Youth Brass 2000 conducted by Chris Jeans won the thirteenth Tameside Youth Brass Festival at Dukinfield Town Hall earlier today.
Winning contribution
Playing fifth out of the seven competitors, Youth Brass 2000’s programme commenced with Duke Ellington’s 'Caravan' before the band's Principal Euphonium, Sarah Lenton demonstrated a delightfully warm sound in 'Carrickfergus' which helped her on the way to claiming the best euphonium prize of the day.
Following on from an upbeat interpretation of 'Valero', the band's xylophonist, Chris Brice was in stunning form in the old favourite, 'Czardas' before the band wrapped up its winning contribution with the 'Cossack Wedding Dance' from 'Call of the Cossacks'.
Jason pulls no punches
Prior to the announcement of the results, adjudicator Jason Katsikaris praised the bands for their efforts reminding the young players to 'make of the most of your music, banding and remember where you came from and give it back in years to come when you're all star performers'.
The Leyland MD who will soon return to Australia pulled no punches though hinting the result was closer than some of the audience anticipated when he said 'one band played too loud today, at times it was over the top' adding that 'the percussion spoiled the broth at times' before forceivbly adding as a general point that the overall standard of percussion playing was '.....loud'.
Title retained
With Jason's assessment over, Youth Brass 2000 tasted victory and it not only meant that the band retained the title it won a year ago, but it gave them an initial £1000 and they made the journey home with £1300 in the bank courtesy of having the best euphonium (Sarah Lenton), percussionist (Chris Brice) and trombonist of the day, the latter going to Becky Maglone.
Delighted
Youth Brass 2000's MD, Chris Jeans was naturally delighted with his band's performance at the Tameside Youth Festival whilst admitting everyone was a little tired after their recent schedule4BR
Just before getting on the coach to return home, conductor Chris Jeans told 4BR that he was naturally delighted with the victory and praised his band for the dedication and effort whilst admitting everyone was a little tired after their Brass in Concert appearance last weekend and preparing for their Tameside defence.
Bare Trees second this time
Having finished third in their debut appearance a year ago, Bare Trees Community and MD John Collins took the runners up spot this time around courtesy of a disciplined musical programme that included, 'Amazonia' from 'Windows of the World', the 'Elegy' from A Downland Suite and 'Shine as the Light'. The £700 runners up prize was enhanced by a further £100 for having the best Bass Section of the contest.
Cheshire's Poynton third
Close behind in third place was Poynton Youth from Cheshire under Andy Hirst. Poynton was another band who produced a solid and well rehearsed programme that included 'An American Trilogy' and 'Dimensions' and their whole performance was enhanced by the Soprano playing of sixteen year old, Michael Miller, who was described as 'the next Peter Roberts' by adjudicator, Jason Katsikaris.
Locals fourth
The final podium place went to the band drawn number one who made the shortest journey of all the competitors, Dobcross Youth under James Garlick. The work put in by the ex Brighouse trombonist certainly paid dividends though with a well-balanced programme that started off with 'Death or Glory', featured some lovely flugel playing in 'Concerto D'Aranjeuz' and ended with Chris Hazel's 'Mr Jums'.
The remaining three
Elland Youth, Macclesfield Youth and Stockport Schools gave it their best shot with some ecletic programmes but it wasn't to be their day.
Samantha Harrison's Elland Youth opted for music from different periods and tuning issues took the edge off their programme, the highlight of which was Philip Varley, the band's Principal Cornet displaying his burgeoning talent in 'Adirondacks Polka'.
Macc's Soloists
Louise Renshaw's Macclesfield Youth featured two soloists in their offering, the band's Principal Cornet and Bass Trombonist.
Stockport Schools and Phil Pavey was the last band to play at the contest and taking to the stage with just over twenty players, their performance majored around Paul Lovatt-Cooper's 'The Dark Side of the Moon'.
Continued Council support
The contest was once again supported by the Arts and Leisure Department within Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, who also support the annual Tameside Open in March, Whit Friday and the British Open Solo and Quartet Championships held three weekends ago. A prize fund of £2600 was put forward for the Youth contest alone with each of the Best Instrumentalists pocketing £100.
2010 is confirmed
Next year's event has already been confirmed for Sunday 28th November.
Programmes of Music
Youth Brass 2000, Chris Jeans
Caravan
Carrickfergus (Euphonium Solo)
Valero
Czardas (Xylophone Solo)
The Cossack Wedding Dance from Call of the Cossacks
Bare Trees Community, John Collins
Amazonia from Windows of the World
Flying Malletts: Percussion Feature
Elegy from A Downland Suite
Poynton Youth, Andy Hirst
An American Trilogy
Gaudate
I Don’t Know How to Live Him (Flugel Horn Solo)
Symphonic Study for Brass Band: Dimensions
Dobcross Youth, James Garlick
Death or Glory
Fanfare for a Festive Occasion
Love on the Rocks (Principal Cornet Solo)
49th Parallel
Concerto D’Aranjeuz (Flugel Solo)
Mr Jums
Elland Youth, Samantha Harrison
La Mourisque
Adirondacks Polka (Principal Cornet Solo)
March from the Jazz Suite Number 2
Moon River
The Old Rugged Cross
Macclesfield Youth, Louise Renshaw
Cross of Honour
Sugar Blues (Principal Cornet Solo)
I Wanna Be Like You (Bass Trombone Solo)
Star Himmel
MacArthur Park
Stockport Schools
Doyen
2nd Movement, The Celtic Suite
The Dark Side of the Moon
Results:
1. Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans) 191 points
2. Bare Trees Community (John Collins) 190 points
3. Poynton Youth (Andy Hirst) 186 points
4. Dobcross Youth (James Garlick) 185 points
Best Cornet: Soprano: Michael Miller, Poynton Youth
Best Basses: Bare Trees Community
Best Percussionist: Chris Brice, Xylophonist, Youth Brass 2000
Best Horn/Flugel: Dobcross Youth
Best Trombone: Becky Maglone, Youth Brass 2000
Best Euphonium: Sarah Lenton, Youth Brass 2000
Youngest Player: Emily Collins, 9, Bare Trees Community
Other competing bands:
Elland Youth (Samantha Harrison)
Macclesfield Youth (Louise Renshaw)
Stockport Schools (Phil Pavey)
The adjudicator was Jason Katsikaris
