Players from all parts of Leicestershire joined fellow musicians in the Dorset village of Sturminster Newton recently for the annual Wessex Band Summer School.

All ages

Performers of all ages and all abilities have been welcomed to the course for the past 44 years and the 45th year proved no exception.
The course is divided into three bands; a Training Band (brass, woodwind and percussion graded 0-4); A Wind Band (brass, woodwind and percussion graded 5-8), and a Brass Band (brass and percussion graded 5-8).

Over 200 students

Over 200 students enjoyed the hard work and fun from Monday to Friday, before wowing a local audience with a concert on the Saturday evening.

No less than 16 brass players from Ratby Co-operative Beginner, Training, Junior, Mid and Senior Bands attended the course, with percussionist Christopher Richards, who plays with Ratby Co-operative Mid Band, winning the Andrew Pitts Plate, awarded to the student giving the most and getting the most out of the course.

It’s fantastic to see the popularity of the course growing, as well as the progress that the Ratby players make each yearBecky Moss

Popularity

One of the Training Band conductors, Becky Moss told 4BR: "It’s fantastic to see the popularity of the course growing, as well as the progress that the Ratby players make each year.

I want to pass on special congratulations to Chris, who made everyone within the organisation very proud with the improvement in his playing and his dedication to the course."