More young brass players than ever are enjoying the experience of playing together in the Wharfe Valley of the Yorkshire Dales following the announcement of the setting up of ‘Stepping Stones’ – the new fledgling musical arm of the Otley Band.

Opportunity

Local youngsters now have had the opportunity to start playing every Tuesday evenings at 5.30pm in term time and after just four weeks, ‘Stepping Stones’ has over a dozen members.

They are now busy rehearsing for their first public performance later this month where they will share the first half of the concert with their older sibling ‘Wharfe Brass’, which was set up just over four years ago by local brass teacher Gordon Eddison.

The emphasis is on fun and learning and as a result I think brass playing in our part of the Wharfe Valley is thriving and the future looks greatGordon Eddison

Future

It now acts as the training band for the main Otley Band, and with the new ‘Stepping Stones’ also providing a stream of talented young players, the future for the Otley organisation look very bright.

Gordon told 4BR: "Wharfe Brass has developed and improved so much that we decided to create another novice band for youngsters wishing to start out playing.

The emphasis is on fun and learning and as a result I think brass playing in our part of the Wharfe Valley is thriving and the future looks great."