Desford Colliery Band musical connection to the Far East has spanned almost two decades.

It continued again this year when they recently left their base in Coalville to fly to Bangkok for concerts and workshops before heading further east to Singapore.

Wizard of Oz

Their tours always have always involved packed schedules of school demonstrations, masterclasses, workshops, community days and concerts, but this year there was also the exciting addition of a performance alongside 'The Wizard of Oz', James Morrison.

Under the direction of Jonathan Pippen, the band's mission was to deliver a series of high quality concerts alongside educational packages.

This saw the Midlands Regional Champion perform to over 500 children at the Regent School in Pattaya and the Tanglin Trust School in Singapore — leaving the youngsters and their families with a brand-new thirst for music making.

Enthusiasm

Jonathan told 4BR: "The enthusiasm from players young and old was tangible, and the children, many of whom had never heard a brass band before were invited to sit alongside players in the band to deliver a concert to parents."

The band also visited Kasetsart University of Bangkok which has a thriving music department.

It hosted a band workshop day that also saw Dr Matthew van Emmerick and Jonathan Pippen adjudicate local school and university bands before an evening joint concert with The Green Brass Band — the highly of which was a rousing rendition of 'Procession to the Minster'.

Under the direction of Jonathan Pippen, the band's mission was to deliver a series of high quality concerts alongside educational packages4BR

Singapore flight

A very early morning flight (4.00am) to Singapore enabled the band to arrive in plenty of time for a sold out Victoria Concert Hall for a soundcheck with James Morrison and his quartet.

The concert saw the band offer a traditional first half of brass band classics — from Howard Snell's 'Perpetuum Mobile' to 'Danny Boy', before James Morrison wowed everyone in his own inimitable fashion with his own classics of 'The Old Rugged Cross', 'Sweet Georgia Brown' and 'Nobody Does it Better'.

The following day the band headed to the Tanglin School to lead a community day, with players aged from 2 to 21.

Inspirational

In the afternoon James Morrison delivered an inspiration talk which allowed the children and adults to ask about his pathway to success and his thoughts around his music making and life in general.

Speaking about the success of their latest trip, Band Chairperson Peter Smith told 4BR: "It was yet another memorable far east tour.

Most importantly we made wonderful connections to people who have never heard a brass band before — and now want us to return as soon as possible."