The launch concert of Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills Band took place on Wednesday 19th March. The band fromerly known as Thorntons Brass has been successful in securing a sponsorship deal with Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills.

Unique

Masson Mills is a world famous cotton spinning mill built in 1783 by Sir Richard Arkwright and is a major attraction of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. It finally closed for production as recently as 1991, but has been retained as a working textile museum.

The new organisation has decided to move away from the competitive arena and the main aim now is to concentrate on making music to a very high standard and raising money for local charities4BR

New items

It is believed that the partnership of a Mill with a brass band is a unique development in the 21st century, Masson Mills supported its own band in the 1890’s and the launch featured several of the items performed by the original band at their concerts, together with items from the new recording released tonight by the new band.

Away from competition

The new organisation has decided to move away from the competitive arena and the main aim now is to concentrate on making music to a very high standard and raising money for local charities.

The forthcoming year sees the band at five high profile events, where it is hoped to raise in excess of £25,000 for these good causes.

These aims are fully supported by the owner of Masson Mills, Mr. Robert Aram. Mr Aram has been very keen to re-establish a band at the mill and is delighted with this new partnership.