The London Central Fellowship Band is a group of Christians, mostly Salvationists, from around the London area. The Band exists to provide spiritual support and encouragement through its music, and witness within both The Salvation Army (TSA) and the wider Christian Church. It believes that its music will bring light, life, and joy to the performer and listener, and supports the communication of the gospel.
Formed in 1997 under the leadership of Roland Cobb, a renowned former member of The Salvation Army’s International Staff Band and the Regimental Band of H.M. Welsh Guards, the Band has flourished under a succession of distinguished conductors, including Don Jenkins, David Daws, Julian Bright, David Rudd, and, most recently, Dudley Bright. Over the years, the Band has performed at many prestigious venues, such as Birmingham Symphony Hall, Westminster Central Hall, BBC Broadcasting House Radio Theatre, Lambeth Palace, and Windsor Castle. Its recordings have featured on BBC Radio Two’s Listen to the Band, and the Band has undertaken successful tours to Sweden (twice) and the Netherlands.
Currently, the Band rehearses in St Albans, preparing for a busy schedule of concerts, primarily across London and the South East. Recent special projects have included the release of a third CD in partnership with Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital (GOSH) and a second visit to Stockholm.
Bandmaster Dudley Bright
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 a 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 succeeding 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, the 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 four 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.