Nailsworth Silver Band’s Anri Adachi will make her final appearance as Musical Director this weekend, writes Laurence Atkinson.
Anri’s hugely successful 6-year tenure with conclude at the Regional Championships in Torquay, with the band appearing in the First Section. This performance will be the band’s first ever appearance in the First Section, following back-to-back promotions through the brass band divisions.
Since joining the band in 2020, Anri has focused on teamwork, musical quality and has striven for excellence in every performance. She is dedicated to improving individual players and the band as a whole. She has led the band to a number of firsts including the Fourth Section Regional title (2020), Fourth Section National title (2021) and other National Finals appearances in the Third Section (2024) and Second Section (2025). When the band takes to the stage in Torquay on Saturday afternoon, they will be appearing as a First Section band for the first time in their 107 year history.
Tuba player Laurence Atkinson has been a band member since 2003 and has seen the full rise of Nailsworth under Anri’s leadership. “Anri has been absolutely fantastic for the band. She has embodied the band’s character and ethos over her hugely successful tenure. She has led enormous progress through her dedication and hard work, improving both individual players and the band as a whole. To have climbed through the divisions and be able to perform at the highest level in the band’s history is a source of immense pride for all of us. We are looking forward to performing in Torquay at the weekend, but equally sad to be saying goodbye to our fabulous leader. We will all miss her hugely in Nailsworth and are so grateful for all her hard work over the years.”
Anri had this to say about her final performance: “I approach the weekend with both pride and sadness – pride because NSB has worked so hard and achieved so much over the last few years; and sadness because I will miss my wonderful band family immensely. Whatever happens at the weekend, we’ve already achieved impressive personal and team successes, and have built something truly special together.”
The band will be performing ‘Variations on Was Lebet’ by Andrew Wainwright on Saturday 14th March at the Riviera International Centre, Torquay.
