The organisational drive behind the National Youth Band of Great Britain’s Easter Course was fuelled by the desire to provide an innovative musical solution to the challenges posed by Covid-19.

Stoller Hall in Manchester, Malvern College in Worcester and St Martin in the Fields in central London offered ideal venues to build on the online preparation created earlier in the year, with guidelines enforced to maintain ingrained safeguarding measures. 

Marked success

The result was a marked success; enabling the talented players to enjoy live performance opportunities under the direction of guest conductor Ian Porthouse, with work now already underway for the Summer Course which will be led by Philip Harper.

This digital concert (a showcase of inclusion and diversity as well as musical excellence) mixed those performances with a taste of the atmosphere the separate groups enjoyed under the MD’s engaging direction - all put together with polished vibrancy by the NYBBGB media team of Neil Brownless and Ben Stratford.

The bold enthusiasm of Gareth Wood's ‘Brass Triumphant’ closed things off - a fitting piece to perform on the band’s return after a year or more in musical lockdown.

It was especially good to hear the revealing interviews from players who now feel very much an inclusive part of an organisation that has taken impressive steps to rejuvenate itself in the past year or so.

Bold enthusiasm

Guest soloist Tom Hutchinson was on inspirational form with James Curnow’s rattling ‘Concert Piece’  and lazy suaveness of ‘Sugar Blues’, whilst the three individual ensembles performed admirably – right from the start of a quickfire ‘Marriage of Figaro’  overture.  

There was also the chance to hear snippets of the various annual prize winners in the colourful ‘Gypsy Dance’  and fizzy ‘Melody Shop’  march, as well as a languid ‘Moon River’, tender ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You’  and warmly textured ‘Sunrise over Blue Ridge’.

The bold enthusiasm of Graeth Wood's ‘Brass Triumphant’  closed things off - a fitting piece to perform on the band’s return after a year or more in musical lockdown.

Iwan Fox 

Enjoy the concert at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJgdpdD6vYU&t=1565s