Young musicians did tutors proud
Llwydcoed ON a day when Championship bands, down through the sections to the Fourth Section bands, were competing for the honour of becoming the Welsh League Champion of their respective sections on Saturday, November 26, with nerves on edge and each player fearful of making a slip and letting everyone in the band down, the Youth or Junior Section were presenting a 20-minute programme of music that they were just about able to play!
Many of the youngsters were playing in public for the first time, never mind about playing in a competition for the first time.
Watching them coming on stage to play they all looked bright eyed and excited as if they could not get to their seats quickly enough.
They all looked happy and certainly relaxed.
As each of the conductors came on stage there was a certain confidence and a touch of trepidation about their gait.
You could almost see the thoughts of the conductors as they looked around at these eager faces just prior to raising the baton.
Each one of them gave their charges a very con- fident smile, which was more for their own confidence than the confidence of their young players.
“I hope they don’t rush! Will they fall apart in that awkward part in the second piece. Will they remember not to play too loud? Are we really ready for this?” and so on, would have been their thoughts.
The baton comes down and the band plays and all goes pretty well as planned.
There is the odd slip here and there, but it doesn’t affect anyone else.
At the end of the performances the conductors seem to have grown a foot taller!
Worries all gone and delight as each of the bands did their tutors proud.
Everybody is now looking forward to the next Welsh League contest when they will have another exciting day of playing in public.
The certificates received by the bands which recognised their respective experience were: BTM Learners conducted by Jeff Hutcherson received a Silver Certificate; Gwaun Cae Gurwen Juniors conduct- ed by Dafydd Rhys Lewis were awarded a Bronze Certificate; Llwydcoed Juniors conducted by Richard Davies were awarded a Bronze Certificate; Melingriffith Youth conducted by Carol Flannery Davies were awarded a Gold Certifi- cate; and Rhondda Fach Youth conducted by Angela Westacott were awarded a Gold Certificate.