 |
Links
|
 | |
|
Good neighbours |
|
The City of Chester Band has been taking advantage of championship friends the Fodens Richardsons Band. Near neighbours, the 2 bands have been working together through a weekend workshop for the training band and a series of master classes for both the training band and main band.
Saturday saw 5 of Foden’s top players in Chester for the day, leading an enthusiastic team of musicians from both the City of Chester and Farndon and District Brass Band.
Gareth Westwood (trombone) from Foden’s led the day supported by Mark Wilkinson and Dave Morton on cornet, Rob Fleming on horn and Toby Hobson on Bass. The day comprised a mix of sectional and group playing with a final mini-concert at the end of the day.
Gareth commented, ‘It’s fantastic to see the enthusiasm and energy in these young brass players. They’ve not stopped all day, working really hard and turning out some great performances.’
The highlight for many of the Chester players was a short quintet concert put on by the Foden’s players.
‘To hear this level of playing really gets the kids excited – they’ll be bouncing all week!’ commented Chester Training Band conductor Ian Clowes.
‘The workshop was fantastic, and combined with the series of master classes we are running – also led by players from Foden’s, is bringing energy, excitement and skills to Chester in a way that makes a real difference.’
The workshop is part of an ongoing initiative by The City of Chester Band to develop both bands and to encourage more young players into the training band. Instruments, music and tuition are provided so why not come along and join in. Learn more about the band at www.chesterbrass.co.uk or email info@chesterbrass.co.uk.
Mark Wilkinson, Youth Policy Coordinator for Foden’s, explained
‘Foden’s is committed to community support and the relationship we have developed with the City of Chester Band is something we all really enjoy and enables us to put something back into banding. It is grass-roots organisations such as Chester that are developing the programmes and initiatives that will create the players of the future. Who knows, maybe some of the players from this weekend’s workshop will be playing for Foden’s themselves over the coming years.’ |