Bolton Youth Brass Band are all packed and ready for the trip of a lifetime, and are due to set off for America on Friday 11th July.

The 45 strong band and 8 tutors/staff will fly out from Manchester to Newark, and then on to Kansas City, where they will spend 12 days on tour, working in conjunction with the Fountain City Band!

Dream come true

The tour is a dream come true for all the youngsters and their tutors, who have spent the last 18 months fund-raising, and have raised an incredible £37,000!

The band's Musical Director Helen Minshall is delighted with the team spirit and enthusiam of the young players, and is really looking forward to the tour.

The itenerary was masterminded by baritone virtuoso Helen Tyler, a member of the Bolton Music Service Management Team, during her recent placement in Kansas from Summer 2007 — Easter 20084BR

Sponsor

The tour's main sponsor is the Rotary Club of Bolton le Moors, but many other local sponsors have come forward, and the rest of the money has been raised through hard work — carolling, bag packing, car boot sales, sponsored events including a balloon race and a parachute jump, and there have been many fund-raising concerts and events.

Itinery

The itenerary was masterminded by baritone virtuoso Helen Tyler, a member of the Bolton Music Service Management Team, during her recent placement in Kansas from Summer 2007 — Easter 2008.

The band's first concert will be on Saturday 12th July at the English Landing Park, Parkville, Missouri, after which they will watch a baseball game — Kansas City Royals v Seattle.

Workshop

On Sunday 13th July they will play at the Legends Mall, Kansas, before enjoying a workshop with members of the Fountain City Youth Brass Academy and University Professors Lee Harrelson, Joe Parisi and Steve Molloy.

The first high profile performance of the tour will be on Monday 14th July, when the band will perform at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conductors Symposium.

Entertainment

On Tuesday 15th July the band will provide the pre-show entertainment at the Starlite Drum-o-rama Show and Drum Corps Competition. Midweek, players will have the chance to visit the American Jazz Museum, Worlds of Fun Theme Park, Oceans of Fun Water Park, watch High School Musical Show, and enjoy Karaoke and Line Dancing with friends from the Fountain City.

On Friday 18th July the band will perform at its 2nd Conference — the Kansas Bandmasters Association Conference.

Sadly missed

MD, Helen Minshall told 4BR: "When the band return to the UK on Tuesday 22nd July, they will leave Helen Tyler in America. Helen has indeed secured a full time post working in a school in Kansas, and working as Outreach Development Officer for the Fountain City Band."

She added: "Helen has worked for Bolton Music Service for almost 6 years, and will be sadly missed, but we hope that we will be able to keep in touch, and perhaps organise more joint ventures in the future!"