Nine players from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain will perform the world premiere of a new Philip Wilby fanfare at the opening of the St Martin-in-the-Fields' 300th anniversary concert in London this week.
The sold-out event will see the players perform 'The Ever Open Door — Fanfare for St Martin's' — specially written by the composer to mark the occasion and commissioned by the NYBBGB in partnership with St Martin-in-the-Fields, with financial support from Arts Council England.
Ever Open Door
It is inspired by St Martin-in-the-Fields' reputation as 'The Church with the Ever Open Door', and will feature nine NYBBGB musicians performing alongside internationally acclaimed trumpeter Aaron Azunda Akugbo and organist Gavin Roberts.
Nayan, Izzy, George, Mae, James, Jasmine, Ben, Jake and Alec will provide the brass and percussion ensemble to herald an event that will also see performances from soprano Danielle de Niese, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and St Martin's Voices, with broadcaster Clive Myrie as compère.
The programme features music by Handel, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Holst, Rutter and Parry.
Significant milestone
The performance marks a significant milestone in the recently announced three-year partnership between the NYBBGB and St Martin-in-the-Fields, which aims to create new performance, training and professional development opportunities for young musicians.
A NYBBGB spokesperson told 4BR: "The NYBBGB is honoured to contribute to the 300th anniversary celebrations, particularly as the organisation prepares to celebrate its own 75th anniversary in 2027."
The anniversary performance follows the partnership's inaugural concert on 30th October, featuring A4 Brass Quartet, three of whose four members are NYBBGB alumni.
