THE big sound of Okehampton College big band is to be heard in Italy when the musicians embark on their third international tour this summer.
Fresh from playing at the Okehampton Mayor's Civic Dinner and the Devon School's Prom, the 19-piece band is busy preparing for its travels abroad.
With the Swing Band from Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis, the big band will set off for Lake Garda to play a series of concerts in its own right and in combination with the Dorset Band at festivals, hotels and town squares.
The band's musical director Paul Smith, who is also head of music at Okehampton College, said when the two bands got together with over 50 players the sound was phenomenal
'We had a great time in Barcelona and the band even got on the radio,' he said.
'All the money we raise from local gigs pays for these tours because with the large number in the band it is not cheap.'
The big band is featured on a CD of different college acts produced by the Young Enterprise Group but it is also in the process of sorting out some studio time to cut its own CD.