Trentham Brass recently held their first ever open day for the local community in Stoke-on-Trent.

Try out

The occasion provided interested members of the public, and prospective newcomers to brass bands, the opportunity to call in at their rehearsal venue to and meet the management committee, MD and players, and try out some of the new instruments purchased following a successful grant application to Staffordshire Community Foundation.

A young lady who stopped playing on leaving school revealed that she really missed brass bands and couldn’t wait to start playing again with us!MD, Mike Caveney

Success

The event has proved to be a resounding success resulting in the formation of a beginners group and a training brass band commencing this week.

Thrilled

MD Mike Caveney told 4BR: "I’m thrilled at the success of the project. It has brought in from the community a wide range of people from 7 to 60 plus, from individuals to family groups, from non-players to ‘used-to-be’ players and all with the enthusiasm of wanting to get involved.

In one case we have parents and children learning together. The event last Saturday has brought us 26 new recruits."

Missed bands

Mike was especially delighted that one former brass band player was persuaded to make an immediate return: "A young lady who stopped playing on leaving school revealed that she really missed brass bands and couldn’t wait to start playing again with us!"