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| L to R: Charlie Coulson (Shepherd Brass Band), Audrey Brown, (Shepherd Brass Band) Cherry Fricker, (Government Director, Nationwide Centre for Early Music) |
I Can Play with Brass Roots gained the Nationwide Award for Band Undertaking of the 12 months on the Brass Bands England Convention in October 2024, the annual convention, held on the Metropolis of London Faculty, London was attended by over 150 delegates representing brass bands from everywhere in the UK. 5 totally different bands, who all function beneath the umbrella of Shepherd Bands, are extraordinarily happy with gaining the Award for I Can Play with Brass Roots, an essential initiative that allows D/deaf younger musicians to develop their musical expertise and offers them the dear alternative to carry out with fellow brass musicians.
Based mostly in York, I Can Play with Brass Roots started in September 2023, impressed by the Nationwide Centre for Early Music’s long-running I Can Play, an modern mission which creates music-making alternatives for D/deaf younger folks. Led by Sean Chandler, DeaF musician, skilled trumpeter and certified instructor of the Deaf, these classes happen every month at York Music Centre.
Brass Roots is Shepherd Brass Band’s ensemble for absolute newbie. Sean Chandler, who’s Principal Cornet in Shepherd Brass Band, had the concept for I Can Play with Brass Roots and works intently with Brass Roots chief Audrey Brown to ship the mission. Collectively they make sure that the younger D/deaf musicians obtain further help earlier than and all through rehearsals to assist them turn into totally built-in into the band. Audrey Brown has been instructing households to play brass devices for a few years within the York space, most of whom proceed to play as we speak. On the age of 80, she took on the problem of studying BSL in preparation for welcoming D/deaf musicians to Brass Roots and the Shepherd Band household.
