Following the success of Lions Youth Brass at the Gwent Youth Festival, last week, the band have had another busy weekend with a workshop with six members of Foden's Richardson Band on the test-piece for the National Youth Championships, Peter Graham's 'Dimensions'.

Tutors

Richard Poole and Anna Hughes (cornets), Rob Fleming (horns),Natsumi Inaba (Euphoniums & Baritones), Simon Minshull(Trombones), and Toby Hobson (Tubas) were the tutors.

The band were also very grateful to Fiona Rolfe, who is a fine cornet player in her own right for United Co-op Band (Crewe), and who's husband Andy plays cornet for Foden's, for tutoring the percussion section.

The day began at 10.00am with sectionals until the band broke for a well earned lunch break. After lunch the band had a two hour rehearsal with Toby Hobson taking up the baton, and the day finished at around 3.30pm.

Toby and the tutors worked very hard, so we were able to make real progress with the piece. We now have three concerts in February before preperations for the contest start in earnestMD Nigel Birch

Hard work

Musical Director Nigel Birch told 4BR: "With the date of the contest being so close to Easter, and also with a difficult test piece, it was important to get preperations underway very early. Toby and the tutors worked very hard, so we were able to make real progress with the piece. We now have three concerts in February before preperations for the contest start in earnest."

Black Dyke assistance

During the the lead up to the contest, David Thornton, the bands musical associate, will be visiting the band, whilst Nicholas Childs will be taking timeout to also assist the band with its preperations.

Nigel added: "I have always regarded it as my responsibilty to give my players the best tuition and opportunities and by bringing the Foden's players, Nicholas Childs, and continuing our succesful partnership with David Thornton I believe I'm achieving this aim."