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Westmorland Youth Orchestra and Amabile Girls’ Choir delight in proms style - 26th June 2010
Westmorland Youth Orchestra Kendal Parish Church THE Westmorland Youth Orchestra and Amabile Girls’ Choir joined together for a night of musical delight.
The Bassoon Group, led by Cathy Scott, kicked off the evening before Noel Bertram picked up his baton once more to conduct the orchestra ‘In Proms Style’, with works by Wagner and Fauré.
Amabile, under the direction of Frances Chaisson, and accompanied by Lesley Talbot, performed newly-commissioned Earth Tide by Melody Rowe, showcasing solos from soprano Hannah Marsden and Abi Cooper on clarinet.
Once again, Noel pushed the boundaries for both orchestra and audience with contemporary pieces by Australian Matthew Hindson and Christopher Theofanidis and a taste of Arctic life, complete with birdsong soundtrack, by Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara.
Percussionist Zoe Craven took centre stage for once as soloist in Finzi’s Eclogue for Piano and Strings.
A rousing finale saw the orchestra and Amabile come together to perform Proms classics, including Jerusalem and Rule Britannia, featuring Laura Wilson as soloist – with a little help from the audience!
Kendal Probus Club’s annual award went to principal trumpeter Amy Redfern-Pattison for her outstanding contribution to WYO.
By Charlotte Curwen
Review oF WYO Concert at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School, 19th March 2010
An ‘evocative’ programme was promised by the WYO at their spring concert, that was certainly fulfilled and an ambitious, varied one was offered.
Entering the hall at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School the audience were treated to a set by Blue Jam duo Steve and Max.
After a rhythmic, dynamic rendition of Warlock’s Capriol Suite the first half of the orchestral programme featured the Prelude by Skempton. The tension built up by the control and precision of the players was quite electric. This was followed by fabulous aboriginal texture from the percussion section to bring the seasons of the Australian bush alive in Sculthorpe’s Kakadu.
After the interval a piece by Berio showed all sections of the orchestra off to great effect. The finale of four Wagner favourites showcased tremendously punchy brass playing, fine lower strings adding a profound depth to the sound. Both the horns and the woodwind demonstrated smooth melodic power.
Conductor Noel Bertram’s warm friendly introductions together with the obvious enjoyment, passion, talent and energy of his young players combined to give an evening of vitality and magic.
Review of Westmorland Youth Orchestra concert, 28th November 2009
Westmorland Youth Orchestra’s 62nd season opened at The Lakes School, Windermere on November 28th under the baton of Roland Fudge, after a painful wrist operation had incapacitated MD Noel Bertram. The concert, sponsored by Windermere Rotary Club and in the presence of Bill Smith, Mayor of Windermere, opened with an entertaining set by the Brewery Youth Jazz group, BYJam, under Cath Sewell, while the orchestra had Handel, Haydn, Henry Purcell in their anniversary year separated by a Gustav Holst Orchestral Suite. Libby Gibson was the lyrical and accomplished flute soloist in the Beecham arranged Handel Suite from “Il Pastor Fido”, and there was appropriately robust playing notably by the weighty bottom brass and strings in Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks. Centrepiece of the evening’s programme was the daunting Haydn Trumpet Concert, in which Amy Redfern Pattison, the orchestra’s principal trumpet and member of the Halle Youth Orchestra, was the fleet fingered and fizzy-tongued soloist delighting all by her vivacious and spontaneous performance. WYO’s next concert will be in Kirkby Stephen GS in March 2010.
Review of Westmorland Youth Orchestra concert, 27th June 2009 - Westmorland Youth Orchestra mixes old and new
An appreciative Kendal Parish Church audience made the most of a balmy evening on Saturday at the Westmorland Youth Orchestra’s entertaining, if sometimes challenging, summer concert. Noel Bertram continued his crusade to broaden the musical horizons of both orchestra and audience by featuring contemporary German composer Detlev Glanert and a very modern-sounding Anton Webern. As Bertram himself declared: after the Glanert, extracts from Stravinsky’s Firebird felt like “a bit of light relief”. This saw the WYO playing at its customary best, though pieces by Purcell, Gabrieli and Bach were also despatched with confidence. The mix was leavened by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and Aaron Copland’s famous Shaker melody.
