Darren began brass and percussion lessons at school at the age of 7, and is from a brass banding family. He has been privileged to be able to play with a number of brass groups and bands throughout the UK and europe, as well as playing with friends at the Brass Band of Central Florida in the USA on a number of occasions (including playing top man for the 2013 NABBA contest in Cincinnati). He was asked to help them on their last UK tour where they competed at the Brass in Concert championships.
Darren provides support to various brass bands across the UK which enables him to connect with and assist bands all over the country. A particular focus is helping organisations establish youth and community groups to introduce the next generation of musicians into the brass band movement. As a huge brass band enthusiast (he was recently voted ‘Bandsman of the Year’ by his colleagues at Foden’s Band), Darren works with bands, schools and organisations to share stories with our customers that highlight why music matters.
On Sunday 1st December, members of the collaboration project ‘Creating a Buzz’ took part in their first public performance. This new partnership project between Foden’s Band and Age UK Cheshire took to the stage to demonstrate their newly acquired music making skills.
The winners of the 2018 ‘Create a Buzz’ competition, Pennthorpe School, Sussex proudly showed off their winner’s prizes of pBones, pTrumpets and pCornets when they performed their updated version of the original ‘Create a Buzz’ composition by Jonny Bates.
WMG’s Ambassador, Darren Lea caught up with professional musician and educator, Gemma Fuller following meeting in January at the Brass of the Saff project.
