Worldwide concert venues open up for BBSS Virtual course

Delegates on the Brass Band Summer School course will be able to perform at some of the world's iconic concert venues — from New York to Tokyo, thanks to some inventive technical trickery.

The Brass Band Summer School (BBSS) has revealed more of the resources it will be using during its forthcoming 'Virtual course' — including the opportunity to perform at some of the world's greatest concert venues!

Conductor-cam

It's all been made possible by employing plenty of inventive thinking and some brilliant technical work featuring bespoke 'conductor-cam' video footage combined with the sound of some of the UK's finest brass bands.

Not only will BBSS delegates have the opportunity to receive expert tuition and hear live performances from some of the brass world's leading lights, but they'll also have the opportunity to play for Musical Director Richard Evans and two special guest conductors from Abbey Road Studios to Sydney Opera House via Symphony Hall and Carnegie Hall.

Find out more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrKELzuVoIo&feature=youtu.be

A BBSS spokesperson told 4BR: "Our delegates love to play, so we knew from the outset that we had to find a way to make this possible in a very different way.

Listening to people perform or chat in a zoom setting can be enjoyable up to a point, but we wanted to offer our delegates more than that.

Through the conductor-cam band simulation recordings, together with our new solo competition and a number of 'lock-down' recording projects, we've been able to ensure that making music, albeit from your own home, remains the focus of the Brass Band Summer School experience. And with a 'catch-up' feature, it can all be enjoyed at your own pace too."

Different locations each day

With delegates from all around the world already signed up, BBSS has also brought a little fun to the virtual playing environment by placing its conductors in a different city for each day of the course!

With sound provided by Brighouse & Rastrick and Cory, Richard Evans is in London for the first day of the course with a hymn tune performance from St Paul's Cathedral, a march from Abbey Road and Dean Goffin's 'Rhapsody in Brass' from the Royal Albert Hall!

New York

Following on from that there's visits to the New York Staff Band's Centennial Memorial Temple and the New York Philharmonic's Lincoln Center, before a performance of Triumphant Rhapsody, with the sound of Black Dyke, in Carnegie Hall — the venue the famous Queensbury band made a historic appearance at twenty-seven years ago.

Returning to the UK the following day there is a hymn tune and march set in Birmingham Cathedral and the CBSO Centre, before crossing Broad Street to meet guest conductor, Robert Childs at Symphony Hall for a performance of Holst's 'Jupiter' from 'The Planets'.

With delegates from all around the world already signed up, BBSS has also brought a little fun to the virtual playing environment by placing its conductors in a different city for each day of the course!BBSS

Tokyo

Then there is a quick flight to Tokyo, with a warm-up at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and a march with the sound of Leyland Band at the Fuchu Forest Art Theatre. Guest conductor, Jonathan Bates then conducts his own composition, 'Ex Terra Lucem', with the sound of Foden's from the famous Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall.

The final destination of the repertoire sessions sees Richard Evans head down under to Sydney. Following brief virtual performances at St Mary's Cathedral and Sydney Town Hall, there can be no grander setting for Edward Gregson's 'Dances and Arias' than Sydney Opera House!

Join the fun

There's still time to be part of this year's Brass Band Summer School from August 10th-14th. Once signed up you'll also have access to all masterclasses, sectional coaching sessions, recitals and conductor-cam resources, to enjoy at your own pace, until September 1st.

News