The 60th anniversary season of the Cornwall Youth Band got off to a flying start on the weekend when 82 young musicians assembled at Truro College for their first rehearsal.

Siblings

Thirteen new musicians were welcomed to the band, among them three sets of siblings, which takes the number brothers and sisters able to team up for a duet (including two sets of twins) to amazing 15.

The monthly rehearsals under Resident Conductors, Alan Pope, Aaron Harvey and Jeremy Willcock, lead up to the band’s four day residential courses at Christmas and Easter.

Concerto

This December, under guest conductor Les Neish, Lowenna Taylor, recipient of last year’s Harry Mortimer Memorial Trust Award, will give the first performance of the tenor horn concerto ‘Bestowal of a Century’, commissioned from Christopher Bond.

Both Lowenna and Christopher are former members of the band and have recently completed their studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

This December, under guest conductor Les Neish, Lowenna Taylor, recipient of last year’s Harry Mortimer Memorial Trust Award, will give the first performance of the tenor horn concerto ‘Bestowal of a Century’4BR

British Open mark

The band was also delighted to see three former members make their mark at the British Open in Birmingham, with Black Dyke flugel player Zoe Hancock, winning the Stanley Wainwright Memorial Trophy as ‘Best Instrumentalist’.

Two of the four recipients of the Harry Mortimer Memorial Trust Awards were also former alumni with Stephanie Wilkins and Tilly Tompkins, each presented with a cheque for £500 and a commemorative certificate.