THE Two Rivers Concert Band which rehearses regularly in Ilkley is organising a special free event for percussion players on Saturday, February 2.

They are holding a “Percussion Extra” rehearsal between 9.15am and 11.30am at their normal rehearsal venue Ilkley Baptist Church on Kings Road.

During the course of the morning they plan to rehearse pieces that involve lots of percussion. A specialist percussion tutor will be present to organise and teach the percussion section. It will be a great opportunity for percussionists to develop their ensemble skills and try out playing in a large Concert Band.

The Band hopes that this event will help them to find some extra percussion players for the Band longer term.

Mike O’Farrell their Musical Director said: “We currently have up to three excellent percussion players but many Concert Band pieces have parts for four or more percussion players. We have loads of equipment and would love to attract more percussionists to come and play with us.”

Les Goldman the Two Rivers Bands Chair added: “We are a happy thriving community band and welcome players of all ages. We don’t have auditions. We just want to recruit players who love music and performing. We’ve space for more trumpet and horn players too.”

For further details of the event email ask2rivers@icloud.com

The Concert Band’s next performance will be on Saturday, April 6 at 7.30pm at Otley Parish Church in aid of the humanitarian relief charity Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

It will be a joint concert in partnership with the Chris Irvin Concert Orchestra.

Two Rivers Concert Band also had the honour of being selected for the Making Music 2019 Adopt a Composer Scheme and are working with the Leeds and Berlin based composer James Banner to create a brand new piece which will be premiered in the autumn.