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KWO strikes gold |
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THE Kew Wind Orchestra has confirmed its status as one of Britain's top wind ensembles by winning its third consecutive gold award at the National Concert Band Festival (NCBF) finals.
KWO was also presented with a rare consistent achievement award for its long run of high quality performances in the open class of the UK's largest wind and big band festival.
Judges Guy Woolfenden and Colin Touchin, who awarded the band gold marks in every category, praised the band's 'remarkable' rendition of Dominic Muldowney's exciting Dance Suite.
Woolfenden and Touchin, who have both conducted the highly challenging work, praised the band's decision to perform the piece as it has never been attempted before at the NCBF.
The NCBF festival, which was held in Warwick, is the culmination of the participation of a huge number of bands around the UK representing over 5,000 musicians in total.
Participating bands are assessed and awarded gold, silver, bronze and merit. The open class is the highest level of the festival.
In the previous two years, KWO has achieved gold awards with performances of Phillip Sparke's Dance Movements and Paul Hindemith's Symphony in B Flat.
NCBF director Keith Allen praised the calibre of the KWO musicians. He added that the Hindemith and Muldowney works were rarely performed because of their musical complexities. He said: "To be able to sustain consistently high quality performances over that number of years with a community band that has changing personnel shows quality musical direction. "KWO has consistently performed very demanding musical pieces which shows the calibre of the musicians."
In his adjudication, Touchin told the band: "This is tremendous work. It is a great feel to hear the piece really brought to life. I am very impressed with all that you have done with it." He went on to praise the 'virtuosic' playing. "It is a piece you cannot do unless you have pronounced technical skill right across the stage and that you all have the willingness and concentration to make every note and every dynamic matter," added Touchin.
The award marks a high point in KWO's history. Under musical director Spencer Down, who took over in 2001, the band has gone from strength to strength. Down said: "This achievement does not happen by accident. It is a tribute to the players in KWO and the strength of their commitment. It has been fantastic to see the band and its individual players musically develop over the years. "This is part of a long term strategy by the band. Our next goal is to compete at the World Music Competition in Kerkrade, which we have dubbed the 'Windband Olympics' as it takes place every four years."
Down added that some individuals' playing and musicianship had improved through the formation of chamber ensembles. The band now boasts three ensembles - a sax quartet, a wind quintet and a brass quintet - which regularly perform in public as separate entities. In addition, the band has held 'chamber days' in which every member of the band is put into a smaller group. Professional musicians have been brought in to coach these ensembles. These have included the composer Joseph Horovitz, saxophonist Christian Forshaw and principal players from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Douglas Mitchell (clarinet) and Graham Lee (trombone).
KWO chairman Andrew Black added: "It is testament to Spencer's consistency and leadership of the band that we have got as far as we have and we are looking for him to take us on to the next level. "As we have progressed over the years, we have also attracted lots of new players which has been fantastic for the band. Next year, we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary. It is going to be a special year for us and we have lots of exciting things planned to mark the occasion."
KWO is also currently in the process of commissioning its fourth new work, which will be for choir and windband. The orchestra has previously been honoured to commission and perform world premieres of works by acclaimed composers Derek Bourgeois, Michael Omer and Eddie Harvey.
KWO, which rehearses on Thursday nights between 7:45 and 10pm in Richmond-upon-Thames, is always interested to hear from talented and committed players. Anyone interested in joining the band, should sign up at www.kewwindorchestra.org.uk.
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