Championship Brass in Mirfield

The Hepworth Band and Mirfield Free Grammer School Jazz Band

St Mary's Parish Church, Mirfield
Saturday 20th September 2003

With the 2003 -2004 Leeds City Council sponsored Best of Brass Concert Season about to be held in Morley, Yeadon and Leeds Town Halls about to commence Hepworth Band joined in with a special concert in which was also featured the Mirfield Free Grammer School Jazz Band.

The Concert opened with Hepworth's signature tune 'Pratty Flowers'. Followed by Gershwin's 'Strike up the Band'. Soprano cornet player Mark Smedley then gave a quite outstanding performance of 'La Claiffa' (Morricone) before the soloists all excelled in the John Golland composition 'Fives and Threes.

Alan Catherall has done many a fine arrangement and his reworking of 'Evergreen' was given a most musical performance by flugel player Catherine Booth.

Morricone Magic ended a first half of the concert before the Mirfield Free Grammer School Jazz Band gave a ten minute spot including 'Stand By Me', 'Happy Together', and 'Give Me Some Lovin' This session was well received and was directed by the Hepworth Band principal trombone player Yvonne
Embury who teaches music at the school.

The second half of the concert opened with an arrangement of 'Moulin Rouge', music from the film arranged by the bands MD Mark Bentham. Principal Cornet Robert Westacott thrilled the capacity audience with a wonderful performance of the Russian Dance during which he displayed the
full range of the instrument.

Evelyn Glennie's 'Little Prayer' followed before principal euphonium Emma Farrow played the ever-popular Webber's 'Last Waltz'. At 16 years of age what a very talented player she is.

'Something Stupid' sung by Rob Westacott and Sara Musgrave added to the entertainment before Graham Starr on bas trombone gave an exiting performance of 'Rainy Day in Rio' )arr. Richards).The concert ended with a wonderful reception when the band concluded in a very upbeat fashion with 'Tico Tico' and an encore of 'Get Happy' (Arlens).

The reception the band received showed that everybody had enjoyed a great night's entertainment.

Dave Tinker

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