Fulham Brass Band has been selected for the coveted Making Music initiative, 'Adopt a Music Creator' — a project pairing ensembles with a composer for up to a year.

Newbury-based Florence Anna Maunders will work with the band into 2021 to create a work specifically for them, leading to a premiere, a recording and proposed BBC Radio 3 broadcast.

Bouncing

The composer first met with conductor, John Ward, and Chair, Clare Pitt, at a recent virtual launch and commented; "I'm literally bouncing with excitement, having been paired with Fulham!"

In response Clare said: "Making Music is an organisation providing support and guidance to its 3,700 leisure-time member groups. Every member group had the opportunity to apply for this scheme, and Fulham is one of only six ensembles to be selected, so we're really proud of this achievement."

She's written for different brass ensembles before and we've already shared loads of ideas in the short time since the launch. I'm sure the band will love her when they meet herMD, John Ward

Rehearsal return

After six months apart, the band is finalising plans for a COVID-safe trial rehearsal and hopes to meet Florence in person sometime in November.

"Flori revealed she was hoping to be paired with a brass band,"John Ward added. "…and she's so pleased that she's got one!

She's written for different brass ensembles before and we've already shared loads of ideas in the short time since the launch. I'm sure the band will love her when they meet her."

The project is funded by the PRS Foundation, Philip and Dorothy Green Trust, and run by Making Music in association with Sound and Music.