Taking advantage of her international banding links, German tuba player Katrin Poll recently made a special trip to the UK to experience for herself ‘real’ brass banding– including a visit to the National Finals at the Albert Hall.

Very best

Katrin, plays for Brass Band Regensburg in her home country and wanted to make sure she enjoyed the very best of British banding during the four days of her stay.

Her trip began with a visit to the Jaguar Land Rover Band prior to their Albert Hall appearance, where she was not only impressed by the excellent fullness of sound by the Midland challengers, but by the breathless intensity and speed at which the rehearsal was conducted by MD Dave Lea.

Own chance

She noted that it was in marked contrast to the rather more laid back style prevalent in Germany, where the band movement is very much in its infancy.

The next evening Katrin got a chance to play herself, with Stour Concert Brass, at a rehearsal in preparation for Shipston Town Band’s Centenary concert.

Katrin gave an impressive performance, handling her first English Bb tuba provided on the night with aplomb and transposing at sight!

Finally, Katrin and friends made the trip to the Albert Hall – and a very different National contest from the equivalent in Coesfeld in Germany.

Delighted at Albert Hall

She was delighted by the amazing performances and the great musicality displayed by all the bands wrestling with ‘Daphne and Chloe’, and was thrilled by the entertaining post-contest performance of the Grimethorpe Reunion Band.

The highlight for her was the mesmerising rendition of ‘Czardas’ given by tuba virtuoso Steve Sykes — who, incidentally, adjudicated at Coesfeld in June.

It was like a lesson in brass band music. Four days full of unforgettable impressions, sounds and picturesKatrin Poll

Unforgettable

Just before her return to Germany, Katrin told 4BR: "It was like a lesson in brass band music. Four days full of unforgettable impressions, sounds and pictures."

Although now back home, she is spreading the word about the demands and delights of British style banding – and plans a quick return trip back to the UK.

She already has plans with possibly one or two other German bandsmen to visit the Midland Regional Contest in March next year to experience a full weekend of grass roots banding, endless chit chat, band gossip and hard-fought contesting.