Former Greenhill pupil Matthew Birch returns to the De Valance, Tenby, on Saturday, April 25, as conductor and musical director of the nationally renowned Bristol University Hornstars who are special guests for 'An Evening of Big Band Music'. The concert is in aid of the RNLI Tenby Lifeboat and is being supported by Chevron Texaco. The evening also features local young talent with the Pembrokeshire Schools' Jazz Band, Pembrokeshire Schools Big Band and Junior Jazz ensembles.
Matthew learnt his musical skills at Greenhill School and with the county music service on the violin and trumpet, leading both the School Orchestra and Jazz Band. He then went on to lead the County Orchestra and played in the County Jazz Band, Three Counties Orchestra and Three Counties Jazz Band, finally playing violin in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and trumpet in National Youth Jazz Wales.
Matthew then took up a place at Bristol University to study for a Masters degree in physics with a music scholarship to play in the Bristol University Symphony Orchestra and also the Hornstars Big Band. This year is his final year with the Hornstars before he leaves to follow a career as a patent attorney in London.
The Hornstars have won the Gold Medal at the National Concert Band Festival for the past three years with the judges calling them 'spectacular' and 'superlative'.
During the afternoon, members of the Hornstars will also be providing workshops for the county band members.
The concert starts at 7.30 pm and is an opportunity not to miss for lovers of music and big band in particular. Admission will be by ticket only, which cost £10 and are available from the De Valance and Dales in Tenby and the music service at County Hall.