Tredegar Town Band has announced that it is to launch an innovative youth mentoring and development scheme in partnership with Birmingham Conservatoire.

Community link

The scheme will be linked to three community bands in South Wales and will see young players from Pontypool, Ebbw Valley and City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) 2, benefit from structured long term tuition and development programmes provided by the current All England Masters champion and designed in conjunction with David Purser, Head of Brass at the Conservatoire.

Innovative

The innovative approach will also see Conservatoire students gain performance, conducting and tuition experience with Tredegar, as well as directly with the three community bands.

David Purser told 4BR: "We are delighted to partner this excellent scheme, which will benefit young players within their own community bands. It will also give our students the opportunity to gain invaluable experience and the inspiration to further develop their own musical careers."

Future

Tredegar MD Ian Porthouse added: "Tredegar has a fine reputation for the development of young musical talent, and we hope this scheme will see it flourish in the future too."

Meanwhile the three MDs are also excited at the prospect of seeing their young players develop their playing skills without being lost to their bands.

We are delighted to partner this excellent scheme, which will benefit young players within their own community bandsDavid Purser — Birmingham Conservatoire.

Huge benefits

Horn star Owen Farr, who conducts Pontypool added: "I can see huge benefits for a band such as ours. Our players will really develop in a structured way, whilst students who I know through my role with the Conservatoire will also gain so much from their involvement too."

Dewi Griffiths of M2 agreed: "The innovative approach will give everyone a boost, and will hopefully open the eyes of our young players to what they can really achieve with their talent."

Gareth Ritter of Ebbw Valley added: "It’s great to be part of what promises to be a real investment in community banding. We can’t wait to get started."