Tuba star Les Neish managed to find some time for a rest over Christmas, but he has certainly made sure he starts 2012 with a bang.

Between Christmas and New Year he travelled to South Wales to be part of the Greater Gwent Youth Band Course.

Welsh dazzle

Performing Andy Scott’s ‘Salt of the Earth’ and the late Roy Newsome’s ‘Bass in the Ballroom’, Les dazzled the audience with his effortless technique and dazzling musicianship, rounded off with an incredible encore which left the audience spellbound!

Northern Ireland

He then travelled to Northern Ireland where he gave a workshop with the Letterbreen Silver Band. Situated in County Fermanagh, Les started with the basics and finished with a fantastic performance of the repertoire worked on throughout the day.

Musical Director Stephen Crooks told 4BR: "The workshop was superb. To have someone of Les’ calibre in the bandroom was so inspiring for the players — young and old. Now that we have made this link we hope there will be more workshops by Les for other bands in County Fermanagh and beyond."

I thought 2011 was an incredible year, but 2012 has started with a bang and I know that it will only get better from here!Les Neish

Cornwall

And to round off his mini New Year tour, Les completed a weekend with the Camborne Youth Band.

Invited by Musical Director Alan Pope, he adjudicated the Annual solo competition with an incredible 70 entries.

High standard

Les was bowled over by the high standard of playing and even donated a new award to the ‘Most Promising Low Brass Player’ to Holly Whale. The weekend was rounded off with a concert from the Camborne Youth Band featuring Les as the soloist, although his new found talent for drawing out raffle prize winners came as a bit of a surprise!

Les told 4BR: "I thought 2011 was an incredible year, but 2012 has started with a bang and I know that it will only get better from here!"