For the second year in a row, Bournemouth Concert Brass donned an air of academia as they provided the musical accompaniment to the presentation of graduate awards at Bournemouth University.

Proud parents

Over a period of four days under the direction of the professional conductor Major David Barringer (above), they provided the music to an audience of 12,000 proud parents and family members as 2,000 students received their awards.

Lady Macbeth

Meanwhile, the band has also appeared with professional colleagues from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in a brace of concerts held in the Lighthouse Centre in Poole, and the Colston Hall in Bristol.

Under orchestra maestro Kirill Karabits, they were part of the performances of Shostakovich’s ‘Five Interludes’ from ‘Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District’.

Two movements of the complex work required an extra 12 piece brass ensemble to augment the BSO’s brass section, and so the band provided two sopranos, cornets, trumpets, tenor horns, baritones, euphoniums and Eb tubas for each performance.

The performances were exhilarating and well received by the audience and the ensemble receiving thanks from the conductor and nods of approval from the pro players for their great contributionBournemouth Concert Brass

Exhilarating

A band spokesperson told 4BR: "At each venue the ensemble rehearsed with the full orchestra under the watchful eyes and ears of the BSO brass section.

The performances were exhilarating and well received by the audience and the ensemble receiving thanks from the conductor and nods of approval from the pro players for their great contribution."