4BR has been informed that the 2011 RNCM Festival of Brass is set to welcome the sound of Venezuelen Brass.

Charismatic

The 50 strong Venezuelan Brass Ensemble and their charismatic conductor Thomas Clamor will appear at the Festival in January next year.

This unique young ensemble was founded in 2003 from Venezuela’s ground-breaking youth orchestra programme, 'El Sistema', comprising some 200 children’s and young people’s orchestras and about 100 music centres spread all over the country.

Leading the way

Leading the way is the famous Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra, where most of the members of the ensemble come from.

It's going to be a fantastic concert, which will continue to develop the international dimension which we are gradually introducing into the Festival of BrassPaul Hindmarsh

Jewels

Festival Artistic Director, Paul Hindmarsh told 4BR: "The group is regarded as one one of the jewels of 'El Sistema' and anyone who witnessed the ensemble’s late night BBC Prom in the Royal Albert Hall will have been captivated by the energy, colour and sheer quality of these remarkable young musicians.

Their Bridgewater Hall programme has yet to be confirmed, but Paul has put in a request for what has become the group’s signature work, Bernstein’s 'West Side Story'.

Paul is enthusiastic about the prospect of welcoming one of the best products of 'El Sistema' to Manchester: "It's going to be a fantastic concert, which will continue to develop the international dimension which we are gradually introducing into the Festival of Brass."

He added: "Having heard the ensemble’s fantastic Prom performance, I was thrilled when the opportunity of bringing them to Manchester arose. They will be with us at the RNCM on the first two days of the event, so they will also have the chance to experience the best of British brass too. I can’t wait!"

Young Brass

There will be a ‘young brass’ thread running through the entire festival weekend next year.

Sunday’s morning hors d’oeuvre at the RNCM will feature a leading county youth band performing some of the classics of the youth brass band repertoire.

The RNCM Brass Ensemble and Brass band will also be on hand to showcase the creative talents of the rising generation of composers who have emerged from our conservatoires over the past few years.

Composers Competition

This year there will also be an all-age composer competition.

Selected works for brass band will receive premieres in a workshop event leading to the presentation of second John Golland Award for the most promising work, and a commission to write a new work for the 2012 Festival.

Plans

Programmes for the 2011 Festival are currently being planned, but it has been confirmed that the resident composer will be Derek Bourgeois and the featured younger composer will be Peter Meechan.

Further details

The Festival will open on Friday 28th January with Black Dyke, with Leyland opening proceedings on Saturday to be followed by Cory, Foden’s and Grimethorpe.

A full programme for the RNCM Festival of Brass will be announced in September.