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NYBBS gain acclaim from a King and a Duke

A memorable National Youth Brass Band of Scotland course came to a close last weekend with Wynton Marsalis and the Duke of Edinburgh on hand to enjoy the music making.

Marsalis
  Carrie Boax and members of the NYBBS Band met Wynton Marsalis in Edinburgh

The week-long National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS) summer course recently came to an end with high profile concerts and performances.

The Childrens, Reserve and Senior Bands provided an outstanding concert at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday evening, whilst the following day the Reserve and Senior Bands entertained the huge crowds at the opening events of this year's Edinburgh International Festival.

The King of jazz

That Edinburgh appearance also gained widespread media interest with BBC news reporters on hand to enjoy the music as well as interview Festival Director Nicola Benedetti who spoke with passionate enthusiasm about the youngsters who took part.

And as an additional highlight a number of the players got to meet her partner, 'The King of Jazz' superstar American trumpet player Wynton Marsalis (above) between their performances in the city's famous Princes Street Gardens.

In addition, there was royalty of a different king on show too with the Duke of Edinburgh in hand to talk to some of the players who performed alongside the Grit Orchestra to the acclaim of the assembled crowds.

Meeting Wynton Marsalis was the icing on the cake though — and he also said just how impressed he was with the playing too!Carrie Boax

Wow!

Speaking about the events, SBBA President Carrie Boax told 4BR: "All we can say is wow! The course was a fantastic endorsement of the talent we now have coming through at all levels of Scottish banding, and the performances in Perth and Edinburgh ensured that the widest possible audience enjoyed them too.

Meeting Wynton Marsalis was the icing on the cake though — and he also said just how impressed he was with the playing too!"

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