PRogRAmme NoTeS wEdNESdAy 9 NOvEMbER WARdle HigH ScHool BRASS BANd
YSgol diNAS BRAN mAle eNSemBle
NSg Big BANd
The tiny village of Wardle nestles in the foothills of the Pennines just two miles north of Rochdale. Wardle High School, founded in 1977, soon earned a reputation as a centre of excellence for music. The school's musical groups have appeared at the National Festival every year since its formation. The truth remains that any child in the school who wishes to play is given an instrument and free tuition. Every year a new band is formed in year 7. The current school band have had an extremely successful year when in April they became National Youth Brass Band Champions of Great Britain in the Intermediate section.
Being here tonight is an amazing achievement for the Dinas Bran Male Ensemble from Llangollen. They were only formed in January this year when sixth form pupils in the school showed a passion for singing. They entered the MFY Regional Festival Series to gain experience of singing to an audience, and with dedicated hard work it's a fantastic achievement to be singing at the Royal Albert Hall this evening.
Northampton School for Girls was founded in September 1915. It has grown to be a fully inclusive secondary school providing education for 1,700 girls aged 11-18 and twenty boys aged 16-18. In 2004 the school became a specialist music college, the first in the country and has since grown significantly. The NSG Big Band was formed in the same year and the college now has a total of twenty-one extra-curricular groups that meet on a weekly basis.
The band’s programme tonight opens with an original composition from the pen of Peter Graham, one of the brass band movement’s finest composers. Dimensions was originally composed for the 2nd Section Area Championships in the 1980s. This is a great piece which gives the band a chance to show off its technical skills finishing with an exciting ending. To conclude their performance the band has chosen to combine their performance with Ysgol Dinas Bran Male Ensemble and the grand organ of the Royal Albert Hall in Sir Arthur Sullivan’s The Lost Chord. This will be a tremendous finale to what will be one of the most memorable performances of the young performers’ lives. Soprano Cornet Stephanie Clegg Solo Cornet Bethany Backhouse, Laura Conway*, Megan Greenwood, Naomi Richardson, Emma Rigby Repiano Cornet Erin Finerty Flugel Kathryn Egan Cornet 2 Nicole Clough, Luke Cronshaw, Laura Higgins, Joe Howarth, Alex Stephenson Cornet 3 Hannah Beresford, Sophie Johnson, Amber Kershaw, Ryan Lawrence, Tom Lord, Skye Wilson Tenor Horn Raegan Evans, Ellen Kershaw, Kirsten Tracz, Connor Stansfield*, Stephanie Woodruff Euphonium Bradley Barnes, Tomos Giles, Ashley Higgins* Baritone Ryan Ashton, Alician Atherton, Chris Barnes, Hannah Nicholson Trombone George Jones, Rebecca Whitehead, Charlotte Wilkinson* E Flat Bass Jack Holt, Matthew Howard, Jack Lord* B Flat Bass Shannon Clegg, Niall Grindrod Percussion Aaron Beresford, Grace Chilcot, Chris Davis, Matthew Rigg* Organ Geoff Proffit
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ScHoolS PRom 2011
Tonight’s programme features current pop classics by Coldplay and Snow Patrol sung in a unique classical choral way. Viva la Vida was written by Coldplay for their fourth album, and was released as the second single from the album. Chasing Cars is the second single from Snow Patrol’s fourth album, Eyes Open. It was recorded in 2005 and released in July 2006. Tenor 1 Lewis Bate**, Daniel Griffiths, Jamie Thomas, Tom Wilson** Tenor 2 James Anthonisz, Adam Bell, Iestyn Hughes, Joel Hughes, Nathan Lloyd, Danny Richardson Baritone Adam Drakeley, Jamie Evans, Ben Hughes, Tomos Luke, Lewis Morris
The programme opens with North Africa. Originally by Chick Corea, this version has been arranged and interpreted by Mike Tomaro. It uses the trademark samba rhythms that Chick Corea is renowned for through a quiet opening section before the band crescendos towards the solo section featuring Chloe Percy-Smith on tenor saxophone. The group’s programme concludes with Orange Coloured Sky. This swingin’, up tempo chart was recorded by Natalie Cole, amongst others, on her acclaimed Unforgettable album. Alto Saxophone Eleanor Bedford, Claire Bodily, Heather Brown, Sophie Church, Sophie Phillips Tenor Saxophone Shannon Bell-Carney, Chloe Percy-Smith** Baritone Saxophone Megan Eyles Trumpet Emily Ashby, Eleanor Gedney, India Rand, Grace Vowden, Grace Ward Trombone Laura Cox, Chris Gemmill, Faye Laurie Piano Eleanor Jackson Drums Daniel Akinbosede, Rebecca Smith Percussion Olivia Quilter Bass Nina Harries Guitar Angus McAlpine Vocalist Annie Strausa**