The opening concert of the new academic year saw Dr Robert Childs lay down an immediate challenge to his students.

A classic test-piece as well as a brand-new concert work were balanced against established repertoire, whilst a trio of individual students were tested in performance, composing and conducting modes.

In addition, the hall was also packed with an audience of family, friends, and regular concert goers, as well as two full rows of excited primary school children and multi-tasking teachers.

Acerbic fizz

Walton’s ‘Crown Imperial’,  with its ternary pomp and purposefulness opened with a brisk step, before a very different sense ‘Englishness’ was heard with the acerbic fizz of Malcolm Arnold’s ‘Rondo’  from his ‘Little Suite for Brass’. 

One of those was Grace Thomas (who played principal cornet with Llwydcoed) who balanced lyricism with slick technique for an excellent rendition of Philip Sparke’s ‘Song and Dance’.

South Wales banding (and further afield) continues to benefit from the influx of talented students to the college, with several of the current cohort playing with the likes of Cory, Tredegar, Llwydcoed and Flowers at the recent National Finals in London.

One of those was Grace Thomas (who played cornet with Llwydcoed) who balanced lyricism with slick technique for an excellent rendition of Philip Sparke’s ‘Song and Dance’.

Telos

Her colleagues also showed their appreciation of rhythmic pulse and style with ‘Telos’,  composed and conducted by Charlotte McGregor-Graham. Its development of thematic ideas was coherent, imaginative, and well worth listening out for again.  Dr Childs later revealed that she will be writing a work for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. 

A conductor to watch out for is Dan Dennis, as he showed considerably maturity in his lucidly shaped take on Holst’s ‘A Moorside Suite’. 

Almost a century after it was written, the stylistic intricacies of the playful ‘Scherzo’, simple beauty of the ‘Nocturne’ and the artisan pomp of the ‘March’ remain fiendishly deceptive. Both he and his band did a fine job.

Almost a century after it was written, the stylistic intricacies of the playful ‘Scherzo’,  simple beauty of the ‘Nocturne’  and the artisan pomp of the ‘March’  remain fiendishly deceptive. Both he and his band did a fine job.

An enjoyable concert closed with the fun of ‘Padstow Lifeboat’  – with Dr Childs giving instructions for the youngsters (who were transfixed and well behaved throughout) to identify the off-pitch foghorn by sticking their arms in the air every time they heard it.  

Much to their delight they it did more times than Cardiff City’s back four appealing for offside – and with far more accuracy too. 

Iwan Fox