It wasn’t only the music that was summoned to Burnside for our 2024 Fringe Concert. An almost capacity crowd packed the Ballroom and overwhelmed us with their enthusiastic comments.
A John Williams fanfare set the tone for a varied programme of musical genres, including Gershwin, jazz, film music and Freddy Mercury. We always try to include one major work – to test both audience and players – and this year MD Peter Smith decided to go for broke with Fire in the Blood. Doubts had been expressed by brass experts in the audience, but the band rose to the occasion and was rewarded with ecstatic applause and a standing ovation.
Many soloists can manage to play amazing pyrotechnics, but trombonist Peter Doherty also has perfect control and a velvet tone. Stardust and Evergreen showed what a fine musician he is, while his arrangement of Onward Christian Soldiers combined humour with lightening speed. He started his musical career at the age of eight, playing in the same band as our lead cornet player, Julie Dorey. The pair came together again to play the duet Tears.
We should also acknowledge Julie Dorey, Wayne Jackson and Molly Sweeney who spent many hours of home practice mastering the kazoo, a non-traditional brass instrument which features in the movie Chicken Run. Unfortunately, this is a skill which may not be called for very often.
As always, many thanks to all the helpers and to Sue Smith for her introductions. Thanks also to Mike with the unspellable surname (aka Mike A-Z) for filling in on flugel . And special thanks to our audience for all your support and encouragement.
