Tredegar Band recently welcomed two new international visitors to their rehearsal headquarters.

Boonyarit Kittaweepitak — known to everyone as 'Tee' — and his partner Panaporn 'Gail' Rajataviavin, have been staying with euphonium star David Childs and his family for what was a short return visit back to the UK.

Great return

'Tee' is currently undertaking a DMA at the University of North Texas, where David lectures as Professor of Euphonium, as well as working as a teaching fellow with freshman and sophomore student undergraduates.

He is also a former student at the Royal Northern College of Music from 2013-15 where he enjoyed playing with the Blackburn & Darwen Band.

"It's been great to return to the UK and to come along to visit some great bands,"he said. "We have had such a wonderful welcome from David and to find out more about his amazing family and its brass band links."

Brass band set up

'Tee' also told 4BR that when he finishes his DMA he will return to take up a post at the Conservatoire of Thailand, part of Mahidol University, where he hopes to reinvigorate its fledgling brass band.

"There is a long tradition of brass playing in Thailand — thanks to the influence of French missionaries, although it's been wind bands that have flourished.

There is a real interest in brass bands though in the region — especially following tour visits by the likes of Desford Band, so I hope to build on that and reinvigorate brass band teaching and playing. There are so many exciting possibilities."

It's been great to return to the UK and to come along to visit some great bands. We have had such a wonderful welcome from David and to find out more about his amazing family and its brass band linksBoonyarit Kittaweepitak

Euphonium links

David has also enjoyed taking the couple on a mini-tour, and showing him some of the Childs family euphonium history.

"My father's family ties with Tredegar go back well over 70 years, and it was great to show 'Tee' and 'Gail' some of the pictures of him, my grandfather and uncle, all of who played euphonium with the band that are on the walls and went onto to become great conductors.

Hopefully it will help inspire him for the future."