*
banner

Dexter speeds up his horn playing

11 year old Dexter Speed is managing to fit in an amazing amount of playing as he adds the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain to his rehearsal regime.

Dexter Speed
  Dexter Speed will now add the National Childrens Band to his playing portfolio

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."

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Paul Holland

Mayor's Medal honour for Holland

May 11 • Flowers Band MD Paul Holland has been presented with The Mayor's Medal as an expression of the thanks and gratitude of the Citizens of Gloucester following the band's recent European title success.


Tonga

New commission celebrates Tongan history

May 11 • A new test-piece work by Andrew Wainwright will receive its premiere at the Tonga Secondary School Brass Band Festival.


Tameside Whit Friday

Venues ready for Tameside Whit Friday visitors

May 11 • 11 venues will welcome performers and listeners alike later this month.


Kirsty Abbotts

Abbotts steps down from principal role at Hammonds

May 11 • Kirsty Abbotts is to step down from the principal cornet seat at Hammonds Band.


Harlow Brass Band - SPRING CONCERT - AN ANIMATION SENSATION

Saturday 16 May • St Andrew's Methodist Church. The Stow. Harlow. CM20 3AF


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 17 May • Dorchester- Park Bandstand DT1 1RG


Newstead Brass - Mansfield MVC - Brass and Voices

Sunday 24 May • Forest Town Arena. Clipstone Road West,. Mansfield NG19 0EE


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern

Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD


Hathern Band

May 10 • Due to University placement we require a Bb Bass player- we are a First Section band based at our own band room in the village of Hathern LE12 5LJ Leicestershire (between M1 Jcts 23 & 24) and close to Lougborough and Nottingham Universities


Newstead Brass

May 10 • Newstead Brass are on the lookout for a talented 2nd BARITONE player to join our ambitious and hardworking Nottinghamshire-based Championship Section band.. A rare chance to become part of an ambitious brass band striving for even greater success together.


Ibstock Brick Brass

May 9 • Ibstock Brick Brass are looking for a Solo Cornet, 3rd Cornet, 2nd Horn, Bass Trombone and B Flat Tuba as we move into the second section from 2027. We are a friendly, ambitions and progressive band that rehearse at our own bandroom in Coalville.


Morgan Griffiths

Dip. Performance
Conductor, Peripatetic Music Teacher, Lower brass specialist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd