May 2010
A big hello to all members of The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain - particularly the fantastic percussion section! - who I had the pleasure of coaching on their Easter Course. As always there was a very high standard throughout the band and some very fine performances at the end of it all - congratulations to all. Congratulations also to all competing bands at this years National Youth Brass Band Finals at the RNCM. I had the pleasure of adjudicating the Training and Junior Band Sections and I thoroughly enjoyed all the performances.
I am also enjoying working with the superb percussion ensembles from the RNCM with some temporary chamber music coaching over the next few weeks - it is great to be back at the RNCM!
I am about to embark on a very exciting project - I will be presenting the live coverage of The 2010 European Brass Band Championships in Linz. The event is being streamed live on the internet in conjunction with The British Bandsman and Yamaha and further details can be found at on the British Bandsman website.
I am really looking forward to this new venture and hope you can join me!
Spring 2010
A belated Happy New Year and a big hello to everyone who was at last Autumn's sellout Young Voices Tour - the biggest and best yet! I am looking forward to a very exciting year with plenty of variety. Look out for BackBeat at the 'Drum Beat' Day of Percussion at York University on Saturday 6th March which promises to be an inspiring and informative day for percussionists of all ages with plenty of 'hands on' experience throughout. I will be adjudicating at several events this spring including The Royal OverSeas League Ensemble Award - a prize that really put BackBeat on the map when we won it in 1997. Good luck to all and hope to see you at an event soon!
Best wishes
Simone R
