Grimethorpe Colliery Band has thanked composer Liz Lane following the completion of a successful four-year tenure as Composer-in-Association.

Liz was the first female composer to hold the position in a leading UK Championship band with her original appointment of two years extended to four due to the success of the partnership.

Musical impact

The tenure resulted in five world premieres, and twenty performances of ten of her brass band works.

She also received four BBC Radio 3 broadcasts and was commissioned to write several new works for major events including 'Beyond the Light' for the Royal Northern College of Music International Brass Band Festival which, along with 'Serenata', is featured on the band's most recent album 'Postcards from Grimethorpe'.

Weir, TikTok and Ukraine

Liz also introduced Dame Judith Weir (then Master of the Queen's Music) to the band and co-judged the successful Grimethorpe Composers' Competition, as well as helping them in their use of the TikTok social media platform.

Her arrangement of Halyna Ovcharenko's 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas', helped raise £1000 for Ukrainian refugees.

I've had a fabulous association with Grimethorpe. My time has enabled many diverse collaborations with a band of such unique history and calibreDr Liz Lane

Fabulous

Speaking to 4BR about the partnership Liz said: "I've had a fabulous association with Grimethorpe. My time has enabled many diverse collaborations with a band of such unique history and calibre.

I'm very thankful to the people who helped make this happen and supported me in the role, and I'm looking forward to building on these experiences both within the brass banding community and beyond".