What do you do on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Holmfirth? You go to a concert of course.

Having spent the day with my 4 year old, I saw this concert advertised, and encouraged by an interesting sounding programme off we went. 

It was a joy; with the concert opening to the impressive sounds of ‘Introduction to Act 1 of Swan Lake’. With the Spring Festival fast approaching it was a logical choice - as was the later closing concert finale from Stephen Roberts British Open commission.

Not Frozen

Throughout, the band pieces kept the theme going without overloading the fairy tale senses - and all without a ‘Frozen’ song in sight! 

We were treated to a fantastic arrangement of ‘Lord of the Rings’ by Phillip Harper, ‘Sleeping Beauty Waltz’, a bit of Romeo and Juliet, a unique arrangement of ‘Over the Rainbow’ by Tom Davoren and the wonderful ‘Alloway Tales’ by Peter Graham, along with a brilliant original composition.

Sold

It's always challenging to present new music to an audience, but ‘Storyteller’ by Cornish composer Christopher Bond was sold lock, stock and barrel by Leigh Baker before a note was played. 

Meanwhile, a particular personal treat was hearing ‘Baby Mine’ from Walt Disney's ‘Dumbo’ - a clever arrangement of the beautiful lullaby that sent me back to my childhood.

Excellent soloists

The featured soloists were excellent: Principal cornet Andrew Holmes displayed his pure sound in ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’, whilst trombonist Yvonne Embury played ‘Pure Imagination’ from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ as members of the band handed out sweets to the children in the audience. What a brilliant way to win fans!

And as a great little touch, by expecting children at the concert, there was an area at the back of the hall designated just for them; indulging their senses with all the colouring and egg painting they could wish for[Mareika Gray 

Flugel Katherine Bentham delivered a lovely rendition of the ‘Seal Lullaby’, with solo horn Scot Bennett delivering a sprightly ‘Allegro’ from the Strauss ‘Horn Concerto’. 

A very different take on the hymn ‘Nearer My God to Thee’ by Mike Kilmartin's was a clever way to close an afternoon that was a treat in more ways than one. The overall theme worked splendidly, and with compere/conductor Leigh Baker adding to the fun, little wonder my 4 year old said it was those stories that were his favourite part of the entertainment.

Great little touch

And as a great little touch, by expecting children at the concert, there was an area at the back of the hall designated just for them; indulging their senses with all the colouring and egg painting they could wish for.  It worked a treat - and bravo to the band for their innovative thinking. 

More concerts like this and brass bands will quickly atrtact a new, younger audience and life-long fans.

Mareika Gray