Musical marvels
Reporter: Dawn Marsden
Date published: 21 July 2010
YOUNG musicians have scooped a stunning hat-trick of awards at the National Festival of Music for Youth.
Three local groups — the Contemporary Music Group, Bare Trees Community Band and the Oldham Youth Wind Band — all hit the high notes at the prestigious event held at venues across Birmingham.
The six-day festival brought together more than 12,000 of the country’s most promising young performers, with hundreds of ensembles performing an eclectic mix of musical styles.
Councillor Jack Hulme, Cabinet member for children and families, said: “To get three awards is a quite brilliant achievement.
“I congratulate everyone who performed so well but pride of place simply has to go to our youth wind band who were the best in their national class.
“We now await to see if any of our three award winners are to be invited to the School Promenade Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. I think there is a very strong possibility that Oldham will be represented there.”
Oldham Music Centre’s Contemporary Music Group, under the direction of Simon Prince, won one of only four special awards in the category for an outstanding performance and their ongoing development as a group, with the adjudicator making comparisons to the London Sinfonietta — one of Europe’s great contemporary ensembles.
Bare Trees Community Band, conducted by John Collins, took on big county groups in the open brass band section.
It picked up one of three special awards available in a very tough section with the adjudicator saying the award was merited “purely for the sheer performance”.
Oldham Youth Wind Band, conducted by Roger Meaden, then completed a memorable hat-trick for the borough’s young musicians with its performance of Guy Wolfenden’s “Gallimaufry”.
