Winter concerts sparkle
The results of months of rehearsing and dedication were celebrated with two presentations and one concert by West Sussex Music groups from across the county.
On Friday 29 November, ensembles from the music centres of Chichester, Horsham, and Worthing staged their Winter Presentation at Worthing Music Centre’s home at Bohunt School. The concert brought together young musicians to perform to family and friends.
Chichester Youth Orchestra and Worthing Youth Orchestra, conducted by Russ Robinson combined in a massed performance of Promenade from “Pictures At An Exhibition” by Mussorgsky and then a beautiful rendition of The Beatles’ Hey Jude.
The massed percussionists from the music centres’ Drum Lab groups came together to play an impressive opener of Double Stock Rolls before the combined Chichester and Worthing Drum Labs performed Drum & Drummer and the Drum Labs from Horsham performed Drums the Word and Through Stick & Skin all conducted by Dale Bennet.
On Saturday 30 November, the Horsham Music Centre Winter Presentation was held at their home at Millais School in Horsham. The concert brought together the West Sussex Training Wind Orchestra, the West Sussex Training String Orchestra, West Sussex Young Voices and the Horsham Elementary Woodwind Ensemble “Hi5”.
Young Voices performed The Bosham Bell, Wonka Medley and Amazing, under their conductor Mark Bradbury. They were followed by Hi5, conducted by Nick Chalk, in performances of Personent Hodie, A Midnight Chocolate Crepe and The (Drunken) Wellerman.
Training Winds wowed with Pathfinders March, The Polar Express and The Incredible Adventures of Wallace and Gromit conducted by Vincent Godfrey. Rounding off the presentation were the Training Strings, conducted by Adam Barker, in performances of Trumpet Tune, Stringin’ the Blues and Walking in the Air from The Snowman.
The third of the weekend’s public events was on Sunday 1 December at Worthing Assembly Hall in an event that showcased the West Sussex County Ensembles and Tomorrow’s Orchestra.
For the Tomorrow’s Orchestra this was their final “graduating” performances since starting as beginners in January. Over the last three terms the students have had free instrumental lessons and free instrument hire with their ensemble membership. The musicians on the Tomorrow’s Orchestra Programme 2024 (TOP24) came together from four of the music centres for this massed performance conducted by Saba Safa. TOP24 performed a variety of pieces including Wallace and Gromit and Good King Wenceslas. They were followed by West Sussex Youth Wind Orchestra, conducted by Vincent Godfrey and, just before the interval, the West Sussex Youth Choir, conducted by Mark Bradbury. The Choir performed four excellent pieces, including the very current Defying Gravity from the show “Wicked”.
The second half featured West Sussex Youth Orchestra, conducted by Adam Barker. The strings performed four pieces, including Humming Chorus from “Madama Butterfly” and Georgia On My Mind, which included trombone soloist Zach Johnston. The full orchestra rounded off the evening with their three pieces with the rousing Radetsky March.
James Underwood, Chief Executive for West Sussex Music, said:
“I’m extremely impressed of the progress of our young musicians in just one term. The efforts of the music centre specialist tutors and the encouragement of families have been rewarded in some stunning and joyful performances. It is so important that young people are encouraged and supported to showcase their talents and, with their friends, build their resilience to new situations. Every performer should feel immensely proud of their achievements this weekend. Many congratulations to everyone involved.”
If your child is interested in making music with others, there’s a wide variety of opportunities across the county. Applications for music centre membership starting in January are open now – including for our next cohort of TOP25 musicians. For more information go here.
