Several students from an Oldham school have performed with the National Youth Concert Band over the weekend.
The students from Crompton House School, in Shaw, were selected for various instrumental roles after attending a summer course provided by the NYCB and held at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester.
The course, for 14-18 year olds, finished with a performance in Stoller Hall on Sunday, August 25.
This year, seven students from Crompton House School in Shaw have been part of the National Youth Concert Band, having come up through the bands at Oldham Music Service and community brass bands, as well as playing in ensembles at school.
Abby Brown,19, and Emilia Jaskowska,17, are part of the trumpet section with Jacob Moorhouse, 18, in the French horns, and Leo Pollitt and Hannah Bailey, both also 18 years old, form the tuba section.
Alongside them was, Toby Stott, 17d, on percussion and Freddie Meaden, 18, playing the double bass, the only stringed instrument commonly found in concert bands.
For Jacob, Leo, Hannah and Toby, it was their second year with NYCB, having taken part in the 2023 course, which ended with a performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Bradshaw Hall.
Jacob credits attending the National Youth Concert Band’s 2023 residential with his decision to apply for music college rather than law courses at university.
He said: “The quality of both the band and tutorage provided by the NYCB course inspired me to pursue music as a career.
"It was incredible to work with a specialist horn tutor [Andrew Littlemore, Principal Horn at the Royal Ballet Sinfonia as well as players from across the country.”
Following auditions last autumn, Jacob was offered a £5,000 a year scholarship to attend the Royal College of Music in London, where he starts next month. Abby, Freddie and Leo are also moving on to study music further.
Conducted by NYCB musical director Jonathan Parkes, the band were joined by Guest Conductor Dr Timothy Reynish MBE, whose career has seen him travel the world conducting leading professional, civilian and military bands, as well as 25 years as the Head of School of Wind and Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he developed the wind orchestra and ensemble to become recognised as one of the best in the world.
Parkes commented “Timothy Reynish has led the wind band genre for decades and has been an inspiration for countless young musicians along the way.
"We were delighted to welcome him to work with NYCB this summer and to watch the band respond so positively to his direction was fantastic.”
Alongside full band rehearsals, the students on the summer residential received specialist tuition from experienced musicians and educators such as Sarah James, woodwind, David Chatterton, brass, and Mark Concar, percussion.
Together they worked on pieces including Gustav Holst’s First Suite in Eb for Military Band, Edward Gregson’s Festivo and Peter Graham’s Cats Tales, each selected to challenge the young players’ skills.
Following the concert, Dr Reynish said: “I have been so impressed with the National Youth Concert Band this weekend.
"Rehearsals of Holst’s First Suite and Gregson’s Festivo showed them to be so very musical, open to ideas and to have a high level of concentration.
"This is a first-rate group and I congratulate Jonathan Parkes and his staff on achieving such a high level of work in such a short time.
"The concert was first rate."
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