Over 70 young musicians representing 30 bands gathered for the annual Cornwall Youth Band Course at Truro High School over the Easter weekend, working under both the pen and baton of Paul Lovatt-Cooper.

Tested

In a programme featuring many of his works, the members of the country’s oldest county youth band were put through their paces in a programme which tested their playing, singing and dancing abilities.

A broad range of music was featured, ranging from ‘Donegal Bay’, to his most recent composition, ‘You’ve been Warned’, featuring the band’s principal players as soloists.

Workshop

Prior to the course Paul Lovatt-Cooper ran a workshop with students hoping to take up composing as a profession and was particularly impressed by repiano cornet player, Daniel Hall.

The Gala Concert featured some of Paul’s well known works such as ‘Horizons’, ‘Wall of Sound’, ‘Pound the Streets’, ‘Dream Catchers’, ‘When Thunder Calls’, ‘You’ve been Warned’, ‘The Haunted Halls’, ‘On the Castle Green’ and ‘Solar Eclipse’.

Soloists

The band also featured co-principal cornets Sarah Matthews and Adam Scott playing ‘Emerald Skies’, principal baritone Rachael Sloggett performing ‘Donegal Bay’ and Joanna Scott playing ‘An Untold Story’, whilst the band rounded off the evening with the rousing encore ‘The Big Top’.

...the youth band were put through their paces in a programme which tested their playing, singing and dancing abilities4BR

Annual Awards

Annual awards were made to, ‘Youngest Player’ Grace Thomas; ‘Most Improved Player’, Justin Strike; ‘Most Promising Player’, Sean Sjoholm; ‘Most Promising Trombone Player’, Andrew Hammett; A R Trudgian Youth Award winners Matthew Julian and Megan Thomas; ‘Player’s Player of the Year’, Matthew Rowe and ‘Player of the Year’ Matthew Rowe.

The band also bade farewell to four members who had reached the upper age limit in Matthew Julian, Joanna Scott, Daniel Wilmott and Stephanie Wilkins.

Goff Richards Award

During the concert Mrs Sue Richards presented the first Goff Richards Memorial Fund Award to 14 year old Emily Howard, who also plays with St Minver Silver Band.