Every year, like many organisations, the Maidstone Wind Symphony holds a special Concert of Remembrance.

A highlight of the Kent musical calendar, it provides a wonderful spectacle, performed to a high standard, and this year it did not disappoint. 

Working in collaboration with the Medway Band and Maidstone Choral Union, the audience was treated to an eclectic range of new, as well as well-known repertoire.

Peter Graham’s ‘Academic Festival Fanfare’ opened proceedings with the combined cornets, trumpets and trombones of the Medway Band and MWS, followed by an emotional rendering of Frank Ticheli's ‘Rest’.

True artist

MD Jonathan Crowhurst is taking MWS from strength to strength and is extending the ensemble’s extensive repertoire. 

This was demonstrated by the virtuosic playing of Gary Curtin, principal euphonium of the Black Dyke Band, in Bert Appermont's concerto ‘Cantiphonia’. 

With lyrical phrasing and fast-moving scalic passages the concerto is influenced by Russian composers Prokofiev and Rachmaninov, and was beautifully as well as powerfully executed. The soloist’s brilliant technique was combined with superb musicality.  

Guests

Special guest ensemble, the Medway Band, under the baton Melvin White, opened the second half with a lively rendition of ‘The Dambusters March’, a favourite of many, followed by Elgar’s moving ‘Nimrod’ and Paul Lovatt Cooper’s ‘Vitae Aeternum’ (Eternal Life), which took added significance in light of the composer’s recent ill health. 

Emotional

An emotional reminder of the reason for this concert came with the ‘Last Post’ which provided a reflective moment for all, as they remembered those who have been lost. This was beautifully performed by Kevin Ashman.

Maidstone Choral Union sang Parry's ‘I Was Glad’ with pride and gusto, supported by the band and accompanied by young organist Laurence Long.

Encore

MWS and MCU accompanied by an enthusiastic audience, finished with ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, greeted with a standing ovation, before an off-the-cuff encore, ‘Brilliante’, based on themes of ‘Rule Britannia’ by Peter Graham, allowing the virtuosity of Curtin’s playing to come to the fore once again.

It provided a wonderful end to a concert that will live long in the memory.