Desford Colliery Band will be taking flight to the Orient this May, for a 10 day tour encompassing trips to three different countries, under the baton of Jason Katsikaris.

Festival

Leaving on 27th May, the band’s first stop will be Singapore, where it has been invited to perform at the Gala Concert of Brass Explosion, a week-long festival for brass players in the Far East.

The next stop will be Indonesia, where they will pay a return visit to the British International School in Jakarta, where it will give a series a series of masterclasses and concerts to the students.

Manilla

As a finale to the trip, they will become the first British brass band to perform in the Philippines, with two prestigious concerts in Manilla.

Peter Smith, Desford’s Band Manager told 4BR: "We are delighted to be invited to perform in the Far East and to act as ambassadors for British Culture."

We are delighted to be invited to perform in the Far East and to act as ambassadors for British CultureBand Manager, Peter Smith

Future Masters

The tour meant that the band was unable to accept the invitation to compete at this year’s All-England Masters International Championship.

Peter added: "Having been the 2008 champions and runners-up last year, we are disappointed that we have had to decline the invitation, but we hope to be able to be involved in the contest in the future."