The Rome based Italian Brass Band has kick started its 2025 season with its second 'School of Brass 2.0'.

The initiative was aimed at inspiring as well as informing young brass and percussion players about the performance opportunities offered by playing in a brass band.

It followed the success of the first event last year with over 20 young players taking their first musical steps under the direction of MD Giuseppe Saggio.

Mentors

Members of the band were also on hand to act as mentor tutors over the weekend, allowing the players to try instruments (many trumpeters had their first experience of playing a cornet) as well as explaining the finer points of technique and brass band ensemble playing.

The hard work was put into practice with a series of enhanced band rehearsals, whilst bass trombonist Giovanni Celestino gave presentations on the history and evolution of the British brass band from the 19th century to the present day.

Important foundation

He later told 4BR: "This was another important foundation stone laid for the future of Italian brass banding and a real sign that the seeds have been sown for the fruits to be harvested in the future.

Our tutors filled the students with passion and professionalism in their learning path, all of which was brought together for the final concert under Maestro Giuseppe Saggio. It was a very uplifting experience for everyone involved."

This was another important foundation stone laid for the future of Italian brass banding and a real sign that the seeds have been sown for the fruits to be harvested in the futureGiovanni Celestino

Music repertoire

The music studied and performed came with Thierry Deleruyelle's 'Lions of Legends' and 'Walking with Heroes' by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, whilst traditional English repertoire came with the 'Elegy' from John Ireland's 'Downland Suite'.

Showcase playing came from soprano cornet Francesco Crivello playing 'Virtuosity' on trumpet, whilst the talented euphonium player Niccolò Iannilli showed why he will be one of the stars of the European Youth Band in Stavanger with his rendition of 'Carrickfergus'.

The day was rounded off with Philip Harper's exciting arrangement 'The Incredibles' and 'Sing, Sing Sing' which also saw three young percussion students playing bar stools.