A large and enthusiastic audience packed St Michael’s Church in Newquay, Cornwall, on December 30th for the Gala Concert at the end of the Christmas Residential Course of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band.

Intensive rehearsal

The band spent four days in intensive rehearsal, working on a selection of challenging music under the direction of their Guest Conductor, Dr Stephen Cobb.

For the sixty one musicians it was a rare privilege to be working with Stephen on the course held at Truro High School for Girls, and he was joined by his son Philip, who this year was the featured soloist.

He (Dr Stephen Cobb) told the many parents and relatives present at the concert that they should be extremely proud of the high standard of performance the musicians had achieved4BR

Challenging music

A wide range of challenging music, in contrasting moods, was chosen with a natural emphasis on Salvation Army pieces, old and new.

This included the first performance of a new Trumpet solo, 'Flourish', by Paul Sharman, which he had written especially for his friend Philip Cobb.

Fourteen year old composer, Ben Larham from St Austell, who is a member of the Band heard his music come to life when they gave the premiere of his major work, 'Scenes of a Battlefield'.

In introducing the Band’s committed and enthusiastic performance, Dr Cobb felt no explanation of the music was required and asked the large audience to use their imagination in interpreting the events depicted in the music.

Outstanding musicians

With two such outstanding musicians to work with, the members band enjoyed four exhilarating days of music making. The Course and Concert was the culmination of a lot of hard work, which had also included preparing the music under their local tutors at their monthly rehearsals.

Extremely proud

Dr Cobb thanked the musicians, who are drawn from twenty Cornish bands, for the friendly way they had received him and his son.

He told the many parents and relatives present at the concert that they should be extremely proud of the high standard of performance the musicians had achieved and hoped they would all go on to enjoy their music making in the future.