There has been an immediate contesting return on Verwood Concert’s long term investment in the formation of their Verwood Youth Band.

Latest

The latest arm of the three tier organisation (Concert Band, Training Band and Youth Band) was formed just a few weeks ago and has already claimed prizes at the recent Wessex BBA Youth Contest.

Driving forces

Mike Dunnings, one of the driving forces behind the setting up of the Youth Band told 4BR: "Although we already had a core of good young players within Verwood Concert Brass we needed more to make up a whole band.

But I needn’t have worried as we ended up with a great bunch of young players and with just two rehearsals the band competed successfully at the Wessex Youth Contest."

Programme

The band’s 20 minute programme saw them perform the classic march ‘Slaidburn’, the chirpy ‘Spread a Little Happiness’, ‘Any Dream Will Do’, the Blues Brothers’ ‘Everybody Needs Somebody’ and ‘One Day’ chosen to highlight the ability of a featured soloist.

The result was a fantastic second place overall — quite an achievement in such a short space of time, whilst the youngest player of the day award went to seven year old Rowan Powis and the ‘Best Soloist’ prize was claimed by the band’s principal cornet player, Emma Graves.

I’m extremely proud of the Youth Band on their first outing. It just goes to show what can be achieved in just a short space of time when working with a group of enthusiastic and talented young musiciansMD, Kevin Smith

Proud

A delighted MD Kevin Smith added: "I’m extremely proud of the Youth Band on their first outing. It just goes to show what can be achieved in just a short space of time when working with a group of enthusiastic and talented young musicians.

We are all looking forward to taking the band onto even bigger and better things."