The musical connection between Welsh Champion Tredegar and Amersham Band was further strengthened this week following a visit by Ian Porthouse to meet up with MD Paul Fisher at their rehearsal base in Buckinghamshire.

It builds on a link that has been made over the past couple of years after the two conductors were keen to find out more about how each organisation worked and developed its musical outlook.

Great similiarities

Ian was joined by his son Harry and the band's vice-president, Iwan Fox to an afternoon talking about ideas and finding out more and how the two organisations can learn from each other.

"Even though we are from two very different parts of the country, there are great similarities between us,"Ian said.

"The link to the local community is key to us both — but Amersham has really taken that to a new level, the results of which can be seen with the way in which their rehearsal base has become a hub of community creativity and inclusive music making."

He added: "We can learn so much from that. Amersham's is an inspirational success story."

We can learn so much from that. Amersham's is an inspirational success storyIan Porthouse

Musical ethos

In response, Paul said: "The musical ethos of what Tredegar does is also inspirational to bands like Amersham. They are a community organisation with a worldwide artistic outlook as was shown just this week in being part of winning the classical music award from Sky Arts.

Any band would want to enjoy that type of success — so to find out more about how you build to achieve it was invaluable."