YBS Band

Conductor: Professor David King
Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir
Conductor: Geraint Roberts
Pavilion Theatre
Rhyl
Saturday 16th July

YBS Band continued its preparations for its tour of Australia in August as guests of one of Wales' finest Male Voice Choirs at Rhyl's Pavilion Theatre last Saturday evening.

With two ensembles sharing the stage, the concert followed the popular format of individual spots before joining forces at its conclusion to perform the ubiquitous ‘Soldiers Chorus' and the tear jerking ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross'.  The local choir's contributions were a mix of traditional repertoire that is familiar in Wales along with popular classics such as ‘Love Changes Everything' and ‘You'll Never Walk Alone' before they then sat back, handing over the stage to their esteemed guests.

YBS led by Professor David King were in fine form with a programme that demonstrated all the hallmarks that they have displayed on the contest and concert platform for the past decade; wonderful ensemble playing, outstanding soloists, the blend of popular as well as slightly more unfamiliar but intriguingly interesting music that is brought to life under the inspirational leadership of the MD.

Heaton's Festival March, ‘Praise' was done justice with some wonderful subtle touches, whilst the ‘Flight of the Wild Geese', from Robin Dewhurt's ‘Celtic Fusion' had some delightful touches from Alan Hobbins on soprano who was on excellent form all night. 

Morgan Griffiths was in eloquent mood performing Mozart whilst music from the pen of Goff Richards met with approval from the large audience.  Stuart Lingard, the band's principal cornet serenaded his fiancé, Sheona White (and all the other ladies in the audience) with some beautifully sublime playing of a piece called ‘Romantic' - just days before their wedding. 

‘Voyage of Discovery' is another gem of a piece from the popular Cornish composer.  Professor King gave an insight and asked the audience to think about explorer James Cook or the experiences that awaits the band down under in the coming weeks.  The descriptive work tests the band to the full and there was delightful playing from all sections of the band.

Howard Snell's arrangement of Percy Grainger's ‘Molly on The Shore' was polished off with ease and Alan Hobbins once more excelled in ‘Hedwig's Theme' – although he doesn't look anything like Harry Potter or any of his friends!

YBS rounded off its individual contribution to the concert courtesy of one of the most pulsating renditions of the ‘Symphonic Dances' from West Side Story that this reviewer has ever heard.  The performance led to numerous calls for an encore, which came in the form of the lovely ‘Irish Blessing' featuring the wonderful mellow sound of Iwan Williams on flugel, who has his own CD coming out very soon indeed. When you hear him play like this you won't be surprised that it should be a best seller – it was superb flugel playing. 

The UK and European banding scene has enjoyed the YBS experience in recent years and now Australia will get the opportunity to embrace an outstanding group of musicians led by one of the most charismatic and successful conductors within the whole movement.  Nine concerts in just over two weeks to packed houses with some new commissions along the way.

It promises to be a memorable experience for everybody involved.  

Malcolm Wood

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