20th Anniversary Concert
Conductor: Lynda Nicholson
Soloist: Daniel Marsh
The Martin Harris Centre
University of Manchester
Friday 2nd August

Time may well be the subtle thief of youth, but the passing of 20 years still feels like grand larceny when you realise players on this inaugural course in 2004 could have off-spring soon to become members of the current band.

You hope so. For this is an ensemble that has also matured with subtle shifts in ethos and ambition over the years.  

A broader organisational vision makes for a natural stepping stone to the sibling National Youth Band. It is an identifiable exemplar of the very best things in player and personal development that youth brass banding itself should be all about. 

It is an identifiable exemplar of the very best things in player and personal development that youth brass banding itself should be all about. 

Aided by excellent tutors and support staff, it was just as heartening to hear of (and see) the player-led mentoring and links to outside organisations, as it was the joyful playing.

So too the decision to invite former member Daniel Marsh (the 20-year-old now studying at Durham University) as the excellent guest soloist.

Undimmed

Lynda Nicholson (who directed the first course) returned with enviable youthful enthusiasm and encouragement undimmed by passing time. 

Her music choices also had clarity of developmental purpose; from the orchestral fanfare sounds of Strauss to the 1980s American funk of Kool and the Gang, Norwegian melancholy and bespoke commissions to detours of Punjabi bhangra, 1950s big band swing, sci-fi film, restoration monarchy and the salvation army in between.

As Lynda admitted, the ambition was challenging at times, but all the better for it – the enthusiasm imbuing the music with vitality and character. 

As Lynda admitted, the ambition was challenging at times (for the youngest average age band for many years), but all the better for it – the enthusiasm imbuing the music with vitality and character. 

Litmus smiles

The litmus ‘smiles per piece’ test (the percussion team should be sponsored by Colgate toothpaste), never wavered. Confident leads were backed by eager ensemble work, with a special mention to the ‘Section of the Week’ second and third cornets and the quartet of horn players who joined Daniel for a smooth rendition of ‘Greensleeves’.

The pick though was Charlotte McGregor-Graham’s ‘Mega-Mix’, which was an absolute banger.

Philip Sparke’s ‘The Pioneers’  (written for the first course) and Stephen Roberts’ ‘Bhangra Dance’  were packed with rhythmic pulse and colour,  balanced by Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen’s deceptive ‘Nocturne’  and Leonard Ballantine’s tender ‘Mid All the Traffic’. 

Banger

The pick though was Charlotte McGregor-Graham’s ‘Mega-Mix’,  which was an absolute banger.

The recent RWCMD graduate also took the audience time travelling – back to the heady days of buying the latest ‘Now That’s What I Call Music’ LPs from Woolies. 

It was a brilliant reminder of one of the great physical, rather than digital musical joys of youth that is well worth celebrating for the next 20 years of generations of National Childrens’ Band performers.

Iwan Fox