THE NEWS

BY BARNEY MEDLAND Trombone Days in Durham and Antrim Sunday 8 May saw the BTS hold a North East trombone day at the Mark Hillery Arts Centre at Collingwood College, Durham. The day was a fabulous gathering of trombone players of all ages, with Christian Jones of Opera North, the trombone section of the WFEL Fairey Band, and a team of players from the Royal Northern College of Music all joining as special guests.

The following week, on 15 May, there was a BTS gathering in Northern Island. Another fantastic day of massed blows, recitals, and workshops at Antrim Board Centre saw BTS members joined by special guests Neil Gallie and Richard Ashmore, respectively Principal Trombone and Principal Bass Trombone with the Ulster Orchestra.

Wessex Trombone Day Planned Planning is ongoing for a Wessex Trombone Day to be held in Blandford Forum on Saturday, 15 October. Watch out for more information from BTS Wessex Representative Kevin Morgan in due course.

BTS Annual Awards By now, all members will have received an email calling for nominations for the Annual Awards.

This email contains a link to a Google form onto which you can enter names in any of the categories.

This is your opportunity to put forward the name of anyone you feel deserving of an award, so put your thinking caps on! Closing date for nominations is 31 August: categories and previous winners can be viewed on the BTS website. Berlin Staatskapelle Academy Position for Angus Butt Congratulations to bass trombonist Angus Butt who has won a coveted place at the Orchestral Academy of the Berlin Staatskapelle. Angus, the current BTS Student of the Year, has just completed his postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music and will now be heading to the prestigious orchestral academy, founded in 1997 by Daniel Barenboim.

RIP Frank Berry In May, we heard the sad news that Frank Berry had passed away at the age of 87. Frank was Solo Trombone with the Black Dyke Band from 1964–1983 and is widely acknowledged as one of the great brass band players of his era. You can hear two beautiful performances by Frank here and here, both recorded with the Black Dyke Band.

Honour for Bill Geldard Bill Geldard has been awarded a British Empire Medal, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for ‘Services to Music’. Bill was born in 1929, becoming a professional trombonist aged 15 and serving as 1st trombone in the RAF Central Band during his National Service. Bill played with many of the leading figures in 20th century British jazz, such as George Evans and Johnny Dankworth. In the 1970s, he formed two of his own ensembles, The Bill Geldard Tentette and The Bill Geldard Big Band and worked as guest conductor with the BBC Radio Orchestra.

Bill is one of Britain’s most prolific composers and arrangers of music for TV and film. In 2019 he received the BTS Outstanding Achievement Award. Now in his 90s, Bill is still performing and leading big bands in his local area. Many congratulations, Bill!

Brett Baker Première In March Brett Baker premièred a new wind version of Benjamin Ellin’s Trombone Concerto Pandora accompanied by Calum Grey and the Southampton Concert Wind Band, in the presence of the composer. Pandora was originally written for, and premièred by, Joseph Alessi in 2012 in a version accompanied by full orchestra.

Crowdfunding Campaign Launched Christian Jones has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support a recording of Benjamin Ellin’s concerti for tenor and bass trombones. The recording, accompanied by the Orchestra of Opera North, will feature Christian performing Gresley and Joseph Alessi performing Pandora. Christian and Joseph will be joined by Opera North Principal Blair Sinclair in a new work for trio and orchestra, especially composed for the disc.

BILL GELDARD ADAM WARBURTON. PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID WARBURTON

Adam Warburton Appointed Co-Principal Trombone at Black Dyke BTS member Adam Warburton has been appointed as the Black Dyke Band’s Co-Principal Trombone alongside his long-time teacher, and BTS Past President, Brett Baker.

Adam is the current Principal Trombone of the Wardle Anderson Band as well as The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band. He recently won the ‘Solo Award’ at the European Youth Brass Band Championships in Birmingham with Wardle Academy School.

Sarah Curtis wins ‘Best Soloist’ at the Spring Festival Congratulations to Sarah Curtis who was awarded ‘Best Soloist’ in the Senior Trophy at the Spring Festival.

SARAH CURTIS

Sarah, who was performing as a guest with Unite the Union brass band, conducted by BTS Yorkshire representative Jonathan Beatty, says her award very much reflected a team effort by the whole section.

Christian Jones Recital at New Venue in Thirsk Reviewed by Peter Chester – BTS North East Representative

A very warm afternoon on 17 July saw BTS Past President Christian Jones, splendidly accompanied by pianist Jenny Hobbins, present an informal but nonetheless skilled and entertaining recital in the Gallery at Thirsk Hall, North Yorkshire. This was one of a series planned for the venue, an appropriately refurbished wing of a Georgian Mansion, which just happens to have an excellent acoustic, certainly for Christian’s trombones. Yes, it was trombones, in the plural, as alongside four pieces on his customary bass trombone, his contrabass was given an outing, with two movements from Vaughan Williams’ Folk Song Suite, along with Cruise Elroy, by Kenyon Wilson. This latter piece had been premièred by Christian at an earlier occasion, as had Benjamin Ellin’s Vantage, which opened the recital. The other pieces in the recital were a recent transcription of a Romance for Viola by Max Bruch, which had some very interesting technical challenges, along with to major pieces from the current repertoire for the bass trombone, Nurya by Ricardo Molla, and Etoiles des Profondeurs by Jerome Naulais. Much of the music was perhaps new to the audience but their appreciation of Christian’s playing and enthusiasm was clearly evident in the appreciation they showed. A pleasant way indeed to spend a Sunday Afternoon!

And finally… A Canadian music teacher has saved the day with help from his trusty trombone. Tristian Clausen of St John’s Academy, Shawnigan Lake, was first alerted to danger when disconcerted students started nervously giggling and exclaiming things like ‘I’ve never seen a bear before’, ‘don’t call it over’, and ‘aww, poor thing’. Clausen first attempted to repel the potentially dangerous animal by banging loudly on the classroom windows, but it rapidly became clear that firmer action needed to be taken. Clausen reached for the largest instrument within reach, a British Columbia state-issue trombone. A few glissandos, redolent of the great tuba solo in Stravinsky’s Petruska, were all it took to send the bear safely on its way. The dramatic incident was caught on camera.◆