Delegates from all around the banding world are currently in Swansea to be part of the popular International Brass Band Summer School course.

Led by Course Director Prof Nicholas Childs, it is the 28th time the event has taken place, with this year 120 performers from 13 different countries enjoying the mix of musical hard work, inspirational tutoring and plenty of fun and games.

World's finest

Prof Childs told 4BR: "It's amazing to think we have attracted musicians from Japan, Taiwan, Canada, USA, Norway, Switzerland and throughout Europe — not forgetting Wales and the UK.

I believe it continues to show that this is the world's finest summer school course — one that caters for players of all ages and abilities."

Black Dyke and Eikanger

To emphasise the point, Prof Child revealed that there are delegates from the likes of Black Dyke, Eikanger and Brass Band Melodia from Switzerland joining players from youth and community bands — all benefiting from working with tutors such as Richard Marshall, Tom Hutchinson, Gary Curtin, Dan Thomas, David Thornton, Owen Farr, Brett Baker, Chris Turner and Joseph Cook.

This year the delegates will get to find out more about the compositional secrets of Paul Lovatt-Cooper, whilst there is support from a number of leading instrument makers, publishers and retailers such as Besson, World of Brass, Rath Trombones, Band Supplies, Geneva, Kapitol Promotions, British Bandsman, SHB Hire, Sterling Instruments, Prima Vista and GK Design.

Support

Course Administrator Alison Childs told 4BR: "This support is essential to ensuring the success of the course and as you may expect with so many players we are particularly grateful for the help given by the brass band music publishing houses Prima Vista Musikk, Obrasso and Kirklees for their generosity."

The end of course concert this year includes Paul Lovatt-Cooper's 'Forces Unleashed' and 'Through Heaven's Gate', with guest soloists Dan Thomas and Tom Hutchinson.

Free concert

The free concert will be held at Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Fulton House 1st Floor (SA2 8PP) on Friday 3rd August (7.00pm)