Young musicians from Wolverhampton Music Service enjoyed a highly successful summer tour to Spain.
Some 75 members of the Music Service’s Youth Orchestra and Youth Wind Orchestra, all pupils at local secondary schools, spent a week participating in music festivals at prestigious venues around the Palencia region, performing an eclectic mix of music by Holst, Rossini, Borodin, Sparke, Smetana and Kabalevsky.
They played to an audience totalling over 1,500 people and received standing ovations at all five venues.
Tour lead Ian Brailsford, who with Tim Morgan conducted the orchestras, said: “The performances were truly outstanding, indeed the Mayor of Tordes
illas said that it was a privilege to receive an orchestra with the artistic level of the Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wind Orchestra. He also has invited us to perform in Tordesillas in the future.
“Our musicians were excellent ambassadors for the city of Wolverhampton. In particular our soloists Janey Harold, who performed the Kabalevsky Cello Concerto at three concerts, and Rosalind Fearnehough, who performed I Wish You Love on the trombone at two concerts, were outstanding.”
Wolverhampton Music Service provide
s tuition and musical opportunities for youngsters from schools across the city, including the chance to perform with Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra.
Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “Music is an important part of a young person’s education, and Wolverhampton Music Service provides quality teaching for children and young people across the city.
“Every year its two premier orchestras take part in a foreign tour at the start of the summer break, and I am delighted that our young people have once again represented Wolverhampton with distinction – they are superb ambassadors for the city and for its artistic abilities.”