Brunel Brass recently welcomed Tredegar MD Ian Porthouse to one of their rehearsals to run through preparation work on Kevin Norbury's 'Odyssey' ahead of their appearance at the West of England Regional Championships next month.

New Skipper

The band is going to be conducted at Torquay by Neil Skipper, Director of Music of The Royal Artillery Band, as MD Paul Collis-Smith will be on army duty of his own in the USA.

Paul told 4BR: "We had a great rehearsal with Ian. The band has been working hard in a bid to get a good result and stay in the top section, but as I'm working in America, Neil will take over the contest day duties.

Having Ian here was a great opportunity for the band to get a musical insight into the work from one of the banding movement's top conductors, so hopefully it will pay off."

Meanwhile, Ian added: "I've always enjoyed working with Paul, who is such a fine musician and Brunel is the type of band that I also enjoy working with — keen, enthusiastic, eager to improve and full of good players. That makes it easy for me!"

Having Ian here was a great opportunity for the band to get a musical insight into the work from one of the banding movement's top conductors, so hopefully it will pay offPaul Collis-Smith

Encouraging

Band Chairman Matthew Walton told 4BR: "It was a brilliant rehearsal and we were delighted that Ian was so encouraging to our younger, less experienced players. They certainly came away just as inspired as the rest of us."