
I have many friends in Lydbrook Band and it was a privilege during lockdown to gather their thoughts about what 'time' meant to them - around 20 hours of Zoom conversations! - and to spend my time creating River of Time with their contributions as inspiration. Rhys Trimbles' evocative narration and Gary Andrews' beautiful illustrations are a joy.
River of Time was inspired by the River Wye and 'time', and written in 2020. Over half of Lydbrook Band are partners or live in the same households; the music was written with this in mind, the players performing and recording together and the music incorporating freer 'cadenzas' to generate musical shape and flow within the regular click track framework.
River of Time was commissioned by Lydbrook Band, part of a wider Lydbrook Band project for the Wye Valley River Festival 2020, and funded by Arts Council England.

There's nothing as glorious as the sound of a brass band, the close harmony of a barbershop chorus, or the uplifting power of a church organ. This concert promises to deliver it all!
Featuring the Brass Band of Central England, the Silver Lining Chorus, with a special performance of The Finale from Saint-Saëns' Organ Symphony for brass band and organ, with special guest Organist Rachel Mahon (as featured at the BBC Proms).

The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference is the world's largest instrumental music education conference, annually drawing approximately 17,000 attendees to Chicago from all 50 states and as many as forty countries.
The Midwest Clinic annual conference offers engaging learning opportunities for high school students, college music majors, new teachers, veteran teachers, and music administrators. Attendees may choose from 100+ clinics presented by leaders in the profession, aimed at teaching specific instruments or sections, conducting and rehearsal techniques, administering a music program, developing strategies for recruitment and retention, strengthening strategies for music advocacy, teaching improvisation and composition, and implementing technology. Two cornerstones of the conference are the Reading Sessions, that highlight new music publications, and the Rehearsal Labs, that demonstrate best teaching practices.Throughout the conference, Performances are presented by a variety of musical groups from around the world, including: string orchestras, concert bands, wind ensembles, jazz ensembles or combos, and a variety of chamber groups. Musicians in these ensembles range from elementary, middle, and high school students, college and university students, adult community organizations, professional musicians, and the premiere performers of The United States Military.