North American Brass Band Summer School

Band has broken up for the summer, but that doesn’t mean letting your musical skills gather dust for two months – quite the reverse because there are several destinations across the World at which you can holiday and hone those skills for the imminent big contest season with top tutors and conductors. Rita Arendz reflects on the success of the 4^th North American Brass Band Summer School. 

“This is one of the best!” said Steve Adams (baritone, Leicester, England), adding, “and I have attended various brass band summer schools. The whole event was a fantastic experience - one that I would recommend to anyone.”

NABBSS has just concluded its fourth year in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to great success; a trifecta of performance, world-class tuition and location being just some of its key enablers.

With the support of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo (RNSIT) - the World’s largest annual indoor show, St. Matthew’s United Church - NABBSS’ rehearsal and performance home, and partners in the form of Buffet Crampon USA, Besson, Prima Vista Musikk, Pennine Music, Brass Band World and 4barsrest.com, the delegates had little to worry about other than their music.

Musically, NABBSS had an incredible cast of international tutors, this year under the charismatic leadership of Director and euphonium virtuoso, David Childs, and Guest Conductor, Salvatore Scarpa of Atlantic Brass Band, New Jersey, USA. Tom Hutchinson, leader of the No. 1 ranked band in the World, Cory and Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, leader of the North American Brass Band Champion, Atlantic Brass, worked with 20 cornet delegates from not only Canada, but also from the USA, Wales and, for the first time, Norway.

“Our sectionals were packed with eureka moments,” said Ingrid Hesjedal (cornet, Trondheim, Norway). “What made NABBSS such a great experience for me was…

Read this article in full, featured in July/August 2017’s BBW, by subscribing to BBW Digital. Alternatively, subscribe to the printed magazine delivered by post: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (Rest of the World)