A LOCAL brass band is on the look out for new members following a summer of depletion.

Basingstoke Silver Band has been playing for over 100 years and rehearses every week at Elizabeth Hall in Hook.

However, the group is currently at a lull and down on numbers after a number of the group recently moved away because of jobs, university and other family commitments.

The band have spent the last 12 months under the guidance of musical director Simon George, who has bought the band in a new direction, full of new ideas.

As well as the main band, the group is looking to restart its training group this September and are encouraging people who are new to ensemble playing, as well as any who haven’t played for a while and want to get back into the swing of things, to get in touch.

The Academy is also suitable for primary and secondary school children learning or developing their skills who would like to play in a band.

As well as growing their own musicians, the local group also need to recruit players to the main band and are specifically looking for cornets and bass players.

However players of any brass instruments are welcome, and as a non-competing band there can be as many players as desired in each section.

Sharon Brooks from the band said: “We see the training band as the best way of recruiting into the main band as well as being an opportunity for new and returning players to be able to rehearse and perform as a band in their own right.

“As long as the player can read some music then they will be welcome, brass instruments and percussion only however, as we can’t take strings or woodwind.”

The band is offering music teaching, the lending of instruments for newcomers, and only charge the annual membership of around £50.

Training session take place every Friday at Elizabeth Hall, 7-7.45pm for training band and 8-10pm for the main band.

For any queries or further questions e-mail [email protected].