Best Soloist: Michael MacDonald (cornet) — Shepherd Youth Best Soprano: Nathan Mahan (Lions Youth Brass) Best Principal Cornet: Jack Strong (Youth Brass 2000) Best Flugel: Alasdair Tomlinson (Lancashire Youth) Best Horn: Charlotte Shaw (Lions Youth Brass) Best Baritone: Skye Stokes (Elland Silver Youth) Best Euphonium: Seth Barber (Elland Silver Youth) Best Trombone: Houghton Area Youth Best Bass Section: Youth Brass 2000 Best Percussion: Youth Brass 2000 Youngest Player: Benjamin Smith (aged 8) — Houghton Area Youth
Sunday 16, 16:22:44
7. Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)
Programme: The Essential Glenn Miller — Up, Up and Away set!
Flyin' to the Skies (Christoph Walter trans. Sandy Smith) Memories of You (Eubie Blake arr. Bill Geldard) Trumpet soloist: Jack Strong Big Band Tribute (Meacham and Manone, arr. Dan Price and Barry Forgie) I Know Why (Harry Warren and Mack Gordon arr. Smith) Sing, Sing, Sing (Louis Prima arr. Dan Price)
You have to hand it to Youth Brass 2000 — when they go for it, they really live and breath their music making in every aspect.
Here they must have raided the last World War 2 supplies depot in the world for all the uniforms — including the MD who has come out of central casting to Memphis Belle and the narrator who is the spitting image of General MacArthur.
All the players are in uniform — even the music stands are circa 1940 Glenn Miller.
The playing has a real polish about it too — from the opening and especially the super trumpet soloist who delivers with classy aplomb.
The Big Band Tribute is a hit set medley of classics played with a swagger, smile and suavity — boosted by great perc foundation, and the contrast with the trom lead that follows is so well done.
The classic bit of Louis Prima has been played many times before (and by this band) but there is still plenty to enjoy with the perc tricks with the stools and the slick ensemble choreography.
It completes a programme as well drilled as the 42nd airborne division itself on a musical visit to Gateshead.
Iwan Fox
Sunday 16, 15:38:07
6. Houghton Area Youth (Brian Adams)
Programme: A Celebration of the Railway
Coronation Scot (Vivian Ellis arr. Roy Newsome) The Flying Scot (Gregor J. Grant) Cornet soloist: Michael MacDonald The Runaway Train (Vernon Dalhart arr. Lee Morris) Forgotten Dreams (Leroy Anderson arr. Geoffrey Brand) Keyboard soloist: Sally Lockey Vocal soloist: Rosalind Cockling Rail 200 (Morris)
What a great combination idea of proud industrial heritage and brass band music brought together for this set — which got off to flyer with the steamy sounds of 'Coronation Scot'.
It was followed by a super high speed Intercity express cornet solo, played with classy elan and sharp tongued accuracy by Michael MacDonald. Bravo matey! The audience applause was a fully appreciative endorsement of the high quality playing on show.
The neat change in style and genres brought more sparkling individual playing — led by a bass trom who rocked like Casey Jones on the Cannonball Express and passengers who enjoyed the first class ride.
An inventive detour to the 'piano' television programme set on railway station platforms sees a piano/vocal/brass ensemble feature — simple and effective in style and presentation, before we close with a celebration of that bi-centenary — full of boiler hot steam drive and passion.
'Thyne be the glory' — and glorious it was too, to round off a railway journey of inventive musicality and presentation.
Iwan Fox
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Sunday 16, 15:02:11
5. Wardle Academy Youth (Bradley McCulloch)
Programme: Tech Takeover
Fanfare for a New Age (Goff Richards) Light (Fredrick Schjelderup)
Reflection: URL (Lucy Pankhurst) Cornet soloist: Oliver Tattersall
March IRL (Pankhurst) Toccata Festiva (Jan Van der Roost) Quantum Horizons Redux (Peter Graham)
Music for the tech age from the defending champion — bold, ambitious and reaching out in new directions — although a classic bit of Goff Richards from the steam, rather than AI driven age, opens things with splendid verve and choreographed virtuosity.
