Rewarding Training Weekend For All

20 Sep 2017

Over 70 young brass players recently enjoyed a rewarding weekend of brass playing at Lutterworth College at a youth brass band training event organised by the Enderby Youth and Junior Bands. Regular members of Enderby were joined by players from other local youth bands, as well as some who had travelled from as far afield as Hampshire and Worcestershire.

As a result of generous funding from Yamaha Musical Instruments, the youngsters were able to experience tuition from an expert team of Yamaha Neo tutors. Garry Cutt, the course director, was joined by Kirsty Abbot, Lucy Cutt, Steve Walsh and Simon Gresswell in a programme of full band and sectional rehearsals. The tuition team was completed by Andy Gray (Solo Trombone with Enderby Band), James Screaton (ex Enderby player, and now with the Virtuosi GUS band), and Alli Smith (also ex Enderby player, and a regular tutor on the Wessex Brass Band course).

Over the weekend the fifty players of the Youth Band focussed on Gordon Langford’s “West Country Fantasy”, the set piece for the Intermediate section of the 2018 National Youth Brass Band Championships, alongside work on Alan Fernie’s “Starlight” and an arrangement of David Bowie’s “Life on Mars”. Meanwhile, the Junior Band also enjoyed working on a well chosen programme of beginner band repertoire, which went down extremely well with the players.

Both bands performed to a packed audience of friends and parents at a concert on the Sunday afternoon to bring a memorable weekend to a fitting close. The playing of both bands was of an extremely impressive standard.

The weekend could not have taken place without the fabulous organisation behind the scenes of the Enderby Youth and Junior Band committee, who worked tirelessly thoughout the weekend to ensure the success of the event.

Thanks also to the many parents who contributed to the supervision of the youngsters over the weekend.

Finally many thanks to the players of the Enderby Senior Band and the Enderby Concert Band who gave up large chunks of their weekend to sit in on rehearsals to help the youngsters get to grips with some demanding music.

A real team effort from the fabulous Enderby Band Organisation.

Course tutors (L-R): Steve Walsh (Euphoniums and Baritones), Lucy Cutt (Horns and Flugels), Simon Gresswell (Basses), Gary Cutt (Course Director), Alli Smith (Percussion), Kirsty Abbot (Cornets), James Screaton (Cornets).