At 10.30am the players from the Senior Band and the Youth Band arrived at Worsley Mesnes Primary School, where B Band Euphonium star Helen Don-Duncan teaches, and the band began with a ‘run-through’ of the chosen test piece. Senior Band players sat in and played alongside the youngsters, despite having only finished a concert with Highfield Male Voice Choir at the Brindley Theatre in Runcorn twelve hours earlier.
After a short rehearsal, led by conductor John Don-Duncan, the band broke up into sections and soloists. John Atkinson, soprano cornet from the senior band, worked with the Youth Band’s soprano cornet player Emma Barkley. Joanne Johnson, the band’s principal cornet and recent recipient of her Master’s with Distinction degree from Salford University, worked with the band’s front row and their flugel player. The Youth Band back row was coached by Steve Hyde, the senior band’s assistant principal cornet. The whole cornet section was put through their paces for an hour of intense coaching from the three senior band experts.
The horns were coached by John Don-Duncan, the second trombone player of the senior band as well as the Youth Band’s inspiring conductor, while the Euphoniums and Baritones were coached by Helen Don-Duncan,Dave Chapman (solo trombone in the senior band)and Ashley Jeffers (Solo Baritone,Senior Band). That only left one section, and in fact one player. Andrew Potter is the bands only bass player and was coached by former senior band member and Fodens B-flat Bass player, Dave McGlynn.
After an hour of work with their tutors, the Youth Band were given a small break and returned as a band to put together the work they had done with the senior band players. The band was much more confident in their performance and a difference was noticeable, even though stamina was taking its toll. John finished the day with a bit of work on a new piece he has arranged ready for the Christmas period.
Conductor, John Don-Duncan, was pleased with the progress of the band and commented that “the kids really enjoyed themselves and the band sound great. Fleetwood should be good!” The tutors were also pleased with the day, John Atkinson commented that “the band have improved so much since April, they’re so keen and a pleasure to work with”.
The organisation would like to take this opportunity to thank John Don-Duncan for his continued hard work as well the parents of the Youth Band for bringing their children to the bandroom weekly for rehearsals and the time they have given over recent weeks to help renovate the exterior of the aged building.
The Senior Band wish the Youth Band and B Band well at the forthcoming Fleetwood contest, Sunday 7th October, and hope that the workshop has made a difference.
