The University of Huddersfield Brass Band have recently returned from their first ever concert tour to Belgium, where they performed six concerts in four days.

Memorable

Concerts included afternoon performances in Market Squares at Lier, De Panne and Ypres, whilst they also took part in a remembrance service at the Menin Gate, where they partnered two local bands, Brass Band Kapelle Op-Den-Bos and Brass Band Haspengouw.

The band performed a joint concert with Brass Band Kapelle Op-Den-Bos, where MD Phillip McCann was featured as guest soloist.

Brass Band Haspengouw also provided the group with exceptional hospitality. After meeting and making new friends, plans are on the horizon to hopefully collaborate in the future.

The students were great ambassadors both for the University and the banding movementPhillip McCann

Ambassadors

Phillip McCann told 4BR: "The students were great ambassadors both for the University and the banding movement. We were received with so much genuine warm from all the audiences, whilst the highlight was undoubtedly the performance in the Remembrance Service within the Menin Gate."

Intensity

He added: "The intensity of emotion was overwhelming, in particular as we played the hymn tune ‘Dear Lord And Father of All Mankind’ and ‘I’ll Walk With God’. We were greeted afterwards by many of the international visitors with tears of appreciation for our performance.

It was truly a memory that will live forever in the minds and hearts of everyone involved."