Peebles Development Silver Band has announced its delight that Jonathan Bates, the first tenor horn player with the world famous Black Dyke Band, will host a free workshop at Peebles Rugby Club from lunchtime on Sunday, November 4, followed by a concert at 4pm.
“The workshop is in preparation for the band’s participation at the Scottish Youth Championships in Perth on November 24,” said the silver band’s Cliff Balson. “This is a huge lift to the efforts of this talented group of youngsters in their quest to secure a Gold Award at the national championships.”
Bates, a finalist in the 2012 BBC Young musician of the year, currently studies at Leeds College of Music and dedicates a large amount of time to writing new music for brass bands. In 2010 he received his first real taste of success when a tenor horn solo he composed was premiered as part of the Black Dyke Brass Arts Festival.
In 2012, Jonathan enjoyed more success with two premiers: the Flowers Band performed his Romani Fire Dance, which won the Butlins Mineworkers Championships, and the Royal North College of Music brass band played Tortuguero 6, a short, funk-based concert work.