On the 19th November, the University of Salford Band and Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music Band present their 2014 Brass Symposium at Salford’s Peel Park campus.

Newsome archives

Both bands will perform archival material from their respective institutions, with the RNCM Band conducted by Professor John Miller, presenting early brass band repertoire, whilst Dr Howard Evans leads a programme with the University of Salford Brass Band which includes music from the Roy Newsome archives of the university library.

Virtuoso cornet player Roger Webster will be the featured guest soloist with the RNCM Band.

Lectures

Lectures will begin at 4.30pm, with the Head of Brass Studies at the RNCM, John Miller presenting a lecture on Manchester brass bands from 1815-1915, followed by Dr Brett Baker, Programme Leader for Salford BA Musical Arts, delivering a lecture on trombone repertoire from 1892-1940.

The event will also see the launch of the Roy Newsome Brass Band Archive, located within the University Library.

Head of Brass

The invaluable resource archive contains historical material donated throughout his university tenure, where he was appointed Head of Band Studies in 1976.

Dr Newsome further developed the archive after taking early retirement in 1989 when he became a visiting research fellow at the university’s School of Media, Music and Performance.

A comprehensive list of band histories, personal papers, photographs, audio recordings, thesis and dissertations are also stored within the impressive collection.

Dr Newsome further developed the archive after taking early retirement in 1989 when he became a visiting research fellow at the university’s School of Media, Music and Performance4BR

Concert climax

The day will conclude at 7.00 pm, with the concert featuring both bands.

The lectures and the concert are free and will take place at Peel Hall within the Peel Park Campus at the University of Salford.