A wind band from Yate has won a coveted award at the West of England and South Wales Regional Concert Band Festival in Monmouth.
Earlier this month Yate Music Centre’s Senior Wind Band performed a 20 minute programme of music for woodwind, brass and percussion under the experienced baton of musical director David Pagett, to scoop the prestigious Platinum Award.
As a result, the band, which receives support from South Gloucestershire Council, will now be invited to perform again at the 2010 National Concert Band Festival (NCBF) which is to be held on the 10 and 11 April at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
The band will now be concentrating their rehearsal time on preparations for both the National Concert Band Festival Finals in April and their annual Christmas concert at Brimsham GreenSchool on 12 December.
Yate Music Centre is one of three area music centres run by South Gloucestershire Council Music Service. It consists of a senior wind band, intermediate wind band, senior string ensemble, intermediate string ensemble and training string ensemble, all of which meet and rehearse at BrimshamGreenSchool on Saturday mornings.
Cllr Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people, said: “The Yate senior wind band should be very proud of their excellent achievement. I very much look forward to following their exploits at the national level next April.”
The band are keen to attract both sponsorship and performance opportunities that would allow them to showcase their new concert programme before the national finals in April.
Laura Daykin, one of the band’s tutors, said: “A Platinum Award from the NCBF is a really fantastic achievement for these talented young musicians. It is a testament to their hard work and dedication that they have been given the highest possible award in recognition of the weeks of hard work and practice that contributed to their performance.”
If you can help the band or if you are interested in supporting the work of Yate Music Centre, please get in touch via South Gloucestershire Music Service who can be contacted by email at musicservice@southglos.gov.uk.
Full details of all the young musicians groups and the work of the Music Service is available online www.southglos.gov.uk/musicservice.
Source: South Gloucestershire Council
