Brass Extravaganza review

What a day!

This has been a few months in planning and a lot of hard work behind the scenes but the day was finally here and fingers crossed…touch wood…everything would run smoothly.

Youth Competition

The day started off with a Youth Solo and Ensemble competition, adjudicated by Dr Richard Jones and Simon Howell (Cory Band).  Everyone who took part should feel very proud, the standard of playing was excellent.  The adjudicators were keen to put everyone at ease and everyone soon relaxed into their playing.  With a wide range of ages and instruments represented it was an enjoyable and interesting morning.

Results are available here

Workshops

Members of the Cory Band provided workshops in the afternoon. These were open to anyone playing a brass instrument and it was nice to see young players from the morning competition along with older players taking part together.  Feedback from the participants was excellent and everyone felt they had learnt something.

Workshop

There was a short break so Cory could do a quick sound check and head over to Brynamlwg for dinner before the concert.

Concert

The Highlight of the day was a concert from the Cory Band that evening.  Tickets had been selling well and by 6.30pm all were sold out.

Packed House

Packed House

The Cory Band did not disappoint.  From the very start I think they blew everyone away with their sound and everyone was in awe of the talent in front of them.  They performed a brilliant programme with a wide range of music which everyone enjoyed.

For those who won the youth ensemble contest earlier in the day there was the chance to perform in the evening concert.  Hats off to the youth ensembles who all performed brilliantly in front of a packed house and the Cory Band – if that isn’t nerve wracking I don’t know what is!

We were treated to excellent solos from Steve Stewart on Soprano Cornet, Helen Williams on Flugel Horn, Tom Hutchinson on Cornet and Glyn Williams on Euphonium.  One of the highlights was probably the performance of “The Remarkable Life of Roald Dahl” from their winning entertainment programme for the Brass in Concert competition.  It would be a shame to give too much away but if you get the chance to see them perform this then it really is a must see.

Thanks

Once again a huge thank you to everyone involved with the day.  To all the competitors and their teachers, thank you for participating and for all the hard work you put in preparing. We enjoyed listening to you and watching you perform and we hope you enjoyed the experience.

To Penglais school, thank you for the use of the school for the event.  Excellent facilities for everyone involved.

To the Cory band members who ran workshops and the whole band for their performance – Thank you!

To the Ceredigion Music Service, Friends of Ceredigion Music and all the sponsors – thank you for your support which helped to make the even possible.

To Heather Phillips, Geraint Evans and the Aberystwyth Silver Band Members – for setting up stands, marshalling the parking, making tea, selling tickets, stewarding throughout the day, looking after the Cory Band, putting the programme together, printing tickets and many more jobs.  The day wouldn’t have worked without you.

View the Photo Gallery here.

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  1. […] the success of last years Brass Extravaganza Day the band is very pleased to announce that we will be organising a 2018 Brass […]