*
banner

Dusty donations required!

If you have an old instrument gathering dust on a shelf somewhere then there are youngsters at Midsomer Norton & Radstock desperate to get their hands on it.

Midsomer players
 

A heartfelt plea has gone out from the young players of Midsomer Norton & Radstock Silver Brass Academy for help in getting them more instruments to play on.

Recruitment campaign

A great recruitment campaign and a vibrant atmosphere of fun and learning has meant that the Academy is now bursting at the seams with youngsters all wanting to take up brass and percussion, so demand for instruments at the moment is far out stripping potential supply!

MD Jo Sykes told 4BR that although it’s disappointing not be able to give everyone an instrument to play on, it’s a wonderful headache to try and cure!

"It’s a great problem to try and sort out! The band organisation now consists of a Beginners, Training and Senior ensemble and we have been working hard raising funds to get new instruments as best we can.

However, the demand means that at the moment some of our enthusiastic Beginners have to go without, so our plea goes out to anyone with an old instrument lying about that they think deserves to be loved, cherished and played, please get in touch!"

Once hooked

Jo added: "We do have some funds to meet some costs of purchase, but most of all we just want to give youngsters the opportunity to play in a brass band. Once they are hooked they never give up!"

most of all we just want to give youngsters the opportunity to play in a brass band. Once they are hooked they never give up!Jo Sykes

Contact

If there is anyone who can help, please contact Carole Stone on 07986 499028 or Jo Sykes on 07800 767712.

Also if you are interested in joining the Academy we meet in Radstock Methodist Church on a Tuesday and Friday evening at 6:15pm.

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Imogen Whitehead

Interview with Imogen Whitehead

June 11 • 4BR catches up with the trumpet and flugel soloist ahead of her appearances at the Ryedale Festival — which includes the world premiere of a new flugel concerto with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.


Open

Demand high for British Open tickets

June 11 • Tickets for the 2026 British Open are being snapped up well ahead of the event in September.


Fodens

Jeffers takes horn lead at Foden's

June 11 • Grace Jeffers makes the solo horn seat her own at the North West champion.


Cory

Cory add Hutcherson experience to cornet section

June 11 • The experienced Jeff Hutcherson has joined the Welsh champion from BTM Band.


Regent Hall Concerts - Take 5 Brass Quintet

Friday 12 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Sherborne Town Band - Celebrating the Music of Malcolm Bennett

Sunday 14 June • Venue-Mark Village Hall, Vole Road, Mark-TA9 4NY. . TA9 4NY


Barnsley Brass - Black Dyke Band

Thursday 25 June • St Mary's Church. Church Street. Barnsley S70 2AH


Regent Hall Concerts - Junior Guildhall Brass Band

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Royal Sackbut Collective

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


CLEETHORPES BAND CIO

June 12 • Cleethorpes Band are seeking a Musical Director


Linthwaite Band

June 11 • We are currently looking for a flugel horn player to help complete our team. We are a 4th section contesting band, with a busy schedule of contests and engagements coming up throughout the year.


Linthwaite Band

June 11 • We would like to find a tenor trombone player, position negotiable, to fill a current vacancy we have. As a 4th section contesting band, we have a various programme of contests and engagements to fill this year, and keep us busy.


Phillip Littlemore

GGSM, AoBBA Member
Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator, Arranger, Teacher and Publisher


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd