Children’s Band Wow in Norwich
Wymondham College was where 68 young musicians, 27 on their first course, met under the leadership of MD Mareika Gray for the annual National Children’s Band Summer course. They spent their week working on challenging repertoire linked to a wider awareness of issues such as climate change and wildlife sustainability and even enjoyed a visit from the Wildlife Trust. Their musical experience was further enhanced by an incredible team of tutors including, Tom Hutchinson, Richard Marshall, Siobhan Bates, Chris Binns, Gary Curtin, Matthew Routley and Logan Thompson. Mareika stated, “I've loved every minute, the families should be very proud. The energy and enthusiasm was incredible and so was the mature approach the players displayed in tackling the challenging music.” The course concluded on Friday with a well attended concert at The Halls, Norwich.
The programme for the evening was themed around ‘Rhythm’ and Rhythm is the heartbeat of music and the National Children’s Band of Great Britain the programme featured rhythms and music from around the World including Brazil, Africa, America, Belgium, Scotland, Spain and Great Britain. Following Gordon Jacobs’ ‘National Anthem’, the audience was treated to a world premiere performance of ‘Sparkle’ by Belgium composer Lennert Van Laenen. The work reached the final of the NYBBGB’s Composition Competition in 2023 and explores the unusual combination of syncopation and melody nurturing fun and relaxation. Guest Soloist Simone Rebello was on dazzling form and impressed the audience and young musicians alike with much loved classics for tuned percussion and band including ‘Zimba Zamba’ and ‘Helter Skelter’. In the second half Simone returned with two Rodney Newton pieces: his arrangement of Taps in Tempo by Berenska and the original work ‘Summer Storm’, inspired by Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’.
The band showcased its versatility with the young musicians proving to be as at home playing arrangements of pop with Lennon’s ‘Yesterday’, contemporary in Eric Whitacre’s ‘Sleep’, pure film fun with ‘Soul Bossa Nova’ and even some Rolling Stones in ‘Paint it Black’. The band was just as adept with original works for bands from marches and airs to Barrie Gott’s ‘Glasshouse Sketches’ and Nate Chivers’, ‘Surprise!’. This was one of the most rhythmic and original works on show, featuring body-music, also known as body percussion or body drumming. It was a fascinating amalgam of composition and choreography and was handled so adeptly and enthusiastically by the talented youngsters.
Director of Artistic Planning Dr. Robert Childs stated, “The band played so well! It’s easy to forget how young they are when you hear them play such challenging repertoire. They’ve responded magnificently to the expert guidance they’ve received this week from Mareika, Simone and of course the section tutors.” CEO Mark Bromley added, “Thanks also go to our supporters — from the Department of Education and Arts Council England to British Army Music, the Wildlife Trust, Besson, Mercer & Barker and our volunteers. Through the support of fundraisers and donors, over £16,000 was raised to help 32 youngsters attend National Youth courses this year. This course showed just what can be achieved, and we are determined to make sure that the experience is made available to as many youngsters as possible.”
The National Youth Band of Great Britain now looks towards the weekend where the end of course concert will take place on Saturday 5th August at Saffron Hall. Further details of performances and the bursary scheme can be found at www.nybbgb.org.uk as well as on social media.
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