ANDOVER Town Band has announced that respected trombonist Brett Baker will perform as a guest soloist at an upcoming concert.

Mr Baker will play with the band at a performance at Andover Baptist Church on Friday, June 30.

Coming from the Forest of Dean, Brett Baker has a worldwide reputation as one of the leading trombonists and is one of the most recorded brass soloists of all time.

He studied at Salford University, joining the Fairey Band under Major Peter Parkes in 1992, achieving notable contest successes including a historic treble 1993/4. In 2000, Brett was invited to join the Black Dyke Band by Professor Nicholas Childs, going on to achieve many notable concert and contest successes.

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Brett continues to play for other ensembles and Concert Bands, and includes a performance schedule of around 60 concerts a year.

Alongside Brett’s playing career, he has had success as a conductor, working with many bands in the North of England, including the University of Salford Brass and Wind Bands. In 2014 Brett conducted the Tongwynlais Temperance Band at the National Finals of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

As one of the team organising the concert, Alison Bonathan, who plays Flugel Horn with the Andover Town Band, said: “I have known Brett for many years through the National Youth Band of Great Britain. He is one of the very finest trombonists I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know and his solo playing is of the highest calibre.

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“The audience in Andover will be in for a real treat and this offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to see such a famous player performing in Andover”.

The concert is on Friday, June 30 at 7pm at the Andover Baptist Church. Tickets are priced at £10 (£2.50 for children) and are available from David Mellor Jewellers (Chantry Centre, Andover) or by calling 01264 360 527.

More details of concerts and other local appearances for Andover Town Band during 2023 are available on the band’s website andovertownband.com as well as its Facebook page.