Yamaha Music Europe GmbH and Leyland Band have announced what they believe to be an exciting and innovative collaboration that will see the two organizations working together on a range of music-making initiatives and events throughout Europe.

New audiences

It is hoped that Yamaha's international support via its European subsidiaries will help promote the Leyland Band concert and performance schedule to new audiences.

Yamaha will also be providing the band with a range of student instruments for educational events and will be promoting 'have-a-go' sessions at selected concerts.

Not standard

Ian Frankland, Yamaha's Brass and Woodwind Marketing Manager commented: "This is not a standard sponsorship arrangement — it's much more creative. At its heart is a joint desire to reach out and introduce more people to the genre and to the joy of playing brass instruments."

We already enjoy a strong relationship with Yamaha and it seemed a logical step to develop this into a more dynamic international arrangement to promote brass banding in generalChairman, Allan Littlemore

Logical step

Allan Littlemore, Leyland Band's Chairman added: "We already enjoy a strong relationship with Yamaha and it seemed a logical step to develop this into a more dynamic international arrangement to promote brass banding in general."

Allan added: "It also means we will have access to Yamaha's specialist technical team and will be able to integrate Yamaha into our successful and growing 'Community Action Participation Programme', a series of events which focus on young people and the disadvantaged."

Hard on the heels

The announcement follows on the heels of the recent partnership between Leyland and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), the UK's fourth largest university.