11 year old tenor horn player Dexter Speed has been invited to play with the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain.
Amazingly, Dexter finds time to play with the Dereham Band and East Coast Brass, as well as being a member of the Watton Band, Oxfordshire Youth Brass Band, Grimethorpe Youth Band, and the North East Midlands Brass Band Association Youth Band!
He appeared in his first contest with Oxfordshire Youth Brass Band (then known as Blewbury Youth Band) in 2017 and took part in both the London & Southern Counties regional contest and the National Finals with Great Yarmouth Band in 2018.
Dexter has earned his opportunity to play with the National Children's Band through a lot of hard work and talentPaul Speed
Hard work and talent
His dad, and MD of East Coast Brass, Paul Speed told 4BR: "Dexter has earned his opportunity to play with the National Children's Band through a lot of hard work and talent.
He's become a valued member of the East Coast Brass horn section and recently performed his first solo with Dereham Band at their Christmas concert.
We're all very proud of him, and hope that this opportunity will give him the chance to develop his playing career further as he looks to emulate his banding hero Sheona Wade."