The multi media screen acts as the typeface instructive narrator — giving a slightly spooky feel to things as a very human, and humane cornet soloist takes the spotlight with tender lyricism. Very different and effective that.
The audience interaction follows — humans against AI in the hall — played with a honkingly funky feel and and Fleetwood Mac 'Tusk' marching band stage choreography.
More AI multi-media heralds potential disaster, but not with the dramatic playing — dark, bold and rhythmically imposing as the red light danger lights flicker and flash.
More drama and passion as we head into the future spheres of AI influence — good, bad, enlightening of spirit or darkening of the soul?
Thankfully its a triumph though — as has been this ambitious programme played with such polish.
Iwan Fox
Sunday 16, 14:09:16
4. Shepherd Youth (Craig Brown)
Programme: Movement, Memory and Meaning
Dance Like David (Andrew Mackereth) First Light (Ben Hollings) Cornet soloist: Charlie Walker The Girl Who Sat on the Hill (Trad arr. Fredrick Schjelderup) Baba Yetu (Christopher Tin and Chris Kiagiri arr. Frank Bernaerts) California Dreamin' (The Mamas and Papas arr. Adam Taylor)
What a high energy impact to make on their debut with an opener that was as razor sharp as the creases in the perfectly ironed white shirts of the players. There was such a focused fizz about that — a real eyeball popper.
It was followed by playing that brought a tear to the eye from their soloist Charlie Walker — tender and touching — and joined by his colleague who complimented perfectly before the most delicate close. Bravo young man — bravo indeed!
Nordic 'fun and folk funkiness followed with impish sprightliness to the playing led by the brilliant kit player and his perc team. A bit like 'Riverdance' for Vikings that.
The euph led detour offered yet more confident playing and rich tonality full of passion and controlled power, before we closed (with a great intro) with peak 1960's hippie-love and the all time classic 'California Dreamin' — or 'Gateshead Dreamin' as the case may be.
It's a real fizzer to close — Mama Cass would have loved this — driven like an American muscle car on full torque power down to San Francisco Bay to round off a super debut appearance.
Iwan Fox
Sunday 16, 13:32:14
3. Lions Youth (Ian Raisbeck)
Programme: Hercules
Gospel Truth (Alan Menken and David Zippel arr. Ian Raisbeck) Go the Distance (Menken/ Zippel arr. Raisbeck) Cornet soloist: Jack Mayne One Last Hope (Menken/ Zippel arr. Raisbeck) Euphonium soloist: Harrison Lewis Zero to Hero (Menken/Zippel arr. Raisbeck) Vocal soloist: Keira Wood Saving Meg's Soul (Raisbeck) featuring percussionists: Timothy Sealey, Emily Brough, George Cragg and Seren Bates A Star is Born (Menken/Zippel arr. Raisbeck) Bows (A Star is Born Reprise) (Menken/ Zippel arr. Raisbeck)
It's a great bubble and squeak hero brought to life by Lions Youth Band — all dressed for the part with their multi-coloured chitons (the Romans wore togas).
A special mention to the fab kit player who has a blue wig that makes them look like Marge Simpson. The husband must be the Greek Homer then... doh!
A super start with great character leads from the Muses and the playing picks up on the energy too. The soloists have certainly played their part — determined and bravura with a stylish swagger.
Bravo to the vocalist — a showstopper performance if ever there was one — complete with Broadway belter voice! If you are going to top that then it will have to be special — and the perc feature is just that.
The Marge Simpson quartet hit it out of the park — and the super contrast to follow is so well controlled and richly toned. A little gem of reflection.
The close fizzes like an exploding star — little cameo leads building to a super grandstand finish with Hercules a hero — and so too everyone one of the band and their MD — all taking their well deserved bows with encore playing joy.
