The third Fermanagh/Tyrone Brass Band Summer School recently welcomed back principal tutor tuba star and conductor Les Neish alongside tutors from the Leyland Band, to work with 60 delegates during a fantastic week of hard work and relaxation.

17 different bands

The participants this year represented no less than different 17 bands, including welcome visitors Arklow Silver from the Republic of Ireland and Anfield Brass from England.

Les led the band in a wide variety of repertoire, helped by a Leyland quintet of tutors in Lucien Rey, Ryan Broad, Rebecca Doyle, Ross Johnston and James McLeod, who also played with the band in rehearsals.

Stars

The first half of the end of course concert featured the ten piece Leyland ensemble with soloists Rebecca Doyle, Brian Heyes and Les Neish wowing the audience with their amazing playing, before the Summer School Band rounded things off in splendid style in the second half.

It was a fantastic event and everyone enjoyed every minute of it. The course had a great atmosphere with a great balance between hard work, learning and relaxationspokesperson

Every minute

A spokesperson told 4BR: "It was a fantastic event and everyone enjoyed every minute of it. The course had a great atmosphere with a great balance between hard work, learning and relaxation.

Plenty of delegates told us that they had taken away invaluable lessons to build on for the future."