Praise for county youth wind band (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Praise for county youth wind band

GLOUCESTERSHIRE Youth Wind Orchestra (GYWO), the premier Wind Ensemble of the Groups organised by Gloucestershire Music, received a 'Silver Award' when they recently played in the National Concert Band Festival at Chepstow.

The band comprises talented musicians aged between 12 and 19 years old who attend Gloucestershire schools.

Gloucestershire Music's Head of Woodwind, Roger Abbott conducts the Orchestra, he said: "We played three challenging pieces which were appreciated by the adjudicators John Greaves and Bruce Perkins, both of whom are well known and respected in the world of Wind Music.

"I was really pleased by the comments which included; 'exciting' and 'very impressive'."

He continued: "They said the band 'really enjoyed this piece' and that there were 'some beautiful sounds from the orchestra, they show some fine dynamics. Their concluding comments were that it was 'overall a very solid performance', there was 'really secure and accurate playing showing good techniques and much musicality'."

The Orchestra played 'Hoe Down' By Aaron Copland, Bridges Over The River Cam by Bourgeois and New York (from East Coast Pictures) by Hess to gain this prestigious national award.

Since 2001 GYWO has made Tours to The Rhine (Germany), Valcanberg (Holland) and will visit the Black Forest (Germany) in 2006.

Mr Abbott explained: "We are grateful for the financial support that we receive from Bovis Homes South West which enables us to tour each year, they sponsored our tour in 2004 as well as our trip to Germany next year. On each Tour at least three concerts are given either publicly or to Social Services organisations."

The Orchestra's next public concert is on the March 30 in the Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham.