Last night saw one of the highlights of the band's concert season when all three bands performed during the course of one music-filled evening. This was part of Ashton Music Festival and the concert was held at St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School. It is a great opportunity for members of all three bands to hear the other bands in concert.
The evening started with John Don-Duncan's youngsters, who were in fine form as usual. The Pemberton Youth Band began with the classic march "True and Trusty" which was played with great confidence and joie de vivre! Then the band featured a star-of-the-future, trombonist Gemma Riley, who ably and confidently performed "Kid Shifter". Gemma won the British Open Solo and Quartet Junior Slow Melody Championship in November 2009 and is a great asset to the Pemberton Family.
Mr Don-Duncan then chose a German work entitled "Schniedizer" before giving us a wonderfully controlled and confident rendition of part of the test piece the band will perform at Fleetwood contest on 3rd October "Summer Fantasy". The band finished their segment with a rousing rendition of the superb "Slaidburn" which was again confidently played.
Next to take to the stage was the Pemberton 'B' Band led by the band's regular Soprano player, Ediie Hill, who also chose to play a march, this time "Bramwyn" an exciting march which demonstrated the band's control and dynamic contrasts. Following this the band played a more reflective item, "The Irish Blessing" which was well played. Particular mention must go to the four players who started the piece David Lunt (on Flugel), Alex Nesmejanow (Solo Horn), Barbara Grant (Solo Baritone) and Bob Grant (Solo Euphonium).
The band then accompanied a soloist in the shape of Helen Don-Duncan, John's daughter, who chose to play "Weber's Last Waltz" a theme and variation solo that demonstrated Helen's technical skill as well as some wonderfully lyrical Euphonium playing. A special guest then joined the band in the form Eddie's son, Peter Hill, who sang the Michael Buble hit "Haven't Met You Yet". This was well received by audience and players alike. Finishing the first half of the concert was a lively performance of 'Valero' which featured standing sections of the band and even some dancing from the cornet section
After the interval the Senior band took to the stage and relived their Wychavon programme, beginning again with "Jewish Wedding Dance" demonstrating some assured technical skill from all sections of the band. This was again followed by Joanne Johnson's beautiful cornet solo "Dark-Haired Marie" which somehow was played even better than on Sunday! "The Dreaded Groove and Hook" then followed again with featured excellent solo playing from Tom Buckley (Euphonium), David Chapman (Trombone) and Carina Halliwell (Flugelhorn).
With a healthy-sized, appreciative audience this was a perfect opportunity to also replay the 'novelty item' from Sunday and so "Pizziwato Polka" again featured the cornet and trombone sections. The audience really seemed to enjoy the humorous twist on this classic! This was then followed by the closing number from Sunday "On the Shoulders of Giants", again, the shorter version. The band were once again in fine form demonstrating exceptional technique as well as wonderfully rich, full sounds and fine solo work from all sections of the band.
With huge applause from the audience and Mr Bumble-esque calls for 'more!' the band concluded the evening with a spectuclar performance of the Richard Harris popular 1968 song, which has also had big-band jazz versions performed by Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman - "MacArthur Park" as arranged for the Grimethorpe Band by Alan Catherall.
Another fine evening of music making from the Pemberton organisation, which was described by one of the spokesmen of the Festival as 'truly the highlight of the whole festival!'.
If you missed this concert, the Senior Band will next be performing at the DW Stadium in the first of a series of concerts which will be running over the coming season showcasing the band's versatility on the concert stage. This concert on the 15th of October is entitled "Friday Night is Music Night". The same weekend we will be performing at St Michael's Church, Swinley on Saturday 16th October.
Both the 'B' Band and the Youth Band will be competing at Fleetwood Contest on Sunday 3rd October at Fleetwood's Marine Hall.
