The Wantage Silver Band recently enjoyed a great weekend of music making as they welcomed Besson tenor horn star Owen Farr to give a masterclass and concert performance as well be the adjudicator for their in-house solo competitions.

Owen led players and visitors through exercises in breath control, articulation, performance anxiety and many other aspects of rehearsal and practice techniques, all laced with great tips and dry humour.

Concert performance

Later the evening concert saw him perform 'Autumn leaves,' 'Rondo,', the finale from Haydn's 'Cello Concerto,' and his signature party piece with his rotating 'Carnival of Venice'! He also joined forces with the Wantage tenor horn team to perform Sandy Ssmiths 'Black note Fantasy.'

Under the baton of guest conductor David Hirst Wantage also took the opportunity to shine with music that encompassed genres from Paganini to Queen. David told 4BR: "It was a great pleasure to be guest conductor on a memorable evening for everyone who came along.

To hear a world class performer on the top of his game was simply inspirational."

Adjudicator

Earlier the players from all eight bands within the organisation; Junior, Trainer, OLA, Community Brass, Big Band, Academy Brass, Concert Brass and Wantage Silver all took their turn to impress with their solo and ensemble playing, with Owen judging no less than 78 performances in 16 different categories.

Earlier the players from all eight bands within the organisation; Junior, Trainer, OLA, Community Brass, Big Band, Academy Brass, Concert Brass and Wantage Silver all took their turn to impress with their solo and ensemble playing4BR

Results:

Beginner Solo (Age 11 and Under):

1. Matthew Bennett
2. Sam Hartley
3. Anton Oliver

Beginner Slow Melody (Age 11 and Under):

1. Matthew Bennett
2. Emma Pintat
3. Lucy Pickerill

Open Slow Melody:

1. Sam Wyne
2. Karen Burton
3. Nikki Jones

Junior Slow Melody:

1. Rose Hancock
2. Eddie Hindson
3. Megan Giles

Adult Beginner/Trainer Solo:

1. David Farquhar
2. Louise Gould
3. Rosie Pickerill

Open Solo:

1. Jemma Johnstone
2. Nick Collier
3. Ed Clark

Junior Solo:

1. Rose Hancock
2. Megan Giles
3. James Hindson

Youth Percussion Solo:

1. Owen Hopkins

Open Percussion Solo:

1. George Groves

Junior Duet:

1. Will Sanderson & Sammie Dodd

Family Duet:

1. Nikki Jones & Amy Jones
2. James Hindson & Joseph Hindson
3. Skye Farquhar & David Farquhar

Open Duet:

1. Rose Hancock & Megan Giles
2. Gary Wilkinson & James Hindson
3. Susan Robson & Philippa Strange

Open Quartet:

1. Sara Wallbridge, Adam Johnstone, Jemma Johnstone, Sam Wyne
2. Katy Hudson, Joy Hindson, Danny Hindson, Alan Sykes

Youth Hymn Tune Quartet:

1. Charlotte Worth, Amy Jones, Henry Southey, Eddie Hindson

Open Hymn Tune Quartet:

1. Katy Hudson, Anne Anderson, Danny Hindson, Alan Sykes
2. Mike Palmer, Brian Sadler, Andrew Barber, Colin Moss
3. Eileen Sykes, Peter Pearce, Ray Cordon, Alison Davidge

Open Ensemble:

1. Tuesday Afternoon Group

Special Awards:

Most Promising Player: Eddie Hindson (Wantage Academy Brass)

Most Outstanding Performance: Sam Wyne (Wantage Band)