Perhaps for the first time since it became a part of the European Championships in 2014, the youth competitions in Montreux felt as if they were a fully inclusive element, and not just an entertaining competitive appendix to the event's festival attractions.

Sunday's Development and Premier Section contests attracted a healthy sized audience (as did the Composer Competition earlier in the week), showing that the Swiss banding public was enthused by the opportunity to hear a host of excellent youth bands.

Startling maturity

They were not to be disappointed either as the four competitors in the Development Section produced performances of startling maturity — led by the eventual champions Wardle Academy Youth Band under MD Lee Rigg.

This remarkable school ensemble has long been a beacon of musical excellence in the UK; highlighting not just the inspirational ethos of enabling children to enjoy the unquestionable benefits of music making together, but also the sense of communal endeavour that underpins the school and family support that once again raised over £25,000 to get them to Montreux.

They are led of course by a truly inspirational conductor in Lee Rigg — the former Black Dyke player instilling a sense of musical discipline and enjoyment into their playing that belied the tender years of the performers.

Here the defending champion opened with Alan Fernie's 'Intrada Festiva' — a statement of title winning intent if ever there was one; bold, confident and sparkling.

It was followed by equally impressive renditions of Stephan Hodel's colourful set-work, 'Argos' (which was a fine challenge) and a stunning performance of the third movement of the Rimsky-Korsakov 'Trombone Concerto' by 15 year old Adam Warburton, which deservedly claimed the 'Best Soloist' award.

They closed with a clever nod to the composer whose name adorns the auditorium, with a triumphant rendition of the final hymn from 'The Firebird'.

Inclusive celebrations

The polished professionalism of their onstage performance was mirrored by the delight shown in their celebrations — the youngsters hugging each other and their supporters, everyone having their photo taken with the trophy, parents and families beaming with undisguised pride. No one was left out (the following day they were all off to do some sight seeing together).

"I ask so much of them,"Lee Rigg told 4BR. "But the more I ask the more they want to give back in return. They are all brilliant.

That's mirrored by the support from the school and especially the families. They got us here this year, no one else, so this is victory is for everyone associated with the band. Now we want to make it a hat-trick in Palanga."

They will be some band to beat in 12 months time on this form, although they were hard pressed to retain their title according to the judges Anne Crookston and Glyn Williams by a trio of excellent rivals.

Polished Auskstyn

The main challenge once again came from the Lithuanians of Brass Band Aukstyn conducted by Piet Visser, who made their debuts at the event in 2015 and have improved year on year — coming runner-up in 2018 and again this year.

As was shown by LT Brass in the Challenge Section, the raw brass band talent in the Panevezys region of the country is being moulded into a polished end product, with the youngsters producing warm ensemble tonality to go with their individual technical prowess. They could well go one better on home soil in 12 months time.

'Rytas' by Rimantas Giedraitis was followed by a confident test-piece and a super rendition of 'An Untold Story' by 16 year old tenor horn soloist Irma Glindaite, before they also rounded things off with a homage to another famous former Montreux resident with a Freddie Mercury inspired 'Queen's Greatest Hits'.

Norwegian brio

Just behind them came the Norwegians of Smoras Skolemusikk conducted by Eikanger tuba star Magnus Brandseth. The band made up of 48 players from two primary schools from a small area just outside Bergen played with such brio and enthusiasm, especially on their opening item 'Do Dat Thing'.

They followed it with a mature rendition of the test-piece and a hauntingly beautiful flugel solo 'Icicles' played by Sondre Kristoffer Stokker, before closing with a thumping 'A Theory of Everything' by Simon Dobson.

Sparkling Elland

It enabled them to just pip the other English representatives of Elland Silver Youth, who like their counterparts represented their country brilliantly (they were making their fourth consecutive appearance).

Samantha Harrison ensured that her players shone on an ambitious programme — with the sparkling 'Andromeda' opener from Dan Price followed by 'Argos', a cracking rendition of 'Flowerdale' by their outstanding soprano soloist Adam Hofland-Ward and a stylish sweep through 'Nightingale Dances' to close.

All four competitors deserved the plaudits and appreciation that was shown to them by the audience in the Stravinski Auditorium, although it would also have been nice if they all could have taken something more than warm affection home with them for taking part — perhaps an instrument each from the sponsors.

It's something for EBBA to consider for Palanga in 2020.

For Wardle Academy Youth, a third European title in five years will have been worth every penny they raised to get to Montreux.

Iwan Fox

"I ask so much of them. But the more I ask the more they want to give back in return. They are all brilliantWardle Academy Youth Band MD, Lee Rigg

Results:

Development Section:

Test Piece: Argos (Stephan Hodel) & Own Choice Programme
Adjudicators: Anne Crookston, Glyn Williams

1. Wardle Academy Youth (Lee Rigg) — 97pts*
2. Brass Band Aukstyn (Piet Visser) — 95pts*
3. Smoras Skolemusikk (Magnus Brandseth) — 93pts
4. Elland Silver Youth (Samantha Harrison) — 92pts

Best Soloist: Adam Warburton (trombone) — Wardle Academy Youth

*1 point deduction for going over the 20 minute playing time