Iwan Fox
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Sunday 16, 12:43:18
2. Elland Silver Youth (Sam Harrison)
Programme: The Awakening
The Awakening (Liz Lane) With a Little Help from My Friends (Lennon & McCartney arr. Jock McKenzie) Tico Tico (Zequinha De Abreu arr. Murray Greig) Cornet soloist: Thomas Partington) March of the Rebels (Andrea Price) Lament — What Is Lost (Naomi Hill) Baritone soloist: Skye Stokes; euphonium, Seth Barber, trombone, Esther Joy Stone, and bass Charlie Hirst Change Beckons (Hill)
An uplifting musical tale of defiance against an authoritarian decree in a dystopian future.
The massed ranks of the Elland Youth army — all khaki fatigues and musical spirit battle to keep music — and brass band music especially, alive — headed by 'GI Jane' Sam Harrison.
Liz Lane's opening sets the scene with its sense of inclusion and determination and it's followed by a great bit of Beatles musical friendship.
Neat feet and rhythmic pulse with 'Tico, Tico' — played with a swagger by the young corporal cornet soloist. Bravo.
Great little intros and then it was into a rebellious march from the pen of Andrea Price — played with regimental precision to go with the Coldstream Guards level choreography.
Contrast and lyricism with the 'Lament' — reflective and tender and played with mature understanding and full value phrasing to go with the poignant words.
It all leads to a wonderful, chorale like ending — uplifting and triumphant to round off a thoughtful, maturely played set by the band.
Iwan Fox
Sunday 16, 12:02:34
1. Lancashire Youth (Helen Minshall)
Programme: Just Dance
Pastime With Good Company (attrib. Henry VIII arr. Stephen Roberts) Second Waltz from Jazz Suite no.2 (Shostakovich arr. Alan Fernie) Carnaval de Paris (Paul Spencer, Stephen Spencer and Scott Rosser arr. John Ryan) Moonlight Serenade (Glenn Miller arr. Mark Freeh) Balkan Dance (Etienne Crausaz) Every Time We Touch (Cascada arr. Mark Harrison)
What a fantastic way to start the day — loved the little chap organising the troops as they came on stage, before the MD made an appearance with a jacket that made Phil Harper's shirt look like my old nan's curtains. Wowzers!
Great little detour to the melancholic acidity of 'Strictly' Shostakovitch jazz — complete with waltzers, and so neatly played.
The trip to Paris is taken with such French elan and quick step feet -like Kylian Mbappe jinking past a full back. It really had an infectious beat and drive — allez Lancashire!!
A bit of timeless magic Miller to follow — smooth and suave. The soloists all took their moment in the spotlight so well too. So nicely done and the contrast with the upbeat, rhythmic Balkan angularity that followed caught you by the scruff of the neck.
Great driving perc and a dark sense of mischief from first note to last — and vocals too. A real old thumper with the MD jiving from the front.
A really well thought out and delivered set ended with a feel good banger — all clapping, swinging and bucket-hatted joyfulness. What a fizzer!!
Bravo!!
Iwan Fox
Sunday 16, 10:59:12
Draw:
Judges: Anne Crookston (Quality of Performance) Joycelyne Moren (Entertainment & Presentation)
It's the time for the new generation of entertainers...
We are back at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead for another packed day of entertainment — this time from the next generation of performers with the Brass in Concert Youth Championship.
Lots to look forward to when the action kicks off at noon, so make sure you follow the action on the live coverage on www.wobplay.com
November 16 • We have a solo horn vacancy to join our friendly 3rd section band. We have a sensible calendar of contests and concerts. Situated with close links to the M11/M25 and Central line tube station, with our own band room. Rehearsals Monday night 8-10pm
November 16 • Our COMMUNITY BAND is meeting again this monday 17th at 11am we would love to see some new faces join us.Its just a friendly band and playing with us doesn’t impact your main band.. It’s free and involves coffee and cake.
November 15 • We have vacancies for CORNETS, TROMBONES, 2ND HORN AND PERCUSSION. We are a welcoming, non contesting band who organising their own Spring and Christmas concerts and enjoy playing at local events throughout the year.
