Chalford Youth Band were placed 3rd in the Junior section of the national brass band championships at Warwick Arts Centre.  For the third year in a row they won the best instumentalist award!

Result:
Junior Section:
Adjudicators: Martin Heartfield and Ben Richeton

Own-choice programme not exceeding 15 minutes playing time which must include at least one original piece of music composed for brass band and two verses of a hymn tune from the Red Hymn Book

1. Wardle Academy Junior Band (Lee Rigg) (Gold Award)
2. Beaumaris Band (Bethan Lowri) (Gold Award)
3. Chalford Youth Band (Steve Tubb) (Silver Award)

Silver Award:
Fred Longworth High School (Helen Robinson)
Lions Junior Brass Band (Tom Hancock)

Bronze Award:
Dobcross Youth Band (Matt Hindle)
Elland Junior Band (Samantha Harrison)
Hawkley Hall High School (Steven Cavanagh)
Soundhouse Youth Brass Plymouth (Gary Thompson)

Merit Award:
Macclesfield Junior Brass Band (Tim Grindey)
Stockport Schools Intermediate Brass Band (Tom Ridgley)
Tewit Youth Intermediate Band (Dave Dunn-Birch)

Best Instrumentalist: Flugel (Chalford Youth)

Starlight:
Confident opening, lots of detail and attention to the score! Well done M.D.
Good Euphs
B – good dynamic contrast. Careful with B.row tuning.
D – More ff please – solo cornet semis not heard.
F – more ‘marc’ please.
Ending could be stronger to show fff contrast.
Great opener.

Aranjuez:
Good to open. Watch tuning in Sop!
Fabulous sound from the soloist!
You play very musically. I am sitting and enjoying this!
Careful with cornet tuning in ‘tutti’ sections.
G – more < to pause please.
Bravo young lady!! You have a great future!

Ring, Ring:
Good tempo and style!
A – careful with unison tuning in cornets.
C – lots of energy!
Keep the bass line more marcato please.
D/S – lots of energy still and some great sounds.
V. enjoyable thank you.

Hymn:
V.1. Good balance + contrast – phrase ends are tidy.
V.2. – not as secure to open – but recovers to a controlled close

Get Happy:
Good opening – well done B.row, careful not to rush.
D – well done Sop!
All soloists do well! Careful with rhythmical accuracy.

Lots of fun and energy to the end.

Overall a great programme, EXCELLENT Soloist. Well played + thank you.
MARTIN HEARTFIELD
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Starlight:
Very effective fp dynamics! The first C not quite in tune but recovers swiftly.
B – middle + lower end great rhythm playing.
C – Lovely sop.
F – Running semiquavers work fantastically!
Great energy to start the programme!

Aranjuez:
Dramatic opening – Watch the tuning 2 bars before B.
B – Flugel horn. What a warm sound. Expressive playing and tuning is spot on!
E – Wow! ff offers wonderful contrast. Watch out for accidentals cornets.
Soloist – Take more time in the end. But overall one word: fantastic.

Ring, Ring:
With no transition – complete change of character. Such positive vibes from this. Clapping enhances this! Dynamics mostly respected. Loved it.

Hymn:
This is just lovely. There is a real sense of one-ness in this. Tuning is great and every player follows the conductor’s indications in terms of dynamics and phrasing!

Get Happy:
This is a little looser in terms of ensemble playing but the atmosphere is great.
D – Sop great, same with Solo Cornets at F then Trombones.

Fantastic performance, musically, and the ensemble playing was near faultless. Great programme too, well done band and MD.
BEN RICHETON