Junior Ensemble and Youth Section
Sunday 22nd January 2012
Venue: Reds, Butlins Skyline Resort
Draw: Pre-drawn
Commence: 11.00am
Own Choice programme
Adjudicator: Barry Thompson
Comments: Malcolm Wood
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Youth Section
Draw: Pre-drawn
Commence: at the conclusion of the Junior Ensembles
Programme of Music not to exceed 20 minutes but must include a march and a hymn tune
Adjudicator: Barry Thompson and Mark Walters
Live
Overall:
It’s very easy to over egg the pudding, but this was a fabulous contest featuring some terrific playing from the bands. The soloists have really shined today as well. In the battle for honours at the top end, it’s going to be a really tight call for the four prizes but it really could go to any one of Youth Brass 2000, St Helens Youth, Wardle High and Lions Youth and they could finish in any combination of those four places.
Tight call, but Youth Brass 200o to take the title for us but it’s the width of a fingernail between St Helens, Wardle High and Lions for the other places.
8. Lions Youth Brass (Nigel Birch)
Home Again
You Raise Me Up — Cornet Solo
Jubilate from Vivat Regina
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
Portrait of My Love – Euphonium Solo
The Conquest of Paradise.
It’s a real ripper of a march to open taken at a fine tempo and played extremely well. Wilson Taylor is the latest soloist to shine today in You Raise Me Up. William Mathias’s Jubilate from Vivat Regina is effectively delivered. There is real peacefulness at times in the religious offering.
Euphonium soloist, Michael Potts is on fine form before they close with with music from the film, The Conquest of Paradise
Overall: Not for the first time Lions Youth deliver an impressive programme. Whether its enough to take the title though remains to be seen?
7. St Helens Youth Brass (Anna Hughes-Williams)
The Butlins debutant’s goes all ‘Tricky Dicky’ with one of his trademark marches and it has all the Evans swagger too.
Neath the Dublin Skies is delivered with such confidence and panache by euphonium player, Daniel Morgan.
Trombone section (led by one of the tallest trombone players, you’ll ever see) goes all Beatles and has fun dreaming about life as a 64 year old.
Andy Scott’s Hymn from Barossa showcases some delicate ensemble and lovely solo cornet work. The Russian Glasnost see’s the band cut loose and not just enjoy themselves but plays to their strengths.
It’s their signature tune to finish with an all-singing, all dancing When the Saints that almost takes the roof off.
Overall: Top quality performance that should put them in the mix. Fine band and a great debut.
6. Youth Brass 2000, (Chris Jeans)
Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Repton
Victory – Cornet Solo
The Champions
Bolero
Youth Brass opens up under Maestro Jeans in buoyant mood with cornets and trombones standing in a no-nonsense Olympic Fanfare and Theme complete with tight ensemble and effective percussion.
The Repton hymn tune (Dear Lord and Father) features some fine cornet work from the top man and it paves the way for a lovely rendition complete with controlled dynamic contrasts – the best hymn playing of the day, so far.
Herbert Clarke’s cornet solo, Victory is delivered with minimal fuss by Thomas Fountain – some playing this!!!
Wilcock’s march, The Champions is played with the swagger of a champion band whilst Ravel’s Bolero revives Torvill and Dean in their pomp and features some seriously impressive solo contributions from the standing cornet, flugel, horn and trombone topped off with some fine ensemble playing and great controlled percussion work.
Overall: The champions came to Skeggy with the intent of retaining the title and the programme not only played to the bands strengths, but it could take some beating today
5. Enderby Youth (Trevor Houseman)
Westard Ho
Repton
Sentinel
Myfanwy — Euphonium Solo
Star Wars
The march is a little belter, aided by some solo cornet and percussion work. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind is delivered with real reverence
Peter Meechan’s 2011 National Youth Championship test piece, Sentinel is not just atmospheric, but delivered with a real sense of understanding of the work.
The traditional Myfanwy see’s another band revive a Childs brothers classic on the euphonium with some nice lyricism on display.
John Williams’ Star Wars is upbeat and confidently driven from the first note until to the last.
Overall: A fine programme that played to the bands strengths and that was delivered with real confidence.
4. Coleshill Youth Brass (Stephen Fagg)
Thunderbirds March
Miss Marple Theme
The Muppet Show
Love Divine
Remote Control
Doctor Who
It’s an afternoon at Coleshill TV as the band goes through a selection of television programmes. Thunderbirds gets things off to a flying start whilst night time drama is revived with Miss Marple.
The Songs of Praise hymn tune would get everyone singing with gusto whilst the ‘Remote Control’ literally does what every teenager does and never stays on one programme for long as the band swaps between Match of the Day, Coronation Street and Blue Peter.
