Porthywaen Silver Band News
Chester Music Festival 2022 Triumph
Porthywaen Youth and Training Band have once again enjoyed great success at a prestigious music festival with three wins at the Chester Competitive Music Festival held at The Kings School, Chester.
The band won all three classes they entered; the chamber ensemble excelled in their competition with the percussion section coming out on top in the open ensemble class. The day was topped off with full band performance - the programme celebrating brass banding.
Class 34 - Chamber Music
1st place: A brass sextet of Isabel, Nia, Isla, Lucy, Alex and Fergus played Offertoire by Simper and an arrangement of Somewhere by Bernstein.
Class 33 Instrumental Ensemble - Lakewood Cup
1st place: Percussion Trio of Fergus, Noah and Kit played Taiko Drums by Mixon.
2nd place: Our youth ensemble played Russian Fantasy and Lucky Lucky Lucky Me.
3rd place: Our 'veteran' ensemble played Bist du bei mir and Frere Jacques Swings
Class 75: Brass Bands
1st place and the Hilda Catherall Shield for best overall orchestra or band.
The Youth and Training Band played:
Bandology, Osterling
Hallelujah, Cohen
Strike Up The Band, Gershwin
In addition to the band successes, several individual players had cause for celebration.
Class 31: Instrumental Duet
Members Margaret Herbert and Nicky Peet were placed first in this class.
Class 35: Family Ensemble
Congratulations to Margaret and Isabel Herbert for a commended performance.
Class 43: Solo Strings
Cornet player Nia Lincoln was victorious on her violin in this class.
Musical Director, Simon Fisher, said of the event, "I am so proud of the performances of the band members in this, our first outing as a complete unit since the disruption of Covid. The commitment and dedication required to pull off this feat cannot be understated. Thank you and congratulations to all our players, helpers and supporters - this is a celebration of all that we do."
The Chester Music Festival is an annual event organised by the Chester Competitive Festival of Performing Arts.
Our victorious instrumental ensembles
Senior Band Player and Youth Band Players of the Year Awards
At the virtual AGM held on 17 March 2022 Danny Williams and Isabel Herbert were awarded the Senior Band and Youth Band player of the years awards.
Danny and Isabel were worthy winners voted for by members of the bands.
Successful Oswestry Youth Music Festival
Porthywaen Youth and Training Band took the honours in several competitions at the Oswestry Youth Music Festival 2022. Against stiff opposition, the group retained the Dick Jones Trophy for the best Brass Band – an award they have now won over 20 times. The Methodist Chapel audience was thrilled with a fantastic performance of Bandology, Hallelujah and Wellerman. Adjudicator Angela Rowley commented that the programme was “worthy of distinction” and loved the “proper brass banding” sound.
The band’s percussion players were also on song as they successfully defended their titles in the U15 and U18 Percussion Ensembles. Kit Fisher also won the solo drum kit competitions for U9 and U12 categories, while Jack Arrowsmith won the U21 solo with backing track. Noah Fisher took 2 second places in the U15 drum kit categories.
Porthywaen Youth and Training Band completed their performances at the Festival with two commended second places in the Chamber Music Ensemble and the U15 Ensemble.
Musical Director, Simon Fisher, said, “It has been an absolute delight to have this opportunity to perform at the festival again. We are thrilled with all the performances and so proud of all our players. They have dealt with so much disruption over the past two years but their resilience amazes me. The band performance was just incredible.
“Porthywaen Silver Band would like to pass our congratulations to Sue Turner and the Festival committee for another successful festival. We are proud to play our part and contribute to the musical community in Oswestry.”
Good Luck to Porthywaen Youth and Training Band who will be competing at the Oswestry Youth Music Festival on 4 March 2022. they will be competing in a number of ensemble and band classes at Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry.
All best of luck to any members of Porthywaen who are entering the individual classes.
Senior Band Player of the Year Award
At the virtual AGM held on 17 March 2021 we were able to make the delayed announcement that percussionist Jack Arrowsmith had been voted Senior Band Player of the Year for 2019.
The award is voted for by members of the band. Here Jack is with the John Williams Challenge Trophy which he'll hold until AGM next year. He also gets a medal to keep and an entry on the roll of honour at the Band Hall.
Runners up were Nicky Peat and Ceri Broomhall.
Success at Owestry Youth Music Festival for Porthywaen
Congratulations to all members of Porthywaen who competed at the Oswestry Youth Music Festival.
Members triumphed in both group/ensemble classes and individual classes - well done to all of you.
Our Percussion section swept the board in the drum kit solos
An increased number of solo entries saw success in brass solos
In the spirit of the festival we joined with Ellesmere College to set up 'PorthMere Wind Band' who won the Wind Band class with 'Pictures At An Exhibition'
MD Simon Fisher said "This year we entered an unprecedented 10 ensemble classes and achieved extraordinary success. I am so proud of all our players; their dedication, discipline and enjoyment shone through in all our performances. We had fantastic feedback from the adjudicator and audiences, praising the technical prowess and entertainment evident in all groups."
It was also a delight to be able to support individuals to enter solo competitions and to see them competing for overall musician of the year at the Finals Concert.
Results as follows:
First place:
U12 Percussion Ensemble
U15 Percussion Ensemble
U18 Percussion Ensemble
U12 Instrumental Ensemble
U15 Instrumental Ensemble
U18 Instrumental Ensemble
U18 Chamber Ensemble
U21 Chamber Ensemble
Wind Band
Brass Band
U15 Brass Solo: Fergus Young
U18 Brass Solo: Dan Gittins
U21 Brass Solo: Dan Gittins
U15 Instrumental Duo: Alex Young and Fergus Young
U9 Drum Kit Solo: Kit Fisher
U12 Drum Kit Solo: Noah Fisher
U15 Drum Kit Solo: Fergus Young
U18 Drum Kit Solo: Jack Arrowsmith
U15 Drum Kit with backing track: Noah Fisher
U21 Drum Kit with backing track: Jack Arrowsmith
Finals Concert
Noah Fisher (Drum Kit) went on to compete in the Young Performer of the Year.
Fergus Young (Eb Bass and Drum Kit) went on to compete in the Oswestry Town Council Junior Cup.
Dan Gittins (Cornet) and Jack Arrowsmith (Drum Kit) were invited to compete for the Oswestry Town Council Cup.
(Photos Courtesy of Oswestry Youth Music Festival). For further photos from the festival visit https://oswestryyouthmusicfestival.wordpress.com/2020-2/
She is a familiar face at both rehearsals and concerts and friend to many members.
Congratulations to Band Hall Steward Tom Lander on 15 Years Service Award with St Johns Ambulance Service
In December Tom (left) was presented with the St Johns Ambulance Medal in recognition of his time helping St John support communities in Shropshire and the wider West Midlands for 15 years.
In addition to volunteering with the charity’s Oswestry Unit, Tom specialises in communications and became Regional Technical Officer earlier this year.
Tom who plays E flat Bass in the Senior Band is also our Band Hall Steward, making sure the Band Hall is warm, clean and fit to use week in week out.
For more information on St John Ambulance, including how to make a donation, volunteering opportunities, and details of training for the public, schools and businesses, visit www.sja.org.uk or call 08700 10 49 50.
Radio Appearance for PYTB MD Simon Fisher
On Saturday 7 December 2019 - while preparing for the Oswestry Christmas Parade - Simon Fisher was interviewed live on air for the Ryan Kennedy show on BBC Radio Shropshire.
You can catch him here about 18 minutes from the start of the show.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07v1d3d
