31/01/2024
Our Grimethorpe North of England Youth Band performed at the prestigious Festival of Brass at the RNCM - Royal Northern College of Music last Sunday
It was an incredible performance and experience for our young players and they very much enjoyed the aspirational setting of the RNCM and watching the college band perform.
RNCM Festival of Brass
Grimethorpe Youth Band provided an excellent concert at the RNCM festival of brass, showing the potential of young musicians who are actively being pushed throughout musical education.
Their first piece was “Prelude for an Occasion” by Edward Gregson, and throughout, we were shown the capability of this band. With a driving timp start, the band created a really good full band sound, with solos throughout.
Next was “Ballade No 2”, with Grimethorpe Colliery Band principal cornet, Mercer & Barker Ltd artist Jamie Smith. With impressive range from the soloist, and good phrasing and passion, the band accompany well, with some good soprano features as well! Well done.
“A Grimethorpe Adventure” showed off some good soprano moments through all the movements played, and good work from the basses. Percussion were persistent with this one, and the last movement there was excellent technique from the hi-hat part, and lots of good flugel features throughout as well.
“Whirlwind” features the band principal euphonium, and at just 17 he delivered a fab performance from memory as well in such a great venue with a busy audience! Time and range was great and there were some really nice moments in this, well done Robin!
“In Celebration” had some stand out moments from the trombones and the horns, and again, a talented percussion team held the band together well, and this was an enjoyed performance by band and audience.
“Airbourne” was an energetic start as the winning composition from the Grimethorpe composition competition, and this piece was very enjoyable to listen to, with some great work from front and back row throughout.
The band’s encore was “September”, an adaptation of the hit song by Earth, Wind and Fire, and the euphs and baris sung out the main theme, whilst cornets sat on top well. This was a really good performance!