Katrina Marzella certainly enjoyed her return to back to Scotland recently when she undertook a successful workshop and concert with the Whitburn Band organisation.

The baritone star was supported by Yamaha UK for the events, which saw her first host a Saturday morning workshop with youngsters and older learners from the local area.

Tips and technique

Helped by her fellow Black Dyke colleague Richard Marshall, they led discussions and easy to understand examples about playing and practice techniques, developing tone and playing skills as well as showcasing their talents with a duet performance of 'Londonderry Air'.

The afternoon was down to the hard business of rehearsing for the evening concert with the Scottish Open champion at the local St John's Church in Broxburn, where Katrina performed four solos, expertly lead by Prof Nick Childs, as well as an impromptu encore spotlight in 'Highland Cathedral'!

The support from Yamaha was superb and meant that I could reach out to the next generation of players in the workshop and keep making those important links to youth and community music makingKatrina Marzella

Spotlight copies

Katrina was also on hand to sign copies of her latest solo CD, 'Spotlight' — one produced with the help of Yamaha and which features solos as diverse as 'Napoli' and 'Be My Love' through to Peter Graham's new 'Baritone Concerto' entitled, 'Turbulence, Tide & Torque' and Simon Dobson's 'Rampage'.

Katrina told 4BR: "It was wonderful to head back to Scotland to launch the CD and to work alongside so many enthusiastic and passionate people.

The support from Yamaha was superb and meant that I could reach out to the next generation of players in the workshop and keep making those important links to youth and community music making.

My thanks go to everyone associated with a great weekend and I hope we can work together again in the future."