Preparations are well under way for the triple North American Brass Band Champions, Fountain City Brass, to embark on their groundbreaking tour that spans four countries in November.

Title to defend

It will all begin with the band returning to Chicago to defend its for the U.S. Open Brass Band Championship title.

As winners of the competition last November, the band was invited to compete in this year's Brass in Concert Competition, in Gateshead and was relayed personally to the band after their US Open win by Trevor Caffull, Managing Director of Salvationist Publishing & Supplies.

Brass in Concert

The band will also be featured in the Brass in Concert Gala Concert, and will also perform four concerts throughout the UK and record a CD.

The band would like to thank all of the organizers involved in making this tour happen, as well as expressing our appreciation to our bosses and teachers who are allowing us to part of this opportunity of a lifetimeHelen Tyler

Something special

Helen Tyler, the former baritone star with the Fodens Band, who is playing a crucial role in developing Fountain City's profile, told 4BR: "To share the concert stage with the Cory and Black Dyke Bands will be something special. They have almost 300 years of brass band tradition, so this wil be a real first in our seven year history."

Concerts

After spending the first weekend in Gateshead the band will take the next ten days to travel to Durham where it will perform in a conducting clinic with Ray Farr at Durham Cathedral.

They will also present concert in their visits to London, Glasgow, Dublin, and Liverpool, and record their CD, 'Over the Rainbow.'

The band has proposed workshops at the Royal Northern College of Music and with Bolton Youth Brass Band, all before spending Thanksgiving at Peckforton Castle.

Scottish Open

The final weekend of the tour sees the band back in Scotland, as they take part in the Scottish Open Championships.

Helen added: "The band would like to thank all of the organizers involved in making this tour happen, as well as expressing our appreciation to our bosses and teachers who are allowing us to part of this opportunity of a lifetime."