Members of Foden's Youth Band recently joined forces with students from the brass and percussion departments at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, for an inspiring morning of collaborative music-making.

Hosted at Stoller Hall, the event brought together some of the region's most talented young musicians to enjoy the rehearsal, sectional coaching and performance experiences.

Foden's lead

Led by Musical Director Michael Fowles, it began with full band rehearsals, followed by sectional workshops led by Foden's tutors, Mark Wilkinson, Melanie Whyle, Andy Cattanach, Sam Iles, Ollie Webb, and Ashley Dixon.

The day culminated in a short concert performance for parents and guests showing the progress made on the day on works such 'Blenheim Flourishes' by James Curnow, 'Not to be Forgotten' by Pat Metheny and 'Fearless' by Andrew Wainwright.

Valuable opportunity

This valuable opportunity aimed at showcasing not only the dedication of the young musicians but also the vibrant musical opportunities available at Chetham's was made possible through Dr David Thornton, Joint Head of Woodwind, Brass & Percussion.

He later told 4BR: "It was a real pleasure to welcome Foden's Youth Band for this special event. Our collaboration highlighted the wealth of young brass and percussion talent in the region and the power of shared musical experiences."

We're proud to offer a strong and growing brass band programme here at Chetham's — something we're keen for prospective students to know more aboutDr David Thornton

Strong and growing

He added: "We're proud to offer a strong and growing brass band programme here at Chetham's — something we're keen for prospective students to know more about.

vents like this are a brilliant way to connect with the wider brass community while providing our students with high-quality ensemble experiences."