Members of St Helens Youth Band recently benefitted from the visit of a number of principal players from North West Area Champions Foden’s.

Colleagues

As preparations for their appearance at the National Youth Brass Band Championships this Sunday intensify, St Helen’s MD Mark Bousie was delighted to welcome his colleagues to lead sectional rehearsals focusing the Advanced Section set work, Philip Wilby’s ‘Psalms and Alleluias’.

Coaching day

The coaching day saw Richard Poole, Helen Williams, Lesley Howie, John Barber, Glyn Williams, Stuart Baglin and Mark Landon take their respective sections through their paces.

The day was brought to a close with a performance of test piece and the band’s own choice pieces repertoire in front of an audience of tutors and parents, during which the benefits of the day were clear for all to hear.

Huge improvement

Mark Bousie told 4BR: "It’s a real privilege to work with leading players from Foden’s. Not only was there a huge improvement on the competition repertoire, but the overall musical inspiration the young musicians gained from the day was of tremendous value."

Not only was there a huge improvement on the competition repertoire, but the overall musical inspiration the young musicians gained from the day was of tremendous valueMark Bousie

Exciting month

April is an exciting month for St Helens Youth Band as following the contest they head up to Scotland for a short concert tour during May Day bank holiday weekend.

Whilst in Scotland they will meet up with their former Musical Director Lynda Nicholson, when the band will perform joint concerts with two of Lynda’s current bands, Brass Sounds Inverclyde and Kirkintilloch Youth Band.