The rapidly emerging German brass band movement will gain a further substantive boost this weekend with the first Brass Festival to be held in the North Rhine Westphalia city of Duren, not far from Cologne.

Concerts and workshops

Sponsored by Yamaha, 'Duren Summer Brass' will feature over 200 brass band musicians in a series of concerts and workshops led by the inspirational conductor Martin Schadlich.

He recently directed the Youth Brass Band of North Rhine Westphalia in well received concert performances at the European Brass Band Championship in Freiburg.

A further boost has been given by support from the cultural department of the city who will take care of overall organisation, including the workshops from Yamaha International artists Andy Haderer and Thorsten Skringer.

Wonderful opportunity

Martin Schadlich told 4BR: "This is another wonderful opportunity for the brass band movement to continue to make a positive musical impression in Germany and beyond.

The aim of the festival is to give local musicians the experience of performing on stage alongside renowned international artists."

The main event will see a free open air concert in the heart of the historic city on Saturday featuring brass bands alongside wind and orchestral ensembles, whilst in the evening Brass Band Duren will perform alongside the renowned French Brass Quartet.

This is another wonderful opportunity for the brass band movement to continue to make a positive musical impression in Germany and beyond Martin Schadlich

Lucifer

The Youth Brass Band of North Rhine Westphalia will also take to the stage with the immensely popular Lucifer's Delicious Big Band, before the event will be rounded off with the joint forces of Duren's A & B Bands in a Sunday morning concert featuring Salvationist music.