Tullis Russell ready for the ballet

Tullis Russell Mills Band is preparing to perform at the National Brass Band Championships.

THE Tullis Russell Mills Band is preparing for the dance of a lifetime at the National Brass Band Championships - and there is not a tutu in sight.

Final touches are being added to the Fife band's performance of set work Ballet for Band ahead of the first section contest in Cheltenham, with the band recently enjoying an intensive weekend of rehearsals on the piece.

Musical Director Paul Kiernan invited Allan Ramsay, Scott Kerr, Willie McMullen and Derek Love to work in sectional and full band rehearsals as it stepped up its preparations.

A spokesman for Tullis Russell Mills Band said: "This is our second trip to Cheltenham in three years and we now know what to expect acoustically from the hall and how the day will be planned out. We are much better prepared for this year’s contest."

The National Championships will see the band on stage for the first time with new MD Paul Kiernan and both band and conductor are looking forward to the debut. Paul said: “Coming in to a band over the summer holiday period is often difficult due to holidays and players missing but the band has really stepped up over the last few weeks and we are very much on track to give a very good performance in Cheltenham."

Two of the players who will be playing with the Tullis Russell Band at the event have made the step up from the Tullis Russell Intermediate Band, with youth band players taking their places in the Intermediate Band proving that the hard work work is paying off for the Glenrothes band.

After the Nationals, the band will take part in the Fife Charities open contest as well as taking part in the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge in November. Concert dates are also in the diary between now and the end of the year in what will be a busy time for the band and its Musical Director.