Following a successful trial last year, the Sound of Sunday project is being expanded to include 16 towns and villages. The effort is supported by the Banks Group, a leading sponsor of the festival and a County Durham-based business.
In addition to in-home performances, some care home residents will also be welcomed into local schools to enjoy concerts there. A new mentoring initiative has also been launched, pairing Easington Brass Band with East Durham schools to inspire young musicians.
The Durham Brass Festival, supported by Arts Council England, runs from July 13 to 20 and features performances in city streets, public parks, historic venues, care homes, schools, and even on boats—bringing music to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Cllr Lyndsey Fox, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, says: “This is a real passion project for the Brass Festival team, and we’re excited to be extending it as part of this year’s festival with the Banks Group’s backing.
“Many of the people the bands will be playing for will have deep-seated memories of hearing brass band music being practiced and performed in their communities on Sunday afternoons throughout their lives.
“Music has the power to take us to different times and places, and we hope that the memories these performances stir will have a positive impact on our audience members’ well-being in each location.”
The Banks Group, a long-standing supporter of brass band music in North East England, is helping fund the Durham Brass Festival’s schools programme. This initiative brings street bands into schools across County Durham, providing interactive musical performances for more than 15,000 children and young people.
Banks is also sponsoring the festival’s headline afternoon concert on Sunday, July 20. The event will feature the renowned Fairey Band performing a unique audio and visual rendition of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition at the Gala Theatre in Durham, a venue managed by Durham County Council.
Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, adds: “We’re proud to be once again supporting this amazing festival and to be helping the organisers take brass band music out to people in every corner of our home county who might not otherwise have the chance to enjoy it.”
For further information on the Sound of Sunday project, and on the full Durham Brass Festival programme, visit https://brassfestival.co.uk/
