**NEW CORNET TUTOR ADDED**

FTBBSS.com are pleased to announce that Laura Conway, has joined the tutor team for 2019

Laura Conway hails from Littleborough, a small village in Lancashire with a strong brass band tradition. Surrounded by a family that thrives for brass, Laura was introduced to the cornet at the very early age of three and was tutored mainly by her parents. By the age of 13 she had become Principal Cornet of the multi National and European award-winning Wardle Academy Youth Band.

After completing her A-levels, in August 2016 Laura moved to Norway to study a one-year brass band course at Manger Folkehøgskule, near the city of Bergen. Laura travelled to Bergen to play for Manger Musikklag. She performed with the band in Norway’s most prestigious contests – the Norwegian Nationals at the Grieg Hall and Siddis Brass in Oslo and was conducted by Rune Hannisdal, Peter Szilvay and Martin Winter.

Currently completing her second year of undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, Laura is studying with leading virtuosos of the cornet Richard Marshall and Dr. Roger Webster.

Alongside her studies at the RNCM, Laura joined the Fairey Band on Repiano Cornet in August 2017. In October 2018 Laura fulfilled a lifelong dream and accepted the invitation to join the world famous Black Dyke Band. Since joining the band she has performed across the country to packed concert halls and is currently preparing for the upcoming Brass Pass Contest at Stoller Hall which will be Laura’s second contest with the band. Later in the year she looks forward to concerts in Switzerland and their Japan tour.

FTBBSS.com had a fantastic time this weekend in partnership with the Brass Band League NI and Besson Brass to produce the annual Solos and Ensemble Competition. It’s fantastic to see the hard work of everyone, across Northern Ireland blossom in the brass band scene and that its only getting stronger.
We have received a lot of feedback from this weekend and we would like to THANK YOU, for your ongoing support for events like this and FTBBSS.com
It was great also to have Ronnie & Ann Tennent from Band-Supplies with their trade stand for the event
#WeAreBesson

Free Youth Brass Workshop gives kids between 7 - 18 of all abilities a chance work with the FTBBSS tutors for free.

We are pleased to announce 2019's event will take place on Wednesday 17th July 2019. 

The day starts off with Fun Warm - up games with Les Neish leading then to sectionals with the tutors preparing the short concert rep for the concert. The participants then come together ​in Full Rehearsal, to put the final touches to the programme before they perform it to their family & friends, in a relaxed fun mini concert environment. 

Workshop : 14:00 - 17:00 
Fun mini Concert : 18:00 (Everyone Welcome)
Venue : Sydenham Salvantion Army,  BT4 1TL

We would like to thank Besson for their ongoing support and making this event happen every year
#WeAreBesson

Day Two Opened with a Full Rehearsal then quickly into a Buffet Lunch. The participants then split up into sectionals lead by the tutors. Before the BBQ the participants were treated to an interview lead by Owen Farr "An insight into" the 45 years of Banding by Brian Taylor. 

The evening BBQ was provided by the wonderful PhairGrylls accompanied by the jazz trio Mick Marshall, Ronan Mckee & Les Neish. Striaght after this we had the Live Tutor Quiz were participants got a treat to hear the tutors play through mash ups of different pieces. Including a Disney Mash Up, March Mash Up & a Pop/Rock Mash Up. then guessing the tunes to become the winner. 

This was followed up by the fantastic Kathleen Gaspoz Recital in the main church hall to finish up. 

Fantastic evening with the Wellington Memorial Silver Band to finish off DAY TWO of the #ontour workshops with FTBBSS.com
Onto the FREE YOUTH BRASS WORKSHOP tomorrow in Belfast