Scotland’s European Championship representative, Whitburn will be making a one day stop off in Blackpool on the weekend in their bid to reclaim a place back at the British Open in Birmingham in September.

One day

The band will leave Scotland in the early hours of Saturday morning to compete at the Grand Shield under the baton of Ian Porthouse, and will return home straight after they have played to continue with their preparations for the Perth event.

Dutch star

The band will be joined by Dutch euphonium star Kobus Verheij from Altena Brass for their performance at the Winter Gardens.

Kobus also runs a successful euphonium teaching school in the Netherlands as well as playing in the Fanfare Band of the Dutch Military Police, and has also enjoyed playing with a number of top Dutch bands, including European representatives Brassband Schoonhoven.

Worked together

Ian and Kobus have worked together on several occasions when the Tredegar MD helped Altena in their preparations for the Dutch National Championships in 2008 and 2009.

Ian also gave a guest lecture about brass band conducting at the Fontys Conservatory in Tilburg, where Kobus was studying, and the Dutch euph star is certainly looking forward to teaming up with him again, as he told 4BR:

"It’s been great to team up again with Ian. I have had a lovely welcome from the band and playing at a major contest such as the Grand Shield is a dream come true for me."

It’s been great to team up again with Ian. I have had a lovely welcome from the band and playing at a major contest such as the Grand Shield is a dream come true for meKobus Verheij

Experience

Meanwhile, Ian added: "It's fantastic that top Dutch players like Kobus can help British bands. Kobus has a great deal of top level experience from which Whitburn can hopefully benefit from on Saturday!"