Coalburn's Fantastic Day with Mr. Fox!
Last Saturday, 16 September saw the long-awaited visit of tuba artist Richard Fox to the Coalburn Brass Band family for their ‘Brass and Beyond’ workshop, recruitment and training day.
The event, which built on the on-going partnership between the Coalburn organisation and South Lanarkshire Council, was well attended, attracting over 50 brass musicians from all over the region. The morning session involved Richard leading rehearsals with both the Coalburn Bronze (Children’s) Band and the Coalburn Intermediate Band.
The afternoon saw the arrival of several young brass players currently involved in the local authority instrumental services programme, along with the Silver Band members. Richard led two sessions where all participants worked on an improvised piece of music for the concert. Several budding young conductors had great fun as they were given the opportunity to ‘direct’ the group.
Richard then rehearsed with the Silver Band before the end of event concert. The concert attracted many parents, grandparents, friends, supporters, local councillors along with Elaine Duffy, the Assistant Musical Coordinator from South Lanarkshire Council Instrumental Services.
The concert began with Richard conducting performances from the Bronze and Intermediate Band and then all present participated in the improvised piece conducted by some of the younger children. The Silver Band concluded the concert with Calum Miller on Flugel Horn playing Libertango and then Richard delighted the audience with some virtuosic playing in two pieces, one of his own compositions Lost Property and then The Chicken. The final piece was Circle of Life from the Lion King.
Band President Alan Court then invited Elaine Duffy from South Lanarkshire Council who praised and thanked all present for a wonderful concert. Alan gave a vote of thanks and the day finished with some photographs.
Alan later commented: “We have had a wonderful day of music-making with Richard and all these talented young people. We are indebted to the Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) for their financial support.” Alan went on to thanks the organisation’s musical directors; Gareth Bowman, Jayne Brownlie, David Fehilly and Gordon Miller.
The Bronze and Silver Band will be in concert next month for their ‘Generation Brass’ concert to be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 12 October at the Livingstone Memorial Parish Church, Blantyre. The Bronze and Intermediate Bands will also be in concert on Friday 27 October at Crawfordjohn Village Hall as part of the Little Biggar Festival. For more information or to contact the band please visit www.coalburnsilevrband.co.uk.
