London based Regent Brass has announced that it has secured two prestigious grants, one from the BBC Performing Arts Fund and one from the PRS for Music Foundation to assist them in commissioning award-winning composer Raymond Yiu to write his first major work for brass band.

Musical influences

The 15 minute composition will draw on the diverse musical influences of Brent’s local population and will be launched at a gala concert in Brent next June, where it will be performed by Regent Brass and its sister ensemble, Regent Community Brass.

The concert will celebrate both the new composition and the one year anniversary of Regent Community Band, and will be hosted in partnership with local schools and community groups.

Fantastic news

MD Alan Duguid, told 4BR: "This is really fantastic news and we are all very excited about it. This funding will us the opportunity to commission a genuinely innovative new composition from Raymond Yiu, who is a very exciting talent.

It’s a real honour to be able to introduce work from a composer new to the brass band repertoire."

The idea of musicians with very different technical levels making music together holds a special appeal for meComposer Raymond Yiu

Special appeal

Raymond added: "The idea of musicians with very different technical levels making music together holds a special appeal for me. This new work will challenge me further by creating three formations — professional ensemble alone, amateur ensemble alone, and a combination of the two.

I also hope that my existing connections will raise other composers’ interest in writing for brass band."

Full circle

Michael O’Shaughnessy, Chairman of Regent Brass concluded: "Regent Brass was set up by local musicians who had graduated from the Brent music system and has risen to become a Championship Section band.

We’re thrilled to have come full circle and to be providing new playing opportunities for young musicians through Regent Community Brass, and are very grateful to have been given the opportunity by the BBC and the PRS to celebrate the Community Band’s one year anniversary with the debut performance of such an exciting new piece."