Alder Valley Brass recently started their 50th anniversary celebrations with a concert tour to Waltensburg in Switzerland, the home of their bass trombone player Ivan Hunger.

Local return

The band was sponsored by the Centre of Language, Culture and Information of the Romansh speaking valley of Surselva, which gives the opportunity for local people like Ivan who live far away and are involved in the Arts, to return with their groups to perform in the heart of the Surselva valley in Ilanz.

Good music, good company, good food, good beer, great location and scenery: What more could you want!Alder Valley Brass

Wonderful concert

The band provided a wonderful concert, with music as diverse as ‘Malequena’ to the bagpipes of ‘Highland Cathedral’ – all of which brought thunderous applause from the local who later joined the band for a social evening of further entertainment.

The visit was interspersed with skiing for those brave enough and plenty of sightseeing and socialising for the rest.

What more?

On the final evening a small ensemble also gave a short concert for the hotel guests. As one player told 4BR: "Good music, good company, good food, good beer, great location and scenery: What more could you want!"