Delight as Brass band summer school brings together 70 musicians from across Ireland
MORE than 70 brass musicians from across Ireland jammed together at the Fermanagh/ Tyrone Brass Band Summer School last week.
Participants flocked from Cork, Limerick, Wexford, Belfast, and Carrickfergus to take part in the event that ran from July 18 to 20.
The musicians practiced pieces under the guidance of Professor Garry Cutt, known for his time conducting the Grimethorpe Colliery Band when the award-winning film ‘Brassed Off’ was produced.
The participants also broke off into smaller groups to work on the specifics of each composition alongside different workshops such as the Live Tutor Quiz, Whit Friday Contest, and the Tutor Soloist
Showcase.
The repertoire performed represented a diverse range of genres and cultures, and also saw participants work with Ronan Mckee on African drumming.
Other tutors included Dewi
Griffiths, Tom Smith, Owen Farr, Amy Ewen, Mick Marshall, and Les Neish.
The course closed in front of a full house at St. Macartin’s Cathedral Hall in Enniskillen.
‘A great success’
Stephen Crooks, course director, said: “This year’s course was a great success, seeing all corners of Ireland represented, and with a wide participant age range of seven to the young at heart at 83, and with everyone coming together to make music and learn from top educators in a relaxed environment, making new friendships.
“A highlight for me was bringing everyone to the middle of the town in Enniskillen [at The Diamond] and performing for the public on Saturday afternoon with the sounds of the brass ringing through the town.”
The formation of the 2025 course is already under way, with additional events planned throughout the year.