On Saturday 9 January Ramsey Town Band provided the concert and accompaniment for two of the finest young brass musicians in Great Britain today when Matthew White and James Fountain were guest soloists at a concert at Auldyn Infants School.

Matthew is 19 and studies Euphonium at RNCM. He is principal Euphoniun with Pemberton Brass Band, and is contesting as principal Euphonium with Desford Brass Band. Until he left last year he was principal Euphonium with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (“NYBB”).

At only 15 years old, James is principal cornet with NYBB and was offered the principal cornet chair with Virtuosi GUS Brass Band in the summer of 2009, an appointment he accepted with pleasure.

The audience at Ramsey, who had braved another icey January evening, were treated to top class performances and responded as such giving our guests a warm welcome. In the first half James played the fine Percy Code solo Zelda with lyricism, wit and dexterity, showing of the talents that have made him such an acclaimed brass player at such an early age. Matthew took on the challenge of Philip Sparke’s Harlequin taking the audience from melancholy and sadness through to the dazzling acrobatics that befits the subject and meets the demands that such a fabulous technician needs to demonstrate his skills to the full.

One of the highlights for the audience was James’s second half solo - a rendition of Gordon Langford’s arrangement of My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, played with true tenderness , maturity and mastery of the cornet slow melody.

Matthew then followed with his own composition featuring much “multiphonics”, dance rhythms and more virtuosi playing. A delighted audience was left applauding and laughing.

Both Matt and James starred in the band’s finale: Paul Lovatt Cooper’s Horizons.

It has to be said that Ramsey Town Band again provided highly technical accompaniment and a quality of playing that befits soloists of this calibre. “It’s a pleasure to be able to showcase young talented players and it’s clear that the audience agreed. Matt and James are an inspiration to us all at Ramsey Town Band, a pleasure to be with and fantastic role models for any young person especially those hoping to progress further with music.”

A big thank you to all who contributed to making this such a successful occasion!