The organisers of the Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass have planned a brace of ‘In Focus’ sessions of conversation and debate on 26th January at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

Snell in spotlight

In a lunchtime conversation, at 12.30pm, Artistic Director Paul Hindmarsh will be talking to one of the living legends of the brass band world, Howard Snell.

The conversation will focus on his time as conductor of Foden’s, innovative Head of Brass at the RNCM, where he established the College’s brass band and associated areas of study, and his influential contribution to the musical legacy of brass bands through his arrangements and transcriptions.

Question Time

At 5.15 pm, following the afternoon concert, Iwan Fox, Editor of 4barsrest, will be in the chair for a question and answer session entitled ‘A Future for Brass Bands’.

He will be joined by a panel drawn from the creative, performing, administrative and media sides of the banding scene to debate some of the pressing issues facing the brass band community in the UK.

Focus

The session will focus predominantly on musical matters, repertoire development, media relations, public awareness and profile.

The panel members will be musician and producer Ian Brownbill, Kenneth Crookston (Editor of British Bandsman), composer Dr. Martin Ellerby, Mike Kilroy (Chairman of Brass Bands England) and brass journalist Christopher Thomas.

Submit questions

Those wishing to attend are asked to submit their questions for the panel in advance to Iwan so that the ‘Question Time’ session can be kept focussed and relevant.

Please send questions to: iwan.fox@btinternet.com

Time and place

Both ‘In Focus’ sessions will take place in The Barbirolli Room.

Admission is free for day ticket holders and free tickets are available for non-day ticket holders, subject to availability.