Tredegar Band has welcomed their latest signing to the ranks with the arrival of Mari Malm Mørkved on trombone.

Mari originally hails from Trondheim in Norway, where her parents still play in the popular Nidaross Band.

Mari's love for all things brass banding though meant that she left home to study at Salford University and since her graduation has become a very busy Project Coordinator for World of Sound, the leading brass recording company based in Wellingborough.

150 miles each way

That also means that she travels over 150 miles each way to come to band rehearsals — a level of commitment that MD Ian Porthouse said has already made a huge impression on her fellow players.

"Mari has fitted in perfectly,"he said. "Not only is she a very fine player who compliments the talents of solo trombone Ryan Richards and bass trombone Andy Austin, but that level of commitment, which started with her helping us at Brass in Concert, has boosted others too.

Not only is she a very fine player who compliments the talents of solo trombone Ryan Richards and bass trombone Andy Austin, but that level of commitment, which started with her helping us at Brass in Concert, has boosted others tooIan Porthouse

Worth it

He added: "Playing in a band like Tredegar places huge demands on time to gain the rewards, but what Mari has shown is that it's worth it when there are those appearances at the major contests to savour alongside high profile concert appearances and interesting projects to enjoy in return.

It's great to have Mari in the band and we hope she is with us for a very long time."