Last week it was festival time in Birmingham, the National Festival of Music for Youth. From Monday, July 7, to Saturday, July 12, through most of the daylight hours, always two often three and occasionally four venues resounded to the music of over 10,000 gifted young players. Prominent amongst these was the Ysgol Greenhill School Orchestra. The chairman of the panel for the School Orchestra event, Colin Touchin (conductor, composer, clarinettist, recorder player and adjudicator), opened his remarks by saying what a privilege it was for them to be invited to play at the amazing Symphony Hall. He then went on to assure each of the five ensembles that they had fully earned that invitation. The Greenhill Orchestra played 'Where Eagles Dare' by Ron Goodwin; 'Hoe-Down' (from 'Rodeo') by Copland; and 'A Tribute to John Williams', arranged by Paul Lavender. Their loyal supporters who enjoyed the recent concert at the school at the end of June will remember that they had rehearsed this self-same programme then. This time, at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham, their performance was exuberantly festive. Firstly, their 100-plus players filled that huge stage; and then their music dazzlingly satisfied the acoustic demands of the auditorium. One cannot represent on paper the quality of their playing; nor can one reproduce the aura that surrounded these young people as they walked out into that hall, some as young as 12 and others of the 'old hands' are now pushing 18. The younger ones simply belied their years, thanks in no small part to the steadying influence of their older colleagues. In particular, the strings section made the greater amendments, relishing the unusual elbow room not available at their usual venues. A final comment on the orchestra's performance comes from Mr. Paul Rapi, their ever-enthusiastic musical director. On leaving the rostrum, he said: "That was terrific! I enjoyed every moment of it!" Praise indeed! A number of the orchestra figured in other events of the festival. On Wednesday afternoon, William Edwards had the accolade of having his own composition 'L L Uvius' played by the Pembs. Schools' Percussion Ensemble, in the Adrian Boult Hall. Later the same day, back in the Symphony Hall, Ex-Greenhillian Rebecca Whitehurst conducted the Pembs. Schools' Chamber Orchestra. And on Friday, Greenhill students numbered amongst the Pembs. County Big Band. These performances were possibly the last in school livery for some of the students. Joe Lewis, Rhys Hodgeson, orchestra leader Carys Bromby, Alex Hamilton, Fay Brickell, Fran Roberts, Rachel Hobbs and Rebecca Hills will go on to further studies at university. Two younger ladies, Catherine Hare and Chloe Dobbs, take up the places they have been awarded at Chetham's School, Manchester. This specialist Music School takes just 290 students between eight and 18-years-old. There is one orchestral concert arranged at the Greenhill School on September 11, in aid of Wales Air Ambulance. We hope that we can depend on their inclusion this one more time. As these musicians old and new look forward to their summer vacation, they can take pride in some splendid performances over the years. Thank you for the music!
