Wessex Youth and Training Band Contest 2013

Best Bass section Daisy T, John and Abbie W :-)

Adjudicators comments
Full results
My report of the day
Chris's report of the day
Gallery

1.Adjudicators comments
Adjudicator - Captain Ian Davis BMus(Hons) MMus(Dist) AMusTCL RM
( names in highlighted red players associated with the comments given )

Vectis Training Brass Band - 6 adult helpers rest all children. We had 1 bass, 2nd trom, 2nd horn, back row cornet, 4th man down, 2nd euph.

Can't take my eyes off you
Good intro and warm sounds setting up the soloist who has a very pleasant trombone sound (Daisy W) . Nice change to swing between B and C (Henry, David and Sam) Good articulations in the ritmico section. A good start to the concert.

She moves through the fair
Lovely opening (Hanna, Michael and David) creating atmosphere - melody passes well between players - good horn and bari sound after the pause - well done ( Dominic, Charis, Alice, Declan, Jake and Tom) well controlled to the end. Lovely flugel playing especially (Rose)

Streets of London
Atmosphere created by some good piano playing leading to good solid percussion. ( Henry and Sam) Well phrased confident playing by the soloist ( Faye) Good articulation from the band describing the bells. Great rall into H - well controlled ( all of us ! ) Well finished by the soloist ( Faye)

Hymn - Sandon
Good ensemble sound - all moving together. Good piano sound on the second verse - I challenge you to achieve this sound with all the cornets playing !

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Opening four bars played with good control and the cornets enter at A ( all front row) with much enthusiasm. Be careful that you have some dynamics for the forte at E. Well played to the end.

A good enthusiastic performance by both the band and conductor that was very much enjoyed by the audience.

Vectis Youth Brass Band - all children

Roman Wall
Good start, you set the scene well, excellent forte piano ( all of us ! ) Careful not to rush the groups of four quavers. Good ensemble and staccatos at E ( all of us........again !) Good articulation throughout and plenty of air holds tuning to the end in the last chord (all of us :-) )

Eventide
Slightly ragged start ( all of us :-( ) but good piano sound at the opening (:-))Be careful to all phrase together especially at the end of bar 4. Well controlled ending.

I'm gonna be (500 miles)
Burns night last night ! Good solo cornet playing at 5 ( Hanna) A little more cornet 2+3 would be good at B (back row) Good trombones at 17 ( Daisy W & Abbie ) Call and response well balanced at 31 ( front row and troms) performance well played right to the end.

Highland Farewell
Good opening - I can almost smell the whisky. Excellent solo cornet ( Isabelle) be careful military side drum isn't too loud. Good subito piano from the band at 41. Crescendo was well maintained through to a well controlled ending.

Ghostbusters
A little more of the moving line (euph etc.) needed at 6 Excellent singing from the back row cornets. Great ending ! (Alice !)
A very good performance. Well done everyone.

2.Full results

Will fill in as I find out x ...

Youth
1st Vectis Youth
2nd Test Valley Youth

Training
1st Andover Training
2nd Test Valley Training
3rd ?
4th Vectis Training
5th ?
6th ?

Ensembles
1st Andover
2nd Bath Spa
3rd Bridge Brass
4th ?

Best Soloist - Bagpipe player
Best Basses - Vectis Youth
Best Hymn - Andover ( not sure which one)
Best over all band of the day - Andover Training
Youngest player - ?
Best Deportment - ?

Will be on Wessex site here http://www.wessexbba.co.uk/

Our results :
Champion Youth Band - Vectis Youth (MD's Mary Teague and Jay Taylor)
Best Bass section of the day across all sections - Vectis Youth ( John, Daisy T and Abbie W)

On the remarks we are marked as runner up in the best hymn across both sections, but I will check on this.

3.My report of the day

Another trip across the very expensive Solent, courtesy of Wight link, and another great days music making with our efforts yet again being rewarded with silver ware x great stuff. As you know I’m not a huge fan of contests. I don’t like, especially for young players the idea that you’re only successful if judged a winner, but I do have complete confidence that Wessex run a good contest and the adjudicators are always very able and professional and yesterday was no exception. Also the discipline of contest preparation improves your playing.

9 bands took to the stage and as usual the standard was very high. I don’t think any piece was repeated and each band played to its strengths and I know the audience had a very enjoyable selection to listen too.

I had picked a slightly more challenging programme for our training band as we are allowed 6 adults in supporting roles. You can see how we do this as our adults are dressed differently from the children making it obvious exactly what they are playing. Highlights for me in this performance were of course our two featured soloists. Faye and Daisy had not only great sound and precision but they commanded the stage with their performance presence and style. Well done girls J band accompanied well too as the adjudicator pointed out.

I loved the three solo cornets in ‘She moved’ especially Hanna who had to start off. All three (Hanna, David and Michael) played with real style and grace, quite beautiful. Rose played her solo the best I have heard it and Dominic and Tom’s control at the end was most pleasing.

My best section of the training band performance was the percussion. 3 young players no adult help. Many congrats to Henry, Sam and David, well done lads x Things to work on are: basic items (tuning, articulation etc.) all bands work on these constantly also! Wider range of dynamics and new soloists for

Wessex

2014 x

Quick brew and sarnie and we were back on stage. I was disappointed that the youth band before us over ran by 15 mins in their warm up time. Even when an official went into the room the MD ignored him and carried on. This was eating into our rehearsal time but the officials at Wessex allowed us our full warm up time. That’s why we go to Wessex, they are always fair.

I choose the youth band programme based on entertainment and playability as it was just us, no adults. Roman Wall always starts things well, bravo to Andrew great timp playing. Eventide had a lovely balanced sound just a few tiny lumps and bumps on the way, something to work on there x ‘500’ rocked, and good kit from Henry J Jay was superb in all aspects in his MD spot. So professional in announcing, clear and decisive in conducting and led the band so well. Our two soloists were spot on. Well done Sam and Isabelle x

What can you say about Ghostbusters eh? Such good fun. Had the whole audience clapping along J Alice stole the show at the end, well done.

Things to work on: bigger breath of sound and new items/soloists for 2013 contest x

My best section in the youth band, if I had to pick one, was the winning bass section who won the section cup. Congrats to John, Daisy T and Abbie W. An example of your ability was the glorious note you held between the hymn verses. Beautiful sound.

Vectis, you played very, very well. I and other adult’s supporters had lots of complementary comments from audience and other bandsmen. I will always focus on the ‘youth’ element of our band. What other bands choose to do is their business. We are a true youth band and our efforts have been rewarded with the Wessex Youth Band title and best basses. Well done x x