BAND MEMBER SELECTED FOR EUROPEAN YOUTH BRASS BAND Michael Montgomery, the band's solo horn
player has been selected to play in the 2007 European Youth Brass Band,
following in the the footsteps of his big sister and the band's principal
cornet player Ruth Montgomery who was selected for the 2006 Band.
The European Youth Band is to play a major part in the
week long festival of brass in Birmingham.
The 2007 European Youth Band will have a prestigious
presence in this year’s European Championships. The band, conducted by Ian Porthouse, will gather in
Birmingham on Saturday, 28th April and will be based at the Norfolk Hotel
in the Hagley Road. This is where they will rehearse to prepare music
for their various concerts. Quiet start They get off to a quiet start at Chamberlain Square in
Birmingham on Thursday 4th May, when they will give an outdoor concert
from about 12.00-1300 hours, underneath the BBC Big Screen, as guests
of the Birmingham City Centre Partnership. Opening Ceremony During the late afternoon (Friday) some of the members
will perform at a function for the European Parliament at the Copthorne
Hotel, where they are celebrating Europe Day and the 50th anniversary
of the European Union On Friday 4th May the band will perform at the Opening
Ceremony of the Championships at the Banqueting Suite of the City Chambers,
as guests of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Short Concert Moving on to Saturday 5th May, the EYB will present a
short concert in the foyer of Symphony Hall between the ‘B’
Section and ‘A’ Section contests. This should be around 11.15am. In the evening the young people, representing 16 European
countries, will perform in the second half of the Gala Concert when they
will perform a new work from Philip Harper, 'Lionheart'. A guest conducting
appearance from a legend of the Europeans, Major Peter Parkes, is sure
to be a highlight for these young musicians. Sunday Concert Sunday 6th May will see the EYB share a concert with
Brass Band Oberösterreich at the Adrian Boult Hall, starting at 11.15
am. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear some brilliant
playing from the Austrians with the fantastic Hans Gansch on cornet.
