The ambitious City of Bradford Band has announced a brace of new signings as they look forward to a busy Summer raising funds for their trip to the National Finals in Cheltenham.

Experience

The vastly experienced Ian Gill, a former player of the YBS Concert Band, and latterly a highly respected principal euphonium player with the Lindley Band, joins on assistant solo euphonium.

Joining him in the Bradford colours ahead of a weekend of March & Hymn tune contests at Hebden Bridge and Morley will be Kerry Lewis on solo Eb tuba.

Excited

The new signings have certainly excited MD Lee Skipsey, as he told 4BR. "Ian is a wonderful player. Anyone who has heard him perform as both a soloist and section leader knows that we have gained a quite remarkable player to add further quality on assistant principal euphonium."

He added: "Kerry is a gem of a player too, and I’m sure we will see her provide a wonderful lead for the band on solo Eb tuba."

I’ve managed to persuade some of the fabulous girls I know from top local hairdressing salons to lead the promotion at some of our concert appearancesMD Lee Skipsey

Unique selling point

Being a much in demand hair stylist as well as MD, Lee revealed that the band has also developed a unique way of raising funds for the Cheltenham trip – with a touch of Formula 1 meets Vidal Sassoon glamour to their promotion of their new CD at forthcoming events.

"I’ve managed to persuade some of the fabulous girls I know from top local hairdressing salons to lead the promotion at some of our concert appearances."

F1

He chuckled though when he added: "They wouldn’t be out of place on a Formula 1 grid – and if you ask nicely they can book you in for a good deal on a fashionable hairdo to go with our great CD!"