*
banner

Italian signing comes to Harrogate

Not quite Gianfranco Zola, but Bartolomeo Girardi joins Harrogate's perc team...

Harrogate
 

When a volunteer teacher came over from Italy to work in Yorkshire, he hardly expected to be taking part in a great Yorkshire musical tradition.

Bari

However, Bartolomeo Girardi from Altamura, near Bari (that's Bari in Italy, not Barry in South Wales) has joined Harrogate Band and is loving every minute of it!

Bartolomeo (or Bart, as he is known) is working on an EU programme as a volunteer teacher for people with disabilities.

He had never even heard of brass bands before coming along to his first practice, but once he came he found he was hooked.

I had never even heard a Yorkshire brass band before I came along to Harrogate, and I was really curious to find out more. It's been great funBartolomeo Girardi

Love playing

Bart told 4BR: "I love playing for the band — everyone’s so friendly and welcoming and the standard of playing is as high as the orchestras I play with back home. I had never even heard a Yorkshire brass band before I came along to Harrogate, and I was really curious to find out more. It's been great fun."

As for the repertoire?

Bart added: "The band has played pieces from Verdi’s 'Nabucco', 'Napoli' and many more that I’ve been brought up with back home. The other great thing is that with music being an international language I can cope ok in rehearsals — in fact, when you think about it, everyone else is speaking my language!"

Fan club

The band are delighted with their new recruit too: "He’s an absolute delight to work with. His dedication and work ethic are fantastic especially when you consider that he uses a wheelchair and comes to rehearsals from Leeds using public transport. He says he’s going to go back to Italy and tell them all about us so maybe he’ll set up a fan-club up for us out there!"

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Elgar festival of brass

Top trio attracts audiences to Malvern

June 7 • There are still tickets left if you want to enjoy Cory, Black Dyke and Foden's in performance in Malvern


Perth

Entries now open for Scottish Festival of Brass brace

June 7 • Bands can now enter the popular Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Shield and Scottish Open sponsored by Besson.


Cambrian Brass

New band to be formed in Aberystwyth

June 7 • Cambrian Brass to provide a welcoming, inclusive home for players with the aim of competing at the Welsh Area in 2026.


City of Hull

Brooks and Beatty take dual baton role at City of Hull

June 7 • Daniel Brooks and Jonathan Beatty will spearhead the artistic and contesting focus of City of Hull Band.


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 13 June • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


Hebden Bridge Brass Band - The 13th annual Hebden Bridge March Contest

Sunday 15 June • St George's Square, Hebden Bridge HX7 8ET


The Portsmouth Grammar School - Concert by The Black Dyke Band

Saturday 28 June • St Marys Church, Fratton, Portsmouth PO15PA PO15PA


Petworth Town Band - Fete in the Park with Petworth Town Band

Saturday 28 June • Grounds of Petworth Park GU28 9LR


Petworth Town Band - Farnham Brass Band and Petworth Town Band

Saturday 28 June • Farnham Carnival


Chinnor Silver

June 7 • Our Community Band is meeting on Monday {9th} and would welcome anyone who fancies an extra friendly rehearsal,with coffee and cake involved.. We rehearse in our bandroom at 11am its free and it open to all abilities.. No commitment required.


Epping Forest Band

June 6 • Epping Forest band have a vacancy for solo horn. We are a friendly 3rd section band with a variety of gigs through out the year. We have our own band hut with close to links with London Underground central line and the M11 motorway.


Chelmsford Silver Bnad

June 6 • Front row cornet, solo horn & trombone players. We are a friendly, active non competition band established 75 years performing regularly in Chelmsford & Essex. Rehearsals averaging 26 players on Wednesday evenings at Broomfield Methodist Church Chelmsford


Gordon Eddison

B Ed (Hons). Member AoBBA.
Conductor and Adjudicator.


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd