The Cornwall Youth Brass Band is to take part in a special memorial concert in March in tribute to the dedicated and generous support given to them and other Cornish youth music ensembles in Cornwall by the late Dennis Arbon MBE.

New music

The former cornet player quietly and unobtrusively supported and advised a number of organisations for many years, and in tribute the event will feature two new by Cornish composers.

‘Celtic Song’ by Simon Dobson won the brass section of the Cornish Young Composers Competition in 1998, which was supported by Dennis, and last year he commissioned Simon to prepare a new version, with words he had written in memory of his late wife.

Cornwall for Ever

In addition there will also be a new arrangement for brass band and choir by Hannah Hawken of ‘Kernow Bys Viken’ (Cornwall for Ever) which Russell Pascoe wrote for the Cambiata Cornwall Choir to sing at the Men of Cornwall Concert in the Royal Albert Hall last November.

The concert will culminate in a magnificent arrangement of ‘Trelawny’, for band and choirs, made by Philip Harper for the Cornwall Youth Brass Band’s Golden Anniversary.

His vision was to give the young people of Cornwall the opportunity to develop their musical skills,so that a vibrant and creative art continues to flourish from the legacy of Cornish traditionKatrina Arbon

Enthuse

Dennis’s daughter Katrina was delighted that her father’s memory will well served in this musical manner: "For many years we heard our father enthuse about youth music in Cornwall. He was always delighted to be going to another concert, whether it was in a village hall, the Hall for Cornwall or Truro Cathedral.

His vision was to give the young people of Cornwall the opportunity to develop their musical skills,so that a vibrant and creative art continues to flourish from the legacy of Cornish tradition."