The Greater Manchester Youth Brass Band took centre stage at a packed Bridgewater Hall in Manchester last weekend to play their part in a special Music Hub celebration concert.

Cottonopolis

The 60 strong band came under the baton of Mark Peacock and opened the event with the world premiere of a brand new march entitled, 'Cottonopolis' by Oxford University student Morris Harper.

It was commissioned from the former National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain tuba player to celebrate the rich textile history of the city and the fact that the band meets four times a year in Peel Hall at Salford University. The march also references the Ewan McColl song 'Dirty Ol' Town'.

The band also performed Elgar Howarth's 'Hogarth's Hoe Down', before the Harper family connection was enhanced with a performance of 'Olympus' by Philip Harper.

Wonderful

Speaking about the event Mark Peacock told 4BR: "It was wonderful to be able to commission Morris to compose a work for the event — and I'm sure it is going to be played time and again.

Everyone was delighted that he made the journey with his father to join us and talk to the students about their works and about their own banding experiences."

It was wonderful to be able to commission Morris to compose a work for the event — and I'm sure it is going to be played time and againMD, Mark Peacock

Challenge

He added: "It was another magnificent occasion. The friendship, tuition and opportunity to perform at such a venue is paramount to our vision for our young brass players and the standard of the band continues to build each year.

We always try to challenge them with music and both 'Cottonopolis' and 'Olympus' did just that and to have the two composers with us for the event gave it an extra boost."