Brass The Baton Launches with six Premier Performances
With less than a week to go to the start of the Brass The Baton project, the British Federation of Brass Bands have announced the plans for the launch of this unique 11 week festival of Brass Band music making as part of the UK's final preparations towards the London 2012 Games.
We recently caught up with Project Director, Terry Luddington, who was very much looking forward to the launch.
"Brass The Baton is the only London 2012 Inspire project designed specifically for Brass Bands and is a key part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. As the whole of the UK gets ready to welcome the world for the London 2012 Games we are delighted to confirm that the launch of Brass The Baton will take place as part of the closing ceremony of the European Brass Band Championships (EBBC2012) in Rotterdam on Sunday 6th May 2012."
"We are particularly pleased to have the world premier of the new music commission for Brass The Baton at the Farewell Concert of EBBC2012 where the European Youth Brass Band will perform the Inception of "Going The Distance" by Paul Lovatt-Cooper under the direction of Erik van de Kolk. This will be a true celebration of the values of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: featuring some of the best Young Brass Band Musicians in Europe, performing on an International stage and leaving a lasting legacy for the future of European Brass Bands."
Following the launch at EBBC2012 the attention will switch to the start of the five Brass The Baton Relays in the UK where the five different colour versions of "Going The Distance" will be premiered over the weekend of 12th / 13th May.
Terry went on to explain:
"On the Saturday we have the 30 strong Scissett Youth Band from West Yorkshire celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in style to start the Blue Baton Relay,"
"in Suffolk all four bands of Martlesham Brass, mustering over 100 performers, will start the Yellow Baton Relay at their annual Spring Concert"
"In Leicestershire the Croft Silver Band invites you to enjoy ‘A Night at the Olympics' to launch the Red Baton Relay"
"and in Gloucestershire the Tewkesbury Town Band will be "Going The Distance" for the Green Baton Relay at their innovative ‘Praise Concert' event"
"Then on Sunday the 2012 Scottish Champions, Co-operative Funeralcare Band, will launch the Black Baton Relay during their Bridgewater Hall performance for this year's Great Northern Spring Arts Brass Festival."
"With over 70 events and 7,000 participants taking part so far in the Brass The Baton Relays the stage is now set to showcase the work of Brass Bands right across the UK this summer."
"To find out the latest news on the Brass The Baton project and an interactive map of all the events please check out www.brassthebaton.com. If your band wants to join in the fun then all we ask is that you apply in good time and at least 5 weeks before the date of your event. Application forms are downloadable from the website or by emailing help@brassthebaton.com "
Terry Luddington Liaison Officer, British Federation of Brass Bands,
terry@bfbb.co.uk, 07803 147101, www.mad4bb.com, www.bfbb.co.uk
