As we look forward to a well-needed summer break from activities, the month of July is shaping up to be a very busy time for the band, with a number of exciting musical projects to look forward to. First up the band will be travelling to sun-soaked Mamers in France to appear as one of the headline acts in the Festival Le Son Des Cuivres (The Sound of Brass). Guest conductor Nigel Seaman will be leading Cory Band through a programme of brass favourites, including the Corsair Overture by Berlioz, and Symphony of Marches by Gilbert Vinter.
The following weekend is recording time again. Cory will be completing three CD projects: Principal cornet Tom Hutchinson’s debut solo CD which is shaping up to be something very memorable indeed; a World of Brass release for later in the year featuring some fabulous but neglected art music for band, including by Hans Werner Henze and Elgar Howarth; and a project to commemorate the World War Anniversaries of 2015 for the NMC label. Recordings now take place in the band’s new base in Cwmparc, and the engineers and producers will be resident in the bandroom for nearly four days!
Following that, Cory will be taking part in the Brass International Festival in Durham. This has developed into one of the most important brass festivals in the world and is a week long celebration where the sound of brass resonates across the city. Cory will be doing a set of its own music in the Gala Theatre in Durham on 19 July, and then take part in the world premiere of a piece by British Composer Award Winner Lucy Pankhurst called Pathways, which also features the Tredegar Town Band, and the Reg Vardy Band. This promises to need as much logistical rehearsal as musical!
As if that wasn’t enough excitement, the band will then be welcoming conductor Owain Arwel-Hughes to lead it in the final job before the holidays, as part of a fabulous Brass and Voices night at the Welsh Proms, which take place in the iconic St David’s Hall in Cardiff. Lots of Welsh Hywl, and band favourites such as Procession to the Minster and The Pines of Rome should result in a spectacular finish to the season.
The band will be back in the bandroom in mid-August, determined to put in the hard work necessary to win the British Open contest, the first of the new season, at which it has finished as runner-up for two years in a row.
Share this post