Over 300 players, including four brass bands from across south east Northumberland will perform together for the first time at the traditional 152 year old Northumberland Miners' Picnic on Saturday 11th June.

Reflection Connection

They will perform a specially commissioned work by the Woodhorn Charitable Trust entitled, 'Reflection Connection' by award winning composer Lucy Pankhurst.

The composition was created in partnership with Ashington Colliery, Bedlington Brass, Ellington Colliery and Jayess Newbiggin Bands, as well as, Music Partnership North — Northumberland, Woodhorn Museum and Sage Gateshead.

Culmination

This year's Miners' Picnic performance is the culmination of a project started in 2014, when the bands travelled to Peterborough to take part in a masterclass with renowned ensemble Mnozil Brass.

Inspired by their approach, the bands wanted to create new music together and worked through the innovative Arts Council England 'Bait' programme to commission Lucy Pankhurst to develop their ideas, which will see them perform throughout the Woodhorn Museum site.

Iconic banners

As well as premiering 'Reflection Connection', they will also share their passion through digital multi- media stories and new artwork based on iconic colliery banners created with artist Claire Armstrong.

The project and performance involves hundreds of local people, including children who are learning brass through Music Partnership North — Northumberland, as their spokesperson Fiona Johnston explained to 4BR:

"Nearly 200 children representing 15 schools from across Bedlington and Ashington will perform at the Miners' Picnic,"she said. "This event will give students the opportunity to perform in a large scale orchestrated performance and to play alongside well established local brass bands."

Busy weekend

It'll be a busy weekend for the brass players, as following their performance at Woodhorn they will go to Sage Gateshead to perform a curtain raiser to the Mnozil Brass show, 'Yes! Yes! Yes!' the following day.

Chris Ord from Jayess Newbiggin Band added: "Mnozil Brass are the best in the world at what they do, and Lucy Pankhurst is such a hugely respected and talented composer. Working in partnership with them and other bands on a new commission and then performing at Woodhorn and the Sage is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

As well as premiering 'Reflection Connection', they will also share their passion through digital multi- media stories and new artwork based on iconic colliery banners created with artist Claire Armstrong4BR

Time and place

'Reflection Connection' will be performed at the Northumberland Miners' Picnic at Woodhorn Museum, Ashington on Saturday 11th June at 3.00pm on the bandstand stage.

Northumberland Miners' Picnic
Saturday 11th June
10.00am — 5.00pm
Admission free
Parking £3.50

Free bus from Ashington Bus Station.
First bus Ashington 9.45am and runs every 30 mins.
Last Bus leaves Woodhorn 5.30pm.

Woodhorn Museum is just off A189 east of Ashington.
Tel: 01670 624455.