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LIFE IN LOCKDOWN: How Verwood Concert Brass is coping
from Viewpoint May 2020
by Dorset View
Verwood Concert brass has become one of only eight current partner bands with Geneva instruments, which has helped to boost the band during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Benefits include the opportunity for players to try out (post the lockdown) the wonderful range of Geneva instruments, along with discounts on purchases and repairs. But it also brings practical help in the form of Geneva’s Performance and Development Artists who are all players at the top of their game.
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With no band rehearsals taking place at present, Verwood Concert Brass has already taken advantage of the artist support on offer.
Ian Harris, principal euphonium at Verwood Concert Brass and committee member who fostered the partnership with Geneva said, “We have been looking at ways of keeping the 100 or so members of the Verwood Concert Brass organisation engaged during the lockdown and like most bands we have been busy making some virtual band videos. However, through our partnership with Geneva, the opportunity arose to try out using Zoom video conferencing to allow our players to see and hear one of their Performance and Development Artists, the fabulous euphonium player Glenn Van Looy.
“Glenn was brilliant, giving lots of hints and tips, with practical demonstrations on his euphonium and holding a Q&A session at the end. This went down so well we are taking advantage of holding further sessions with a few more of Geneva’s artists, namely Eb bass aficionado Joe Cook and cornet supremo Richard Marshall, with no doubt more to come. It has been a real boost to the band having the support of Geneva Instruments.”
General manager at Geneva Group, Dr L Brett Baker added, “We are delighted to welcome Verwood Concert Brass into our select group of partner bands; they have already utilised Glenn Van Looy in the form of an online workshop and we look forward to working more closely with them when restrictions are lifted.”