A definite highlight was the revised tone poem Firestone and the Phoenix composed by principal cellist Matthew Bell. The Kendal Probus Club’s annual award for outstanding contributions was shared by Heppy Deane and Charlotte Curwen, respectively principal Flute and Bassoon.
The mood was set by the Merang-a-tangs, a group of 7-9 year-olds from Levens CoE school who banged out some exuberant Welcome Music on drums. “It was our first gig,” said teacher Rachael Wadey. Now the WYO knows where to look for future percussionists.
Mission Impossible? ...
... Absolutely not. Saturday's concert at QES was a success by any standards and the theme of film music was fun, evocative and well played. From Harry Potter to Star trek it was all wonderful, but the Thunderbirds Theme had oldies like me drifting back to our childhood and grinning all over our faces. The percussion section especially did themselves proud - ooh those kettle drums and that faultless snare, keeping beat. Wonderful!
But is was all good and these words of praise wouldn't be complete without a special mention for our very own cellist, Matthew Bell. It's not very often that an orchestra gets to World Premiere a piece of music, but this year WYO has has managed it twice. The 60th Anniversary gave us Musik's Empire by Anthony Milledge, but the QES concert gave us Firestorm and the Phoenix, by Matthew Bell. Matthew wrote the piece especially for WYO, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the orchestra which he has been a member of for some years. I think it is a tribute to both him and Noel that the orchestra took this piece on board and performed it at a public concert. It had depth and passion and gave me goosebumps! A really marvellous achievement for Matthew and WYO.
Thanks to all who gave us a wonderful night.
WS Kendal / December 2008
Thank you to everyone involved in the staging of such an adventurous event. I felt that it demonstrated a real commitment to music making from the engagement of the young people, the families, the WYO committee, staff and of course the musical leadership of the WYO. It was good to see a packed church. I don’t think I’ve been to, or participated in a concert that contained such a vast range of items, from an historical, diverse and unique instrument context. Undoubtedly there was something for everyone in the mix. Most importantly it has exposed young musicians from the WYO & Amabile Girls’ Choir to a level of music making and participation that all of you can be extremely proud of.
Simon Yeo, Traded Services Manager,
Learning Support Service, Children's Services, Workington. June 2008
The WYO 60th Anniversary concert was a truly wonderful event, not just because there was so much which was special and extraordinary going on, but because of the unique opportunity it has given to its young players. Not only do they get to perform a huge variety of music, play alongside world class singers, play with the unique and unexpected Carnyx and Didgeridoo and play with a choir of truly astonishing calibre, they also got to perform a world premiere of a piece of music composed especially for them. It just couldn’t get any better than that. If I had my time again, I would want to be part of WYO. What an exceptional organisation you are – well done to all concerned.
Comment from a spectator at 60th Anniversary Concert. June 2008
"Westmorland Youth Orchestra makes a huge difference to the life of our local communities. Young people from across the county gain confidence, make lasting friendships and develop impressive musical skills through their involvement with the Orchestra. Westmorland Youth Orchestra helps to motivate young people to take part in wonderfully constructive activities with the common focus of preparing for public concerts. I am really proud of Westmorland Youth Orchestra and they deserve strong support to continue in their outstanding work."
Tim Farron MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale. January 2008
“I am delighted to hear about this exciting event and anniversary”.
Howard Goodall, National Singing Ambassador and Composer, December 2007
“What a wonderful and heart warming organisation the Westmorland Youth Orchestra is.”
Lord Melvyn Bragg, Author, TV and Radio Presenter, December 2007
Review of concert at St Mary's Church Windermere, 14th March 2008
Conductor Noel Bertram inspired the talented musicians of the Westmorland Youth Orchestra to give a memorable performance at St Mary’s Church, Windermere for the start of their 60th Anniversary year. The evening was enhanced with welcome music by groups from primary schools in Hawkshead and Ambleside, and promotion by the Windermere Rotary club. Borodin’s colourful piece “on the Steppes of Central Asia” was followed by a committed performance of Goldschmidt’s challenging Passacaglia. A double bass quartet played a quirky arrangement of a Handel Sonata, and there were splendid solos by Heppy Deane (flute) and Dan Crompton (cello).
