Weston Silver Band from Toronto in Canada is heading to the UK for what will be their first ever overseas tour.

The three time North American Champion hails from the Province of Ontario, home to some of the oldest brass band organisations, including Weston Silver who will be celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2021.

Fund raising

The 2014 NABBA Second Section and 2015 & 2017 First Section champion is also the five time winners of the prestigious Hannaford Cup, an annual Award of Excellence at Toronto's Festival of Brass, and can trace its history back to 1921, when it was created as the Weston Boys' Band in the town of Weston, now part of the City of Toronto.

Under the baton of Music Director Larry Shields, its current membership is made up of highly accomplished brass players from the Toronto area who have helped to raise the $75,000 required to make the trip.

Very excited

Band spokesperson, Theresa MacDonald told 4BR: "As you can imagine, we are all very excited about the upcoming trip and hope to meet up with so many fellow brass band people as we can.

We will be making a number of concert appearances and will be representing our nation at the world famous Saddleworth Whit Friday contests — a first for a Canadian band."

At their concerts the band will also give the world premiere performances of an exciting new work entitled, 'Suite: Scenes from Renaissance England', commissioned by them from composer Kevin Norbury.

As you can imagine, we are all very excited about the upcoming trip and hope to meet up with so many fellow brass band people as we canBand spokesperson, Theresa MacDonald

Concerts:

Wednesday, June 12th (7.30pm)
Masham Methodist Church
with special guests Philip Wilby (organ) and Damian Boddy (baritone)

Saturday, June 16th (7.30pm)
Brass Fest 9, Uppermill Civic Hall
with Brassband Reykjavíkur (Iceland) and Lund University Brass Band (Sweden)

Sunday, June 17th (8.00pm)
Delph Band Club
with Delph Band