Welsh champion Tredegar welcomed Glenn Van Looy to their rehearsal home on Thursday evening as they put the final touches to their programme to be performed at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival in Manchester.

Euphonium Concerto

The band will perform on Saturday afternoon (3.00pm) under the direction of Ian Porthouse with a programme that features the Belgian born, Swiss domiciled euphonium star performing the fearsome Derek Bourgeois 'Euphonium Concerto' written in 1990.

The Geneva Instruments artist recorded with Tredegar on the CD 'Step Out' in 2019, and was delighted to return to its challenges after being invited to perform at the festival by Artistic Director Dr David Thornton.

Brilliant piece

"It's a brilliant piece, but also such a demanding one for the soloist," he told 4BR with a wry smile.

"It's got that trademark Bourgeois wit to go with the high wire acrobatics and lyrical interludes that makes it unique.

My thanks go to David Thornton for the invite to appear at the RNCM Festival for a third time- its real honour, as well as to Geneva Instruments for their wonderful support, and to the band, which never ceases to amaze me with their appetite for breaking boundaries."

Remarkable soloist

Tredegar MD was also thrilled to be working with Glenn again, adding: "He is such a remarkable soloist — everything is within his scope of musicality. The concerto is extreme in its challenges, but as we heard in our rehearsal, it makes them sound easy."

Tickets:

Tickets for the Tredegar RNCM International Festival can be found at:
https://www.rncm.ac.uk/basket/?instance_id=69001