The junior and training bands held their annual concert and prize giving today in the War Memorial Hall, Carrickfergus.
At 10.30am Des Graham, Principal Director of Music of the Third Carricfergus Band welcomed everyone to the concert and introduced the very smartly dressed bands to the stage with their conductor Peter Arthurs (Junior Band).
To an audience consisting of the Mayor of Carrickfergus, proud parents, relatives, tutors and senior band members, the combined bands opened the very well attended concert with a rousing rendition of the “Raiders March” from the Indiana Jones series of films.
The concert then continued with each band showcasing their talents under the batons of their respective conductors with a selection of entertaining pieces being played by all concerned.
As with last year’s concert, it is evident that the standards are continuing to improve and that a lot of work has been done by both the players and the tutors for this to happen. This year the concert featured 3 soloists, Andrew Mitchell, Aoife Burgess and Leah Forsythe who showcased their talents with the expert piano accompaniment of Ruth Dodridge.
The morning’s entertainment was concluded when the junior band performed 2 well known pieces, Baggy Trousers and The Muppets, which had the audience smiling and tapping their feet.
Raiders March (JB)
Pirates of the Caribbean (JB)
Scooby Doo (JB)
Rumba – Soloist: Andrew Mitchell
Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off – Soloist: Aoife Burgess
Calon Lan – Soloist: Leah Forsythe
2a (TB)
Eudoxia (TB)
March (TB)
Baggy Trousers (JB)
The Muppets (JB))
After the concert came the awards, with the prizes being given out by the band’s special guest, The Mayor of Carrickfergus – Alderman Jim McClurg, whom the band would like to thank for his great support and for taking time out of his busy schedule to attend the concert.
The band would also like to thank all those who attended the concert today and hope that you will continue to support the players of tomorrow. Thanks also to all who supplied and served tea and buns. Last but not least special thanks to Peter Arthurs, Des Graham and all the other tutors and helpers without whom this excellent work could not take place.
Click here to see pictures of the prize winners.
The list of prize winners for 2011/12 are noted below;
THE TRAINING CUP
Winner: Jonathan Lam
Runner up: Joshua McCready
MOST PROMISING BEGINNER
Winner: James Burgess
Runners up: Jay Cully & Matthew Logan
JUNIOR BANDSMAN OF THE YEAR
Winner: Hannah Copes
Runners up: Matthew Lam & David Doherty
MOST ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBER
Winner: Joshua McCready
Runners up: Andrew Mitchell & James Kerr
COMPENDIUM CUP
Winner: Aoife Burgess
Runners Up: Andrew Mitchell, Hannah Copes & Leah Forsythe
CONDUCTORS PRIZE
Winner: David Hawthorne
Runner up: Daniel Ritchie
HELEN WARNOCK TROPHY
Winner: Sam Brodison
Runner up: Leah Forsythe
SECTION PRIZE
Winner: Percussion Section
PERCUSSION PRIZE
Winner: Euan Watson
Runner up: Matthew Lagan
Congratulations to all winners, runners up and all players involved today including those players who were promoted to the junior and senior bands. The junior and training bands now go on their holidays and will start back again on Tuesday 28th August 2012 at 18:30.