Following the success of its representative bands at the recent European Championships in Stavanger, further encouraging progress in being made in Italy in establishing a wider foundation for the movement thanks to the work of trombone soloist Lito Fontana.

Following his own trip to Stavanger as the EBBA Italian delegate, Lito headed to Sicily to work on a brass banding project at the Arcangelo Corelli Conservatory of Messina.

Youth foundation

It follows the successful example set by Niccolo Piccinni Conservatory in Bari, which resulted in them representing Italy at the European Youth Championships in Palanga.

Now, alongside the Director and Deputy Director of the Sicilian Conservatory, a new band in Messina has enjoyed cementing the next stage of its development by working on 'Excalibur' by Jan van der Roost as part of a concert given at the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele in Messina.

Great wish

Speaking to 4BR, Lito said: "It was a great collaboration with Maestro Emanuele Celona, a highly qualified conductor who has formed this brass band with such passion and dedication.

The players are the same — all eager to work and understand and with a great wish to be able to participate at the 2026 European Youth Championships Linz."

Only good

Lito added: "Italian conservatoires have a great tradition of brass playing — and more and more are contacting me to see if they can create brass bands to widen their repertoire and excellence.

This can only be good for Italian brass banding — and to be able to add to the fantastic performances given by the Italian Brass Band and Brass Band Uberetsch."

Lito also revealed that a new 'Euphonium Academy' has just been founded by Luciano De Luca, who is now inspiring a new generation of players.

This can only be good for Italian brass banding — and to be able to add to the fantastic performances given by the Italian Brass Band and Brass Band UberetschLito Fontana

Incredible

He added: "It has been a very busy few weeks for me — but so musically rewarding. I have great pride in the achievements of the two bands at the European Championships — the level they now archive is incredible given how young the brass band movement is in the country.

I will continue this fantastic journey with great energy and joy to help as many brass bands as I can hoping it will lead to the creation of many more throughout Italy."