MUSICIANS in Tavistock Brass Band (Maestro's Music) will be able to hear themselves play — on national radio.

The town's band are the guests on BBC Radio Two's 'Sunday Half Hour' programme which is due to be broadcast on the Sunday before Christmas.

Recorded in Tavistock Parish Church last Thursday, and hosted by well-known religious broadcaster Roger Royle, the programme will also feature the popular Callington Singers.

Tavistock Brass Band musical director Tony Evans is delighted that the band had been invited to play.

'For many years the BBC's controller of brass and military bands had said fourth section bands like ours would not get on to the radio,' he said.

That Tavistock is in the fourth division is due to the fact the band has not competed for 60 years in Brass Band Federation competitions.

'By default we are fourth section which in football terms is bottom division. To get out you have to win your area competition three years running — and in our section there are 29 bands,' said Tony.

However, the band is now regularly entering competitions and it is only a matter of time when its collective talents see it rising up the sections.

Tony said being invited to play on the Radio Two programme is 'a bit of a coup' for the musicians .

'It breaks the mould somewhat. This is the best the band has ever been in its history. We are pulling capacity audiences when ever we play — and we are getting good players wanting to join the band now.'

Already tickets are rapidly selling out for the Mayor of Tavistock's Christmas Concert which takes place in Tavistock Parish Church on December 17. The format will be similar to last year's highly successful event.

Tavistock Town Band will share the stage with the Callington Singers and their musical director Graham Williams, as well as soprano Elaine Rockell and contralto Linda Evans.

l The band notched up a first at the weekend when they competed in the Gloucestershire area competition.

In the March competition the band gained first prize — their first success since 1957.

In the overall competition, the band came second and solo horn player Jackie Warren won the best instrumentalist award for the day.

'I'm absolutely delighted. It was a great day for the band,' said Tony Evans.