Westmorland Youth Orchestra is going places (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Westmorland Youth Orchestra is going places

11:00am Sunday 11th December 2011 in Gig and concert reviews By Gazette newsdesk

Westmorland Youth Orchestra

Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale

The Westmorland Youth Orchestra is an orchestra which is young, ambitious, full of both polish and potential, and above all enjoying itself.

It was almost a party atmosphere as Roland Fudge, the WYO’s long-time first violins tutor, took the baton for a romp through several centuries of dance music. An excellent audience at the Kirkby Lonsdale school, joined in, whooping, cheering and bringing the new conductor back for extra ovations.

At Fudge’s insistence, the nearly 60 musicians had to do without the backing of professional brass players previously brought in on concert days. Despite some uncertain moments, it worked.

There were more young faces than usual, even for the autumn performance.

The WYO has two strong violinists in soloist Heather Storer, who brought a nice East European gypsy tone to Wieniawski’s Legend, and leader Hannah Foxcroft. And the wind delivered plenty of stylish playing; to name but two, Elizabeth Buckle on recorder and David McGregor on saxophone.

Fudge’s imaginative arrangements stretched the players just the right amount. The WYO is definitely going places.

Oliver Wates