Besses Boys Band has taken steps to secure its long term musical future by setting up a brand new Besses Boys Youth Brass Band.

Over the last five years the band has made the successful transition from a youth band into a highly competitive senior outfit encompassing a wide age range. In the process they have won numerous contests and progressed from the Fourth to the Second Section under the baton of MD, James Holt.

Keen

The band is now keen to produce new players from their local community and it is hoped that the new band will give people of all ages the chance to learn to play an instrument.

It coincides with the appointment of Paul Garrett as Band Manager, who will be tasked with looking for new concert and business opportunities for both bands.

Long and proud history

Neil Matthews, Besses Boys Chairman told 4BR: "Besses Boys Band has a long and proud history of encouraging young people mainly from the local area of Bury in Greater Manchester and developing their musical skills, and we have proud to see so many of our 'Old Boys' continuing as amateur or professional musicians when they leave us."

He added: "However, we have now reached a level where we have to shed our 'youth' band status. This doesn't mean we are forgetting our roots however, with over half the band still studying at either school or college."

Working alongside our current committee I'm confident that this new band working party will help the band continue to build and achieveMD, James Holt

Confident

Musical Director James Holt added: "During the 10 years we have made great strides on both the concert and contest platforms and have seen a change in our membership — attracting new, more experienced players who seek an active involvement in the running of the band.

Working alongside our current committee I'm confident that this new band working party will help the band continue to build and achieve."