In an innovative musical approach Leyland Band has commissioned some of Britain’s brightest talent to compose an entirely new programme for their assault on the prizes at the Brass in Concert Championships at The Sage in Gateshead on Sunday.

New and exciting

The programme will consist of new works by Leyland's 'Composer in Residence' and recent British Composer Award nominee Simon Dobson, Lucy Pankhurst, Peter Meechan, and Tom Davoren, as well as a brand new arrangement for the band by Phillip Littlemore.

Simon has written a high octane march entitled 'Lock Horns, Rage On', whilst Lucy's 'Wired' is a funky flashback to the glory of the 1980s.

I want to present a diverse programme of new music by some of the most exciting compositional voices in BritainJason Katsikaris

Mythical

Welsh composer Tom Davoren provides his 'Vision of Kolkhis', which portrays the mythical story of Jason and the Argonauts, whilst Phillip Littlemore has crafted a new arrangement of Morten Lauridsen's 'O Magnum Mysterium'.

Phillippe Schwartz will be the band's featured soloist, performing a fresh adaptation of the third movement of Pete Meechan’s Euphonium Concerto, 'Flight to Sparta'.

Exciting talents

Musical Director, Jason Katsikaris told 4BR: "I want to present a diverse programme of new music by some of the most exciting compositional voices in Britain."

He added: "This gives the band a real freshness, which is enhanced by our association with these wonderful musicians. They are so good and their work deserves to be heard."