Armagh Old Boys Summer School celebrates 20th Anniversary with help from Foden's tutors
The Armagh Old Boys Silver Band where delighted to see the return of their annual Brass Band Summer School between the 8th to the 13th of August 2022 in the City of Armagh High School under the guidance of Foden's Band tutors.
The summer school provides an opportunity for young and young at heart to come together to form two bands based on players ability; The Sterling Band conducted by Mark Bousie and The Sovereign Band conducted by Michael Fowles. Attendees ranged from age of eight to seventy-two and represented many bands across the province, all of whom participated eagerly throughout the course during morning warmups, sectional, full band rehearsals as well as a questions and answer session . Participants also had the opportunity to perform a solo accompanied by the Foden’s tutors. As part of the 20th year celebrations, the Summer school were delighted to commission two works ‘Across the Stars’ by Andrew Stevenson and ‘The Stars of Armagh’ by Iain McKnight.
Speaking on behalf of the Summer School, Ivor Stevenson commented 'It was great to return to an in person Summer school once again with our end of course concert concluding an enjoyable week of hard work and enthusiasm by all. A big thank you to our wonderful team of Foden’s Tutors; Mark Wilkinson, Mark Bousie, Richard Poole, Shaun Farrington, Gary Curtin, Jonathan Bates, Stewart Baglin, Michael Fowles and Anthony Mann as well as all the 60 plus participants. We look forward to welcoming the full Foden's Band back to Armagh on the 17 th September (which replaces our annual February date which was cancelled due to Covid) as well as running the Summer school once again in August '23.
