Over 80 brass players of all ages recently attended Minsthorpe Community College, South Elmsall for the annual Brass and Percussion Workshop, run by the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association.

Sponsored

The workshop which is sponsored by Grimethorpe Colliery Band and Wakefield Metropolitan District Council benefits from the excellent tutorship of many of the Grimethorpe principal players, plus Ray Sykes from Carlton Main Frickley Colliery who tutored the bass section.

Varied programme

The course was organised by Peggy Tomlinson, President of the YHBBA, and was lead by Roger Webster who chose a varied programme of music including 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'The Melody Shop', Overture from 'The Marriage of Figaro' and 'St.Clement'.

The players also had the opportunity to accompany Arfon Owen in the tenor horn solo 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'.

We have had a great day. Some of the music was a bit challenging but with the help of such good tutors we met the challenge and we are going home enthused and looking forward to the next workshopHappy delegate

Popular

The day has proven to be hugely popular and included full band rehearsal followed by sectionals during which the tutors, Kevin Crockford and Roger Webster, Arfon Owen, Mike Dodd, Richard Brown, Jonathan Beatty, Ray Sykes and John Watterson passed on their enthusiasm and musical expertise to the delegates.

Culmination

The day culminated with a short concert to assembled relatives and friends which also included two items by the tutors.

As one of the delegates commented: "We have had a great day. Some of the music was a bit challenging but with the help of such good tutors we met the challenge and we are going home enthused and looking forward to the next workshop."