Newly crowned Scottish Challenge champion J36Brass recently made their debut concert appearance in Penrith a charity event entitled 'Music & Merriment' in aid of the Fire Fighters Charity — raising well over £1000 in the process.

Great start

The band also announced that their new J36Brass Academy has got off to a great start. The academy will enable J36 to develop links throughout Cumbria and encourage grass roots banding in the county. Egremont Youth Band is the first on board with another youth band hopefully joining up after Christmas.

We come together to rehearse before competitions so that the players who want to contest as well as play in their local band can do just thatMD, Andrew Warriner

Want to contest

MD Andrew Warriner told 4BR: "The majority of J36 players play in non-contesting bands throughout Cumbria, such as Cockermouth, Flimby and Flookburgh. We come together to rehearse before competitions so that the players who want to contest as well as play in their local band can do just that."

He added: "Having said that, the chance to form the academy was too good an opportunity to miss, and we are looking forward to welcoming the Egremont Youth Band to our band room in the New Year.

Hopefully in time this will give the band a chance to perform in concert throughout Cumbria with various groups."