Jaguar Land Rover MD Dave Lea has just returned from a very enjoyable trip to Germany, where he worked with Brass Band Regensburg from Bavaria — the heartland of BMW.

Trip

The trip was organised after Dave met up with members of the band who had flown to Gateshead to listen to the Brass in Concert Championship last November.

An informal friendship was soon struck up, and Dave was asked if he could come to Germany to work with the ambitious ensemble – something he readily agreed to.

Tradition

Dave spent three days in Regensburg, one of the oldest cities in Germany, working with the band and their talented MD, Mathias Wehr, introducing them to the traditional elements of the ‘British’ brass band sound.

Delighted

Dave was delighted with the response, as he told 4BR: "It was wonderful. The concentrated work, intense rehearsal and passionate musicality created an atmosphere that I found so refreshing and welcoming."

He added: "It was a delight to work with the band and the three days fitted perfectly with the test piece they are to play at the forthcoming German National Championships – ‘This Happy Island’!”

It was wonderful. The concentrated work, intense rehearsal and passionate musicality created an atmosphere that I found so refreshing and welcomingDave Lea

Second Division

Brass Band Regensburg will compete in the Second Division in the competition in Coesfeld on July 1st against bands from Düren, Cologne and Schwaben.

With Dave also working extensively on their own choice selection of Peter Graham’s ‘Shine as the Light’, the band is certainly in confident of doing well, as their spokesperson told 4BR.

"After the wonderful preparation and motivation by Dave, the musicians cannot wait to finally present their test pieces to the jury. Possibly some extra motivation will arise if we can persuade Dave to give us a last minute visit before we perform on stage!"