Cornwall Youth Brass Band, which includes members from the Callington area, has become a registered charity. The move follows recognition by the Charity Commissioners of its important voluntary work in advancing the education and training of young people in the playing of brass instruments. This is achieved by holding regular rehearsals and residential courses of the band at which eminent conductors in the brass band movement are invited to act as guest conductors. They build on the work done by the team of local tutors, who are drawn from Cornish brass bands, many of whom have formerly been playing members of the band. The band was founded in 1955 and its new status will provide taxation advantages and open up the prospect of attracting tax free donations from individuals and companies to further its work. The 77 musicians who presently make up the band are aged between 11 and 21 and are also members of a parent brass band in the county. They are now working towards their Christmas residential course at Truro High School for Girls when their guest conductor will be Philip Harper and their guest soloist, Katrina Marzella, the British Open Solo Champion of the Year.
