Southend Youth Symphonic Band will be playing from the lighter side of their repertoire in the bandstand on Cliff Town Parade this Saturday at 7.30pm.

Concert-goers will be treated to music from the West End shows and films on the evening which will be the last local performance before the band head off to Switzerland to play at the request of the Lugano tourist office.

The 60 youngsters were invited back to the lake-side town after a successful visit last year.

This year they will perform in the town square in front of thousands, as well as at an evening for the British community at the invitation of the British consulate there

The engagement will mark the end of an era for the band as they will be saying goodbye to their musical director Colin Waller, who has been with them for five years.

Colin and his family are moving to Torquay, Devon where he is to be the new musical director of the Upton Vale Baptist Church.

Colin said: "It was a difficult decision to make and I will miss the young people of Southend immensely, but it is an opportunity to further my career in a sphere of music where I have always been heavily involved."

Colin will be passing on his baton to local trumpeter Alan Nelson and to Chris Lamberti , who is moving into the area to take up a teaching post in Shoebury.

New band members are always being sought, and the Southend Youth Symphonic Band is especially keen to hear from lower brass players - euphoniums, baritones, horns and trombones- at the moment.

Anyone interested in joining the band, or attending the concert in the Bandstand, Clifftown Parade, Southend should ring 01702 471170.

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