Coleshill closes all sci-fi to close with the Dr Who theme tune.
Overall: Something a little different and inventive from the Midlanders that always kept you interested and it was all played with real heart and that sense of pure enjoyment.
3. Wardle High School Youth, (Lee Rigg)
Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Sparkling Diamonds
There is a Green Hill Far Away
Softly As I Leave You — Euphonium Duet
On the Quarter Deck
Dimensions
Wardle go all ‘Black Dyke’ with a snazzy Olympic Fanfare and Theme to open followed by a sparkling bit of diamond work with some seriously impressive ensemble playing.
The hymn tune is the Dr Newsome arrangement and played in tribute to him – he’d have no doubt have approved of this interpretation, so well controlled.
Lovely bit of duet work on the euphonium’s as Wardle re-do the old Childs Brothers tear-jerker, Softly as I Leave You.
Alford’s march is played at a fine tempo with lots of control and precise playing. The closing Peter Graham work, Dimensions, contains some fine cornet and euphonium solo work coupled with the ensemble playing.
Overall: There may have been some familiar repertoire on display here from Wardle’s previous competitive performances but it was delivered with real polish and precision.
2. Shirland Welfare Training, (Dave Harvey)
Spirit of Freedom
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Sugar Blues — Cornet Solo
Shenandoah
Frere Jacques Swings
In the Hall of the Mountain King
The march is full of ‘Spirit’ and nicely delivered. The hymn tune is nicely controlled with fine cornet and ensemble work. The band’s cornet soloist gets an early audition in for the Principal Cornet chair at Grimethorpe as he goes all Alan Morrison in Sugar Blues that’s delivered with shed loads of confidence and pizzazz.
The traditional Shenandoah is confidently delivered with some lovely dynamic contrasts.
The opening muted solo cornet work in Frere Jacques is done with nerves of steel and the swing style is very evident. Music from Grieg is given a right good go and despite the hints of caution, a very persuasive performance is given.
Overall: What a god programme this was delivered with such confidence and self belief with some terrific players around the stand.
1.Croft Mid Band (Ian Bromley)
Home Again
Dear Lord and Father Mankind
Drummers Delight
Solitaire
Mexican Holiday
The march contains good tempo’s and a nice balanced sound and fine percussion whilst the hymn has a real nice feel to it.
Drummer’s Delight does what it says on the tin with some nice controlled drum and kit work; drummer in their element.
The cornet soloist demonstrates a fine tone in the old standard, Solitaire.and lovely control. Mexican Holiday evokes memories of the Granada Band of the Year contest from the 1970s, not forgetting warmer climates.
Overall: some fine playing here in a well balanced programmed.
Overall:
Simply brilliant, any nerves from these youngsters quickly disappears as the bands have a ball. Picking a winner here will be fun for Barry Thompson mind you, but with so much quality on show, it's not been easy.
4. Wigston Enterprise Band (Julie Maxwell)
Slaidburn
All in the April Evening
I Will Follow Him
The Rimmer march is taken at a nice tempo with some effective drumming catching the ear. Solo voice starts off hymn tune in fine style and a nice angelic feel evolves.
Sister Act is more in the bands comfort zone though as they cut loose and simply enjoy themselves.
Overall: lots of fine playing delivered with passion.
3. Shirland Training Ensemble 1 (Dave Harvey)
The Magician, His assistant and the deck of cards
Lloyd
Ragtime Cake Walk
A children’s March
The opening is full of nicely done musical tricks whilst the hymn tune is delivered with real warmth, tunefulness and dynamics. Well done!.
It’s get the toes tapping with the ragtime which is delivered with a real sense of style and the closing selection of children’s songs and nursery rhymes is performed with self assurance.
Overall: a case of whatever anyone can do so can we with some terrific playing.
2. Croft Junior Band (Ian Bromley)
Marching Saints
Eventide
Amazing Grace
Kids Go Rock
When the Saints gets Croft off to a good old start and the two hymn tunes, Eventide and Amazing Grace are delivered with confidence and effective dynamics.
The blast of Robbie has the committed passion of everything before it.
Overall: Another ensemble that raised their game in front of this large audience.
1. Youth Brass 1000 (Adele Hudson)
The Great Escape
Be Still
I Will Follow Him
A bright and fully committed Great Escape gets things going including a cracking bit of playing from the first contender for the smallest player on stage today.
Hymn Tune contains some fine tuning and a lovely warm balanced sound, bravo.
Some sisterly and brotherly love encourages everyone to give it their all in the popular hit from the film.
Overall: what a great start to the day, what a great set of players who give it their all and an intuitive MD who made sure they had such fun.
