The South Norfolk Youth Symphonic Band will be welcoming members of the training band from Her Majesty's Royal Marines School of Music to Norfolk later this month.

The South Norfolk Youth Symphonic Band will be welcoming members of the training band from Her Majesty's Royal Marines School of Music to Norfolk later this month.

The HM Royal Marines band will hold workshops, rehearsals and a concert with the Diss-based band over the weekend of January 26 and 27, with more than 80 professional musicians and young people forming a mass band.

The purpose of the annual event is to enable student bandmasters from HM Royal Marines School of Music to experience working with and conducting a band of mixed abilities and ages, and now officially forms part of a formal one-year training programme leading to an appointment as bandmaster to one of the Royal Marines bands.

Mike Booty, musical director and chairman of The South Norfolk Youth Symphonic Band, and an ex-Royal Marine musician, said: “I am really pleased that we are now holding this unique experience in our home town of Diss and it is also an opportunity for the local people of Diss and South Norfolk to watch and listen to a talented youth band and the future musicians of the best military band in the world.”

Tickets for the evening concert to be held on Sunday, January 27 at Diss Corn Hall, starting at 6.30pm are £5 in advance or £6 on the door and may be purchased from Mandy Carter on 01379 854600. Tickets are restricted and people are advised to purchase them in advance. For further information on the band contact Phil McGahan on 01953 688295 or visit www.snysb.org.uk