The month of May saw a busy Paul Lovatt-Cooper jetting off round the world to enjoy new premieres, solo appearances and guest conducting partnerships.

Euros

As Composer-in-Association with Black Dyke he travelled with the band to the European Championships, where he also enjoyed listening to Brass Band Oberosterreich perform 'Within Blue Empires' in the own choice section of the contest.

Meanwhile, the farewell concert in Rotterdam saw the European Youth Band perform the world premier of 'Going The Distance', composed for the London Olympic 2012 Inspire Project and which started a huge musical relay race that will culminate in Durham in July.

Looking forward

Paul told 4BR: "It was great to be present at the premiere performance, and I'm looking forward to conducting the massed bands in Durham in July. It’s going to be really exciting."

London

Within days it was down to London for a premiere performance by Oxted Band of ‘You’ve Been Warne'd’, written by Paul in honour of former band member David Warne.

Then it was a quick dash back up the M1 to Manchester where he joined Dr Nicholas Childs in conducting the Co-operative Funeralcare Band at the Great Northern Spring Festival at the Bridgewater Hall.

Japan

Before he could catch his breath however he was off to Japan to conduct the HBB Brass Band in their annual celebration concert in Osaka.

The concert celebrated Paul's music and featured ‘On The Castle Green’, ‘Song for the Skies’, ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ and ‘Starburst and Canyons’ amongst other works. There were also two Japanese premieres of Paul's latest pieces ‘When Thunder Calls’ and ‘Fire in the Blood’.

It couldn’t have gone any better and with more premieres planned for June as well as solo concerts and contest appearances I’m enjoying my banding as much as ever – despite the travellingPLC

Encores

The sell out 1000 strong audience demanded encore galore, with Paul performing his xylophone solo ‘Rondo Alla Turk’ and the band performing ‘The Big Top’ complete with players showing off their juggling skills!

An exhausted PLC Paul added: "What a month! It couldn’t have gone any better and with more premieres planned for June as well as solo concerts and contest appearances I’m enjoying my banding as much as ever – despite the travelling."