Cornwall Youth Brass Band Christmas Course

The sixty seven young musicians of The Cornwall Youth Brass Band left behind their Christmas festivities to spend four days making music on their Residential Course at Truro High School for Girls. Under the direction of Guest Conductor Michael Fowles, the days were spent in intensive rehearsals working on a range of challenging music, including the World Premiere of the brass band version of Ruby and all Things Purple by Andy Scott.

Andy Scott is the Resident Composer of the Foden’s Band, of which Michael Fowles is Resident Conductor. The Band recently commissioned this piece from Andy and generously allowed the Cornwall Youth Brass Band to work on it with Michael Fowles and give the first performance ahead of the Foden’s Band itself. Another piece by him, Film, which featured the CYBB’s Baritone player, Rachael Sloggett, was also the first performance in a new revised version.

Also joining the Course, as Guest Soloist, was the Principal Cornet of the Black Dyke Band, Richard Marshall. As well as demonstrating his outstanding talent as a Cornet player in his Solo items, Richard sat in with the Band during full Rehearsals and also coached the Cornet Section in their Sectional Rehearsals.

Other individual Sectional Rehearsals were taken by the Band’s Team of local Tutors, many of whom are former members of the Band. With the Band’s own Catering Team providing a full range of meals throughout the Course and evening activities organised for relaxation, the musicians enjoyed their time making music and new friends.

The Course culminated in a Gala Concert at St Michael’s Church in Newquay, when a packed audience of Parents and supporters enjoyed the results of all the hard work and commitment put in by the young Musicians, whose ages ranged from 11 to 21, representing the thirty individual Brass Bands of which they are also members.

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