Musicians Come Together to Play Tribute to Roger Dowsett
Musicians from all over London will join forces on Thursday 22 September at Southwark Cathedral for a concert in tribute to Roger Dowsett, (Old Blue Mid A 56–62) and founder member of Lewisham Concert Band, one of the country’s most respected amateur music ensembles.
Roger lived in Purley but died suddenly aged 59 in 2004. He began his musical career on trumpet at Christ’s Hospital playing trumpet and became Band Captain in 1962. He became first trumpet in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, but switched to euphonium in the early seventies. In 1967 Roger helped form the Lewisham Concert Band in 1967 and was part of the band which became famous for its numerous broadcasts in the 1970s and 1980s on BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night and Listen to the Band.
During the concert one of his sons, Ben Dowsett (87–95) will be performing an arrangement of Saint Saens’ ‘The Swan’ from Carnival of the Animals on solo euphonium. Uniquely, Both Ben and Roger were band captain. Other highlights include some of Roger’s favourite works, including ‘Elsa’s Procession to the Minster’ from Wagner’s Lohengrin and a selection from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The finale of the evening, Walton’s Crown Imperial march, will be conducted by the band’s founder musical director, Joseph Proctor.
Conductor Leslie Lake said: “Roger was a greatly loved member of the band and made a great contribution to the music scene of London. The concert will feature present and past members of the band, many of whom are now professional musicians, who have played in the BBC Symphony Orchestra and numerous West End shows. The evening promises to be memorable and entertaining and I hope that as many people as possible will come along and support us.”
Tickets are £10, £8 (restricted view) and £5 (concessions), available on the door or in advance from lewishamconcertband@yahoo.co.uk and 07884 367 505. The concert starts at 7.30pm and there will also be a retiring collection for the British Heart Foundation, one of Roger’s favourite charities.
