Congratulations to Shipston Town Band’s young solo trombone player Alex Jeffrey who has been offered a place in the prestigious National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain commencing with the Easter Course in 2024.
Being a member of this famous brass band offers Alex the chance to play with the very best young players in the country and be tutored and conducted by the very best musicians and conductors. The Easter Course will be held at Taunton School and is a week-long residential course concluding with 2 prestigious concerts. The course will be directed by the Band’s Director of Artistic Planning Dr Robert Childs.
The course carries the heartfelt theme of ‘Tribute,’ a poignant homage to the late Mr. Geoffrey Brand, an iconic figure in Britain’s brass band history. His leadership with The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and the Black Dyke Mills Band left an indelible mark.
A highlight of the course is a new composition by Sir Karl Jenkins (his first for brass band), addressing the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on our fragile planet. Jenkins’ music serves as both an artistic tribute and a call to action. The concluding concert is held at the Welsh College Of Music and Drama on Saturday April 6th with a further concert in Liverpool on Saturday April 13th.
Alex began playing trombone at the age of 11. He is a pupil at King Edwards School Stratford where he plays in many of their musical groups. As well as performing with Shipston Town Band he also plays in a trombone quartet Trombones Together and is always keen to make the most of any other musical opportunities which may come his way. He is the latest in a long line of former members who have become members of the NYBBGB including two of Britain’s leading cornet players Kirsty Abbotts and Luke Barker and percussionists Francesca Lombardelli and Alec Banner.