University News Last updated 11 December
The Junior RBC Wind Orchestra made a triumphant return to the National Concert Band Festival (NCBF) on Sunday 1 December at Warwick Hall, achieving the highest award from the panel of expert adjudicators.
The ensemble’s programme paid tribute to RBC’s own musical heritage, performing ‘Gallimaufry’ by Guy Woolfenden, who was a leading light at the Conservatoire and the Royal Shakespeare Company. They prefaced this with a movement from Ralph Vaughan-Williams’ English Folk Song Suite.
The ensemble received a Platinum award for their performance, with the adjudicators describing it as “well-rehearsed” and praising the “high level of musicianship and outstanding solo work”.
The adjudicators also offered some helpful tips on future development, advising them to work on even better articulation and intonation. They acknowledged that for an ensemble with children as young as 11 years old alongside members of the National Youth Orchestra, this was an outstanding performance.
This achievement represents a major milestone for the Wind Orchestra.
The group’s director, Jeff Snowdon, reflected: “During and since the pandemic, we have had to use all our creativity to produce a meaningful musical experience for our students, and several of the students have composed new pieces specifically for the ensemble. I am extremely proud of the players for their enthusiasm and positive attitude throughout this period.
“This year, the ensemble has reached its strongest point since 2019, and the NCBF result is a testament to the commitment and shared endeavour of the students. It is great to see the ensemble coming back to national prominence, and I hope we will be able to maintain and capitalise on this success to increase the Junior department’s profile across the Midlands. The Junior Conservatoire can offer a life-changing experience and development flightpath for talented young musicians.”
Head of Junior RBC Timothy English added: “We are all incredibly proud of our young musicians. This is a great achievement for the whole ensemble, and a demonstration of their talent and commitment. The Junior Conservatoire welcomes applications from young musicians who would enjoy the opportunity to share their passion for music with like-minded students.”