy to hear from prospective new members; if you are interested please get in touch.
Goring CoE Primary School, Wallingford Road, Goring, RG8 0BG
Starter Band - Monday 6:30 - 7:30pm​
Concert Band - Monday 8:00 - 10:00pm
A Brief History of the GSCB
​The GSCB started life as a Brass Band in Goring before the 1st World War. As a Division I Band, the standard was very high. After the war, the Band re-started in 1925 and played on until 1939, still as a Brass Band, but when war was imminent it proved impossible to carry on.
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In 1977 the Committee organising the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations in our twin villages suddenly realised that we had no local band to brighten things up. With much spade-work by people keen to see the band reform, and with encouragement and support from many others, the Band eventually reformed as a Concert Band, i.e. accepting woodwind players as well as brass. Shortly after the Queen's Jubilee, George Jones became the first Bandmaster, and in 2017 we celebrated our 40th year of playing together.​​
The Concert Band was set up to be open to people of all ages and abilities who could enjoy making music together and enhance community spirit and cohesion. It also provided the opportunity for people to learn an instrument in a supportive and enjoyable environment. Both of those principles remain of great importance to us today; as well as welcoming members across a vast range of ages, the band regularly performs at local events and raises money for charities. We now also have a second band, known as the Starter Band, composed of players of all ages and abilities. The two bands play for concerts and other engagements throughout the year, sometimes separately and sometimes together.
GSCB 1982​​