THERE has been great success for Launceston Town Band as one of its youngest players, Elsie Crane, aged eight, placed third in her class in the recent South West Brass Band Association’s solo and quartet online competition 2021.

Elsie competed in the ‘slow melody nine years and under’ section against 11 other entrants and gave an excellent rendition of ‘One day’. The band’s musical director Ann Brown said she was very happy with the result and is eager to bring more dedicated young players like Elsie into the banding community. She added: “Launceston band has always encouraged all age groups to join and learn an instrument with a view to becoming part of our banding family. Many do not realise the scope of instrumentation available to learn in a traditional brass band.

“The group we have at present have helped bring a new vitality to the band and would love to share their experience with new brass players.”

Elsie has worked hard to secure herself a place within the junior and senior band, playing repiano cornet, and hopes to build a bigger junior band with a view to assist in the art of conducting.

For anyone wishing to begin the journey of being taught a brass instrument at Launceston Town Band, contact Ann on 01566 86700, or mobile 07814 565944, or listen to a socially distanced practice in the Gateway Car Park, Launceston, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.