25 years after it started in the pretty mid Wales market town of Brecon, the International Brass Band Summer School celebrated its silver jubilee anniversary with 120 delegates enjoying the sea bound vistas of Swansea Bay as they worked through repertoire under Black Dyke’s Director of Music.

Far afield

The IBBSS’s musical home may not have moved a long way from its origins, but its geographical catchment area certainly has: This year delegates came from as far afield as Australia, Japan and the USA to join players from all corners of Europe and the UK. Even Wales boasted representation.

Apart from the chance to appreciate the splendid views that inspired local lad Dylan Thomas, the delegates also benefitted from inspirational tutoring from a phalanx of current and former Black Dyke stars alongside the likes of Owen Farr, David Thornton and composer in residence Peter Graham.

You can see why it’s not just the opportunity to visit the famous Verdi’s ice cream parlour in Mumbles that attracts players aged from 16 to 85 each year. 

Dipping sun

With the dipping sun streaming through the campus refectory windows, the first of the two individually split bands - Sovereign - enjoyed themselves with ‘Olympic Fanfare and Theme’ and James Curnow’s ‘Jubilation’. 

Tuba star Joseph Cook was a commanding presence on Rodney Newton’s ‘Capriccio’ - played with a neat touch of musical wit, before Richard Marshall took over the baton for Gordon Langford’s expertly stitched together D'Oyly Carte ‘Sullivan Fantasy’ highlights. 

The band’s contribution (tastefully led by principal cornet Kana Madarame from Japan) was rounded off with a pulsating rendition of Peter Graham’s ‘Renaissance’.

Thumping

After the break it was the turn of Prestige - with a thumping ‘Summon the Dragon’ followed by a neatly packaged ‘Doyen’ directed by Richard Marshall (who certainly enjoyed having the baton in his hand).

Gary Curtin was splendidly high octane ‘fiddly-diddly’ on ‘Eire Time’ - as potent as an illicit dram of potcheen, before another touch of Langford seamless ‘cut & paste’ expertise on ‘New World Fantasy’ (maturely led by George Bailey on principal cornet). The band’s contribution was rounded off with a colourful ‘Shine as the Light’ directed by a clearly delighted composer.

Mumbles pier

The massed band lollipops were as tasty as anything enjoyed during the week on the Mumbles pier - with ‘Them Basses’, ‘Trumpets Wild’ and ‘Elvira Madigan’ the build up to ‘1812 Overture’ and the encore of ‘How Great Thou Art’.

It seemed to obliquely sum up the end of course feelings of the 120 delegates about a summer school that continues to inspire players from all over the world.

Iwan Fox