*
banner

Wardle Academy Youth

Featuring: Wardle Junior Blast, Fairey, Stavanger,
Conductors: Lee Rigg, Garry Cutt, Adam Cooke
Wardle Academy
Rochdale
Friday 31st May


The welcome return of Stavanger Band on a brief UK tour provided the opportunity for a musical collaboration with the newly crowned European Development Section Champion Wardle Academy Youth, alongside the brilliant Junior Blast ensemble and the local heavyweights of Fairey.   

Fitting everyone in for such a shindig was always going to be tricky, but with a health and safety blind eye turned to enable all those who came along to squeeze onto the benches in the Academy’s canteen area (school dinners must be great here) it made for a slightly surreal evening of super entertainment. 

It was kicked off by the tyros of Wardle Junior Blast who, as has become their trademark, played from memory under Lee Rigg. 

Sheer pride

The sheer pride bursting through was a joy and provided an inspiring segue into the European Champion’s set - one that reprised their Montreux triumph in a demonstration of focused excellence.   

Alan Fernie’s ‘Intrada Festiva’ paved the way for ‘Argos’, the short Stephen Hodel European test-piece work that was once again mastered with detail, precision and pulsating energy.

The fearless 14 year old trombonist Adam Warburton then stepped up to wow the audience.

The ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award winner in Montreux is a star performer in the making - delivering the final movement of the Rimsky-Korsakov ‘Trombone Concerto’ with mature virtuosity. The ‘Final Hymn’ from Stravinsky’s ‘Firebird’ rounded things off with exultant warmth. 

The ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award winner in Montreux is a star performer in the making - delivering the final movement of the Rimsky-Korsakov ‘Trombone Concerto’ with mature virtuosity. 

Controlled polish

The adult bands had hard acts to follow, but responded with sets of controlled polish - Stavanger opening with the funky ‘Puls’ by Sven Henrik Giske.

Paul McGhee’s Brexit inspired euph solo, ‘Tweets, They Heard Bleets’ was a darkly humoured treat, followed by the equally prescient ‘Chump Change’.

Karianne Flatene Nilssen was a relaxed lead in ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ before birthday greetings were sung for solo horn Arfon Owen in a native tongue (Norwegian rather than Welsh we presumed) prior to a pulsating account of Etienne Crausaz’s ‘Sinfonietta’.

Fairey was not to be outdone with a freewheeling ‘Le Corsaire’, ‘Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home’ and a trio of excellent solo spots. Lucy Cutt was a luscious flugel lead with ‘Follow the Flames’, Adam Bokaris on euph gave a sparkling ‘Facilita’ and Adam Warburton grabbed the spotlight for a second time with a languid ‘Stardust’ on a night he won’t forget.

There were presentations aplenty before a super evening was rounded off with a massed band rendition of ‘Anthem’ from the musical ‘Chess’.

Malcolm Wood

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band at Petworth Heritage weekend

Saturday 20 September • Centre of Petworth Town GU28 OAH


Cheltenham Silver Band - Holst Birthday Concert

Saturday 20 September • All Saints Church, All Saints Road, Pittville, Cheltenham GL52 2HG


Dobcross Silver Band - Milnrow Band

Sunday 21 September • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards Big Band

Friday 26 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Brass Bands England - The Brass Band Conference

Saturday 27 September • Redhills Durham Miners Hall, Durham DH1 4BE


Haverhill Silver Band

September 17 • Haverhill Silver Band (Championship Section) seeks a FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable). This is a superb opportunity to join East Anglia's premier brass band for the L&SC area contest, the Senior Cup, Whit Friday and beyond.


Cheltenham Silver Band

September 16 • Required:. Musical Director : Cheltenham Silver Academy Band Following the relocation of our current conductor we are looking for a progressive, passionate and dedicated individual to lead our Academy Band, and to support our continued improvement.


Chinnor Silver

September 16 • We need a Bass player (either Bb or Eb) and a percussionist to join our happy team! The band is promoted to the first section in 2026 and were also 2025 Second section National Finalists. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings in our own bandroom in Chinnor


Jason M Smith


Band Trainer (Contest Preparation), Conductor


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd