Moray Concert Brass delight at return to rehearsal room
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Although partly hidden by plastic screens the young members of Moray Concert Brass can't hide their joy at making music together indoors again.
After nearly 18 months of waiting the local community band has met up again for in-person rehearsals.
Glenn Munro, the band's founder and musical director, said: "Although it's strange to look out and see everyone behind clear screens, the safety of our players is our top priority.
"I am very proud of every player in MCB tonight. There was some fantastic playing, despite the strange set-up.
"We are hoping that things will hopefully return to normality in the not-too distant future.”
During the pandemic Moray Community Brass has been meeting up through zoom.
It has also managed a couple of outdoor rehearsals this summer.
The screens were bought with the help of a generous grant from The Adam Family Foundation and with money raised by the band prior to the first lockdown in March 2020.
Band members brought their own music stands to the rehearsal room, which had hand sanitiser available and seats allocated in advance.
But the various safety measures didn't dampen anyone's enthusiasm.
Trumpeter, Douglas Cowie, laughed: "Glenn’s jokes haven’t changed as much as the world over the past year and a bit, but it was still great to be back properly playing again."
This feeling was echoed by trombone player Euan Adams who commented on how good it felt to be connecting through music again.
Joshua Toonen, who plays the euphonium, said: "It was like a breath of fresh air."
Kate Mcluckie, who is part of the percussion section, added: "It was so nice to hear everyone playing together in the same room and not over zoom."
It was double joy for Eilidh Boyd who was also celebrating the delivery of a new top-quality Eb bass tuba.
The tuba was bought with a grant from the Gordon and End Baxter Foundation as part of the band's project to buy and lend instruments to its members.
Moray Concert Brass rehearses on Thursday evenings and is always on the lookout for new members.
Even if you have not played for a while or are a fairly new player there is a place for you.
The band also has a small number of instruments it can lend to potential players.
Moray Concert Brass is also looking to expand its library of musical instruments.
Get in touch if you have any old brass or percussion instruments you no longer use or are a local business that would like to sponsor a new instrument.
Contact Glenn on 07897 205300 or email mcbinfo21@gmail.com for more details.