Violinist, and orchestra leader, Gareth Brookfield, gave an exquisite and mature performance of Massenet’s Meditation from “Thais”. Gareth remembers becoming interested in the violin at primary school when he was given the chance to experiment with the instrument, and more youngsters need to follow his example because balanced orchestras need strength in depth within the string section.
The orchestra worked hard to achieve the precision required in the Prelude from Charpentier’s Te Deum. The Vaughan-Williams Fantasia on “Greensleeves” gave the woodwind opportunities for expressive playing. The Ashokan Farewell by Ungar was beautifully performed. Bernstein’s showpiece, the “Candide” overture, brought the concert to a rousing conclusion.
David Coker
Review of Concert at Appleby Public Hall, November 24th 2007
To open their 60th Anniversary Season, The Westmorland Youth Orchestra gave us a concert to remember. A colourful and varied progremme of dance music began with Susato's "Dances from Danserye" in which WYO effortlessly evoked images of Tudor Royal courts and handled the contrast between rhythmic driving energy and quieter gentle moments extremely well. The rousing finale “La Battaille”, was impressive by any standards and prepared us for what was to follow.
Music from William Byrd and French Baroque composer Rameau gave strings and woodwind their chance to show off, as did Bach’s famous Air and Gavottes from Suite 3 in D Major; the Gavottes bringing the brass section back to our attention. The first closed with Strauss’s Blue Danube, and the full orchestra reached a magnificent climax which was quite simply wonderful and gave me goose pimples!
In the second half WYO led us superbly through the light and dark of Prokofiev’s “Montagues and Capulets” before taking us on a tour of Eastern European music by Kodaly, Dvorak and Bartok heavily influenced by the folk music of the region.
Britten’s Courtly Dances from “Gloriana”, written for the coronation of Elizabeth II rounded off the evening with a bold and dramatic climax, a fitting and exciting start to this 60th Anniversary season.
A Parent’s Review of November 2006 Concert at Dallam
The concert at Dallam opened with welcome music by Folklore, Dallam School’s very own folk group. They played the audience to their seats and provided a really enjoyable hors d’ouvres in contrast to the main course of mostly film and theatre music. A nearly packed house welcomed Noel Bertram and his talented Youth Orchestra who opened with Symphonic Poem “Les Preludes” by Franz Liszt; the only piece with no apparent connection to the overall theme other than to compliment it. The more famous and well known pieces from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, (including the delightful and amusing Celeste solo, guaranteed to entice even the youngest of diners at this musical feast), the Mazurka from Swan Lake and the Waltz from Sleeping Beauty introduced us to the theatrical theme while Prokofiev’s Montagues and Capulets from Romeo and Juliet provided a rousing and powerful finale to this first half.
The second half brought Howard Shore’s familiar and haunting Lord of the Rings to life with a really splendid solo by Soprano Jenny Lamb. By way of desert, the suite from Schonberg’s acclaimed Les Miserables was the final icing on the cake. I love the music from this play and thoroughly enjoyed the WYO’s rendition. When all was over I went away thoroughly satisfied!
Audience comments from previous concerts:
"Mussourgsky was wow!"
"Excellent. Very talented youngsters."
"Excellent. Brass a bit too brassy at times. Delightful programme."
"A fabulous evening's entertainment by a very talented bunch of young people."
"The boys looked very smart. The girls' outfits were rather plain - is it possible to add some colour? I thoroughly enjoyed the event - well done."
"Excellent programme and enjoyed accordion!"
"Very good, nice to see so many talented young musicians. Excellent."
"I liked Gnomus! Very Good! All very professional. On the Russian theme, how about some Shostakovich or Prokofiev next? And more English music please - Tippet? Britten?"
"Mussourgsky v. stirring! Really enjoyed it!"
"Very enjoyable programme, played with enthusiasm - very good! Thank you."
"Good choice of music - well played. Shame the hall was so cold."
"Very ambitious, good try."
"An excellent concert. Great young musicians, hopefully the orchestral players of tomorrow. So glad I came."
"First half - a very confident and tuneful performance. Second half - a splendid display of talents."
"Fabulous. All power to the youngsters."
"Great concert which started really well with Box & Bass. Well done everybody."
"A truly awesome concert. I loved the contrast between both halves - you should all be really proud - a great night"