A 20-YEAR-OLD Tavistock cornet player has fulfilled a lifetime's ambition by being accepted by the world-famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band in Yorkshire.
Sam Fisher, who went to Tavistock College and studied music to 'A' level there, is studying for a degree in band studies and music with Sheffield University, which is based in Barnsley.
Sam began playing at ten-years-old 'just for fun' because his father played. He had formal lessons from the age of 13, playing for Stannary Brass Band since their beginnings. His first solo — Annie's Song — was at age14, and he still plays with the band when he is home.
'My cornet teacher at university is the conductor of the Brighouse and Rastrick Band and he said there might be a vacancy,' Sam said.
As a result, Sam auditioned for the position and was 'extremely happy' when he heard last week he had been accepted.
'It's been my ambition to join that band since I started playing. I went to the Royal Albert Hall when I was 14 and saw them win the National Championships,' Sam said. The band is currently number three in the world.
Sam's first concert with the Yorkshire band — probably best-known for their rendition of The Floral Dance with Terry Wogan — will be in August in Yorkshire. In September he will perform with them at the British Open Brass Band Championships in Birmingham and in October at the Royal Albert Hall in London at the national finals.
He said that he intended to stay in Yorkshire after graduating to remain with the band, although he would probably return to Tavistock sometime in the future.