The Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band conducted by Philip Harper, once again achieved the 'Outstanding Performance' Award at the recent National Brass Band Festival held at the Symphony Hall.
Third Award
This was the band’s third 'Outstanding Performance Award' in three years, and their eighth since 1992.
The band’s fifteen minute programme included 'Fanfare Prelude' on ‘Lobe den Herren’ by James Curnow and 'Renaissance' by Peter Graham.
This is a fantastic achievement for one Music Service and there was also an Outstanding Performance Award presented to the Newport Music Centre Senior Wind BandAlun F Williams
Sit back and enjoy
The adjudicators were Keith Hewson, Richard Jones and Eric Tebbett who described the band’s performance off the stage as "...effervescent, ebullient and atmospheric. We were glad to be here to listen. We could relax, sit back and enjoy."
The band had started the week by performing three pieces to conclude the first half of the annual Music Service ‘Summer Showcase’ at St David’s Hall, Cardiff under conductor Andrew Jones.
Extra effects
Some of the players of the band also played in the Greater Gwent Youth Wind Band, Big Band, Choir, ‘Big Bang’ Percussion Ensemble and the Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra with players from the band adding the extra effects in the finale of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture high from the organ loft.
Poland Tour
The band will now resume rehearsals in August for their 12 day tour of Poland with the Greater Gwent Youth Choir and Orchestra. It promises to be a fantastic tour with concerts planned in Zakopane and Krakow. The programme of events planned for the band’s 50th Anniversary in 2010 have nearly been finalised too.
Full Results:
School Section: (7 bands)
Smithills School Senior Brass Band (Chris Wormald) — Outstanding Performance Award
Fred Longworth High School Brass Band (Helen Robinson) — Highly Commended Award
Music Centre Section: (9 bands)
Youth Brass 2000 (Peter Collins) — Outstanding Performance Award
Rochdale Borough Youth Band (Eric Landon) — Highly Commended Award
Open Section: (6 bands)
Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band (Philip Harper) — Outstanding Performance Award
Northamptonshire County Youth Brass Band (Brad Turnbull) — Outstanding Performance Award
Twelve groups
The brass band performance of the day was one of twelve groups invited to the National Festival of Music for Youth 2008 from Gwent Music Service.
Fantastic achievment
Alun F Williams told 4BR: "This is a fantastic achievement for one Music Service and there was also an Outstanding Performance Award presented to the Newport Music Centre Senior Wind Band."
He added: "Highly Commended Awards were also presented to the Greater Gwent String Symphonia, North Monmouthshire String Quartet, Greater Gwent Symphonic Winds, Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra and the Isca Linea Senior Strings."
