Chance to send concert band off in style
THE Derwent Valley Concert Band will preview its 10th overseas tour with a concert at New Norfolk on Sunday.
Conductor Lyall McDermott said the 46-member choir and special guest vocalist Mia Palencia would embark on a two-week tour of Malaysia from July 9, stopping in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Taiping, George Town (Penang) and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
“We will present six concerts, some of which will be combined with local organisations and schools,” he said. “The tour will include the Malaysian premiere of excerpts of Taiping Suite by expatriate British composer Paul Michael Baker, who will conduct the performance in Taiping.
“We will perform works by Mia Palencia arranged specifically for the tour, including the world premiere of Pengertian Suite, which incorporates traditional Sabahan musical elements into a contemporary setting.”
McDermott said the tour would include some members of the Derwent Valley Intermediate Band to enable them to get a feel for the discipline required and the excitement of touring.
Sunday’s farewell concert will feature tour repertoire including works based on British and Australian folk-music such as Bushdance by Ralph Hultgren, Click Go the Shears, Loch Lomond, Greensleeves, and Shepherd’s Hey and Children’s March by Percy Grainger. There will also be music by Duke Ellington, Richard Rogers and Morton Gould.
The concert will be held at the New Norfolk Municipal Hall from 1pm on Sunday. Entry is by donation.