Cornwall Youth Brass Band Celebrate Christmas with Richard Evans
Published in Band News on 2014-01-08 by Empty Chairs
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Seventy six young musicians of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band spent 4 days of their Christmas holidays rehearsing under the Baton of Guest Conductor Richard Evans at their Residential Course at the Truro High for Girls. The doyen of brass band Conductors, Richard joined the Band after a short Christmas break, which followed a trip conducting and coaching bands in Japan.
The Band was also joined as Guest Soloist by Owen Farr, Principal Tenor Horn of the Cory Band, the present European, National and Brass in Concert Champions, for seven years graded as the Top Brass Band in the World.
Accompanied by Hannah Hawken, a former Principal Cornet of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band, he gave a Recital featuring Solo’s of days gone by, written by famous players from the famous John Philip Sousa Band. In addition four young musicians from the Cornwall Youth Brass Band, Tom Howard, Andrew Hammett, Adam Scott and Josie Whale took part in a Master Class, benefiting not just themselves, but the whole Band, from the comments and advice given by Owen.
After intensive Rehearsals over the four days the Band accompanied Owen in several solo items at their Gala Concert at St Michael’s Church in Newquay on December 30th. Among them was the World Premiere of A New Dawn, a new work which he had commissioned from Christopher Bond from Camborne, a former member of the Band, at present studying composition at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.
Among other music studied and played at the Concert, the Cornwall Youth Brass Band marked the Centenary of St Ives born Composer George Lloyd, with a performance of his Royal Parks, a major work written in 1985 for the European Brass Band Championships, which demonstrated the high standard and musical ability achieved by the young musicians. Their ages range from 10 to 21 and prior to the Course have been working on the music at the monthly Rehearsals held at Truro College with their Resident Conductors, Alan Pope, Aaron Harvey and Jeremy Willcock and their team of local Tutors.