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The London Central Fellowship Band is a group of Christians, mostly Salvationists, from around the London area. The Band exists to provide spiritual succour, and encouragement, through its music and witness within both The Salvation Army (SA) and the wider Christian Church. It believes that its music will bring light, life and joy to those to whom it performs.

The band was formed in 1997 under the leadership of Roland Cobb, legendary past member of the SA’s International Staff Band and The Regimental Band of H.M. Welsh Guards. Since those early days the band has benefited from a succession of well respected conductors including Don Jenkins, David Daws and currently David Rudd. The band has performed at a number of prestigious venues including Birmingham Symphony Hall, Westminster Central Hall, BBC Broadcasting House Radio Theatre, Lambeth Palace and Windsor Castle. Its CD recordings have been featured in BBC Radio Two’s Listen to the Band programme, and over the years successful tours to Sweden (twice) and the Netherlands have been undertaken.

The band presently meets for rehearsals in St Alban’s, where it prepares to perform an ongoing series of concerts, mainly around London and the South East. Special projects undertaken recently have included a third CD, this in collaboration with GOSH (Great Ormond Street Childrens’ Hospital) and a second visit to Stockholm.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak and the dramatic consequences experienced by us all, the Band entered a state of lockdown. A gradual resumption of activities is being achieved since relaxations in July 2021 and we look forward to returning to normality in the near future.

Since resuming rehearsals in September the Band has produced a video entitled A Journey Out of Lockdown which can be viewed below as well as through the Band’s YouTube channel.

Bandmaster Dudley Bright

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dudley Bright as bandmaster.

Dudley Bright was Principal Trombone of the London Symphony Orchestra from 2001 until retiring from that position in 2018. He is presently Professor of Trombone at the Royal Academy of Music and leads a busy freelance life appearing as guest principal with London orchestras and in a variety of recording projects. However, he made his solo debut with the International Staff Band of The Salvation Army at the age of 14 and went on to be featured as soloist widely in the Salvationist world. Subsequently, studies at the Guildhall School of Music led to Associate membership of the LSO and principal positions in the Halle and Philharmonia Orchestras. In 2001 he had the privilege of succeeded both his teacher, Denis Wick and his pupil, Ian Bousfield by returning as principal to the LSO.

As well as many concerts and master classes at home and abroad, his work includes recording on the successful LSO Live label and the soundtrack of films such as ‘Star Wars II & III’, ‘Harry Potter’ ‘Monuments Men’ and ‘The Shape of Water’ . He has also made solo recordings with Grimethorpe, ISB and Enfield bands. Dudley has been a trombone design consultant for both Besson and more recently Courtois instruments. He is the composer of many works for brass, mainly for the Salvation Army but also 4 major secular works Pursuing the Horizon, Bunhill Variations, Jubilee Music and Reach for the Sky all of which were written for the LSO’s Brass Academy. Pursuing the Horizon, originating in 2004 was adapted for brass band renamed ‘Pursuing Horizons’ and performed at the Royal Albert Hall by over 250 players to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the International Staff Band.