DESCRIPTION:
On Saturday 31st March the Robert Smyth Big Band competed in the National Concert Band Festival at the Royal Academy of Music in London. This was a two day event involving big bands and concert bands from schools, county music services and universities all over the UK. The bands who had been invited to perform at this national festival were those who had achieved the highest awards, either Platinum or Gold Awards, in the five regional rounds held across the UK in the autumn of 2011.


The Robert Smyth Big Band was formed in October 2011 with the purpose of stretching the more experienced and advanced players of the Robert Smyth Jazz Band. At the regional round in Northampton at the end of November (recordings from which can be found elsewhere on the website) the Big Band achieved a Gold Award despite having only had 6 weeks of rehearsals! They were even more successful in the National Festival on Saturday 31st March where they achieved a Platinum Award, the top award. The 6.15 am departure from school in order to get to London for the mid-morning performance suddenly seemed all worth it! Many congratulations to all of the players who had put in lots of hard work and many hours of extra practice leading up to the event:

Natasha Davies (flute), Stephanie Nixon (alto sax I), Kathryn Weatherby (alto sax II), Daniel Iliffe (tenor sax I), Emily Watson (tenor sax II), Beckie Brooks (baritone sax), Bryony Wong (trumpet I), Joe Rose (trumpet II), Will Mansell (trumpet III), Dylan Atkinson (trumpet IV), Chris Packwood (trombone I), Sam Jenkins (trombone II), Nick Roberts (trombone III), Jonathan Roberts (trombone IV), Jody Denness (piano), Tom Barwick (bass guitar), Ruby Finch and Dan Mailer (percussion).