Fontana set for busy year of performance and persuasion

The indefatigable Lito Fontana will be on his travels once more in 2019 — hoping to entertain his fans as well as expand grass roots brass banding in new areas of Europe.

Lito Fontana is hoping to sow the seeds of brass band development to new parts of Europe.

Sunday, 16 December 2018

The charismatic trombonist Lito Fontana has told 4BR that he hopes 2019 will certainly be a year to remember — both as a performer and as a focal point for brass band expansion in Europe.

The Argentinean has gained a world-wide reputation and fan base as a player — one that in 2019 will see him perform in Holland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, France and England.

Driving force

However, he has also become an inspirational driving force behind the grass roots brass band movements in emerging European countries — with Spain and Portugal next on his list to hopefully bring permanently into the European Brass Band Association fold.

"It's going to be a busy year for sure,"he told 4BR. "In January I will be performing with the Spijkerpakkenband under their MD Erik Janssen, followed by a trip to the wonderful city of Bari in Italy to start a brass band at their famous conservatoire.

I'm also looking forward to a trip to the UK to be at the Young Brass Award before I go to Malaga in Spain to help them as they look forward to their appearance in the Challenge Section of the European Championships in Montruex."

Italy and Spain

He added: "The second part of the year is equally as busy with a visit to Germany and then to Portugal to hopefully inspire a new brass band at Aveiro University. It's then back to France to perform in Strasbourg before I will concentrate on the Italian Championships to ensure that is a success."

However, it is his passionate quest to help develop a sustainable brass band culture in southern Europe that is now driving him on — with Portugal next on his list to join Italy and Spain as part of the European brass band family.

These countries have fantastic players who all love brass bands and want to improve and be part of things. I will try my best to do that of courseLito Fontana

Portugal

"We still have work to do in Italy, but I am hopeful that the Championships in 2019 will be a great success. I am so happy that Spain will be represented for the first time in 2019 in Monteux and now I will work on doing the same for Portugal.

These countries have fantastic players who all love brass bands and want to improve and be part of things. I will try my best to do that of course."

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