The City of Bristol Band has adopted a composer to help it with its further musical ambitions.

The band applied through the Making Music 'Adopt-a-Composer' scheme and will now work alongside Laura Shipsey on exciting new musical plans."

Adopt a composer

'Adopt a Composer' is a year-long project run by Making Music in partnership with Sound and Music, which pairs leisure-time vocal and instrumental music groups with some of the UK's most promising composers to work together to create a brand new piece of music.

Now in its 19th year, the unique scheme offers amateur musicians the chance to work directly with a professional composer, and to be actively involved in the creative process.

Composers in turn have the chance to form a close working relationship with their group, allowing them to develop a piece in response to a group's personality and interests, with the project culminating in a premiere performance and recording.

Commissions

Since it began in 2000, Adopt a Composer has produced over 100 new commissions, creating hugely diverse works and exciting performances; from a piece based on the experience of a bike ride across Edinburgh to a choral work based on composer Clara Schuman.

Composers receive guidance from an established team of mentors (Colin Riley, David Horne, Emily Crossland, Fraser Trainer and Jenni Pinnock) with many going on to national and international success.

We're really looking forward to our partnership with Laura Shipsey, a new name in the world of brass bands music, to create a brand new workBand Chair, Steve Ellis

Looking forward

Band Chair, Steve Ellis told 4BR: "We're really looking forward to our partnership with Laura Shipsey, a new name in the world of brass bands music, to create a brand new work.

Plans are underway for an exciting and prestigious performance next summer. We are particularly pleased to discover that, as far as we can ascertain, we are the first brass band to be accepted on to the scheme."