MTS Hits The High Notes
Concert Band Wins Silver Award in National Festival
On Sunday 5th November, 54 members of the Concert Band travelled to Wellington College to take part in the National Concert Band Festival.
The band, conducted by Mr Tonks, performed a programme of music which lasted around 15 minutes, including a lively and colourful rendition of ‘A Klezmer Karnival’ and the audience favourite ‘The Great Locomotive Chase’. This piece, which closed our programme, involves a variety of special effects, such as flute glissandos, bowed cymbals, and ‘steam’ noises.
The band were congratulated for their exceptional transitions and the best fortissimo playing of any school ensemble on the day. The judges gave special mentions to Ben Keyte (who played the Trumpet solo in Hazo’s ‘Psalm 42’), the French Horns (who played with an elegantly blended, warm tone), and the percussion section (who managed to play a mystifying array of instruments with superb rhythmic precision).
Ultimately, the band were given a Silver Award, which is testament to the hard work all pupils put into the event. The judges’ final comment was ‘this is a band to proud of’ – we certainly are.
The Concert Band are now working towards their next performance at the Autumn Concert in the Great Hall on Thursday 30th November.