A CONFIDENT Chalford Youth Band, trained and conducted by Steve Tubb, did our organisation proud by winning a silver award in the community section of National Youth Brass Band Championships at Salford University on Saturday, February 15 (2003).

"They played excellently," said our man at the scene, Bandmaster Andy Godwin. "The judges, Duncan Beckley and John Berryman, did not award points or placings, other than the first three - 1 JAG Mount Charles Youth Band, 2 Horbury Victoria Youth, 3 Houghton Area Youth. Instead they awarded a certificate of merit to each band, which was either gold, silver or bronze depending on achievement. Chalford got silver. We will never know the exactplacings from 4th to 10th, which is somewhat frustrating and disappointing, but from the results it is clear we must have been anything from fourth to seventh."

Andy said the test piece Narnia Suite was really well played. Chloe Witts on solo horn performed absolutely superbly the solo Demelza. Both Opening Number (Ray Woodfield) and the finale Backdraft (Hans Zimmer) were performed to a high standard. The sounds were good throughout and there were no problems with tuning.

Adjudicators' remarks in full:

Opening Number

Good opening. A - the rhythm needs attention - and percussion. I don't hear clarity in cornets. B - good trombs, put percussion rhythm needs attention. C - good band sound, but the musical feel is wrong - percussion does need attention, as does speed.

Narnia Suite

i) Good opening but a little loud. A - well done solo cornet. B - the music has a good flow to it. Good ending. ii) The start - euphs - is confusing. More dynamic contrast needed, and please be aware of rhythm. A - a little loud. 38 - good sop. B - good band sound but rhythm is still a problem. iii) well done solo horn. The bars (baritones) and euph line seems a little uncertain. I also feel the music needs to flow a little better. 84 - I don't hear the solo cornet very well. 88 - end. You make some good sounds, but I feel the music doesn't flow as well as it should. iv) Good start, but a little slow. I do think that intonation is becoming a problem now. However technical aspects you handle well, and with purpose. v) I feel this movement lacks purpose. 167 - uncertain cornets. C - I am waiting for more dynamic contrast here. D - the music loses a little pace here. E, F, G - some good playing - but tempo is slow, and I am losing detail. J - the balance needs attention, but there are a lot of good moments here. Overall you need to have a little more 'punch' to your delivery.

Demelza

A good opening, and the soloist plays with control. Well done. I feel that the band is a little loud for the soloist. E - well done soloist. I feel the music needs to flow a liitle more, and have more dynamic contrast. Overall the soloist plays very well, but the band accompaniments are a little loud, and the music needs to flow. Well done soloist.

Theme from Backdraft

Confident start. Builds well. C - Well handled. F - good sounds. H - good percussion, I feel that the music needs to keep moving. J - good sounds - cornets. I felt that this piece lacked intensity, but overall some fine playing. Keep up the good work.

SILVER. D. Beckley.

Opening Number

A very good balanced sound with accurate playing but lacking sparkle I feel.

Narnia

A pleasing opening which has a good shape to it. The storm mov. is safe but doesn't really catch fire although there is some good playing. Again in the 3rd good sounds come through and intonation generally is at a good level. The journey is well under control but it could be a little more incisive, it just lacks that bit of 'bite'. The same goes for the final movement, the playing is a little on the polite side.

Demelza

The soloist plays with beautifully full tone with good shaping of phrases, a bit more tonal contrast would have enhanced even more. The accomps. a touch heavy at times.

Backdraft

A fine overall sound, much more tone from the tune at E please, and after I more incisive accents from cornets. Pleasing but, generally a well trained band lacking today a bit of sparkle.

SILVER. John Berryman.

The full results of the day were:

Community Section

Brown Shipley Concert Hall

Adjudicators: Duncan Beckley and John Berryman

Test Piece: Narnia Suite - G. Burgon

John Henry Iles Award: Most Promising Band - Shaw Youth - M.E. Tooley

1. (Gold Award) JAG Mount Charles Youth - Jon Small

2. (Gold Award) Horbury Victoria Youth - Tom Greatorex

3. (Silver Award) Houghton Area Youth - Les Palmer

Silver Awards:

CHALFORD YOUTH- Steve Tubb

Lions Youth - Nigel Birch

Poynton Youth Brass - Andy Hirst

Tewit Youth - Malcolm Dibb

Bronze Awards:

Haydock Youth - Dave Chadwick

Shaw Youth - M. Tooley

South East Cheshire Youth - Louise Renshaw

Individual Award for Commitment to brass band music - Tom Gibson

Best Instrumentalist: Elizabeth Pope - Euphonium, Horbury Youth.