The 67 young musicians of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band recently left behind their Christmas festivities to spend four days making music on their residential course at Truro High School for Girls.

World premiere

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 composer Andy Scott.

The Foden’s Band recently commissioned the work, but generously allowed the Cornwall Youth Brass Band to work on it with Michael and give the first performance.

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 composer Andy Scott4BR

Film

Another Andy Scott work, ‘Film’, which featured the CYBB’s baritone player, Rachael Sloggett, was also the first performance in a new revised version.

Black Dyke principal cornet Richard Marshall was the guest soloist this year and as well as demonstrating his outstanding talent as a soloist, spent a great deal of time giving advice to the young players by sitting next to them in rehearsals.

Course concert

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.