Delegates have finally returned home to banding destinations all around the world after being part of Allan Withington’s latest Conductor’s Course held in Sandbach last week.
Fascinating
12 conductors from as far afield as Aldbourne to Zambia, enjoyed a week of intensive, innovative tutoring, which included working with both Foden’s and Roberts Bakery Bands, as well as exploring the fascinating world of personal branding with Mette Højen, who holds a masters degree in rhetoric and is a leading expert in executive performance.
The course was rounded off with a concert in Sandbach, where the delegates directed as well as presented the repertoire worked on during the week with Foden’s — from the ‘Overture’ to ’Henry V’ and Malcolm Arnold’s ’Little Suite for Brass’ to the recent Foden’s Composer Competition award winning entry ‘Aurora Borealis’ by 21 year old Dave Hanson.
Inspired
Not for the first time, the conductors left the course inspired to employ the lessons learnt with their own bands — which include those from championship to youth level.
Wonderful course
Speaking to 4BR, Allan Withington was delighted by the response gained from the delegates – some of whom only had limited brass banding experience.
"It was another wonderful course — with the conductors all eager to explore new miusical avenues. That’s what makes this course so exciting for me.
I must thank all the delegates who really brought so much enthusiasm and talent to the week and especially to Mette Højen, who really opened up everyone’s eyes with her work."
I must thank all the delegates who really brought so much enthusiasm and talent to the week and especially to Mette Højen, who really opened up everyone’s eyes with her workAllan Withington
4BR Interviews:
4BR talks to 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to rhetorician Mette Højen
https://vimeo.com/100046208
4BR talks to David Johnson
https://vimeo.com/100046133
4BR talks to Heidi Uddu
https://vimeo.com/100046214
4BR talks to Boris Pinto
https://vimeo.com/100046179
4BR talks to Per Erik Petersen
https://vimeo.com/100046086
4BR talks to Henrik Naeser Christiensen
https://vimeo.com/100045883
4BR talks to Swiss conducting delegate Jacques Rossier
https://vimeo.com/100045676
