Redbridge Brass has helped welcome Bramwell Tovey to his new role as Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra.

The London top flight outfit gave the performance at Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford, before Maestro Tovey took to the stage with his new 'band' for a free concert recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Homecoming

The event was something of a homecoming for Tovey, who was a product of the Redbridge Music Services — which he described as "...one of the world's best music schools".

A number of former music service members attended the concert and a reunion dinner afterwards. During the orchestra concert Bram Tovey revealed to the audience that he had worked with Redbridge many times as a young, aspiring conductor.

Link

The pre-concert event came about from a link between the BBC Concert Orchestra and Redbridge guest conductor and pro trombone player, Richard Ward.

He told 4BR: "I've been lucky to work as a freelance player with the orchestra for a few years and it was lovely to be here with the band and seeing familiar faces."

Bramwell Tovey certainly enjoyed the concert given by the current band as they performed music by Wilfred Heaton and Imogen Holst, as well as crowd pleasers from the likes of John Williams. He later described the performance as "outstanding"and "so musical".

It was a rare chance for a brass band to be the support act for a major orchestra and we'd like to thank the BBC Concert Orchestra for giving us the opportunity to be part of this eventRedbridge Brass

Enjoyed

In response, Redbridge Band Manager David Cooper told 4BR: "It was great to be on home turf, and we really enjoyed warming up the audience.

It was a rare chance for a brass band to be the support act for a major orchestra and we'd like to thank the BBC Concert Orchestra for giving us the opportunity to be part of this event".