Westmorland Youth Orchestra,

Kendal Parish Church

THE Westmorland Youth Orchestra made good use of Kendal Parish Church’s five aisles at their end-of-year concert, writes Penny Legat, placing groups of players strategically to produce a musical landscape of sound from all sides.

Confident brass playing was a feature of Soundscapes from the start with Stella Foxcroft’s recently-formed Brass Feeder Group playing the audience into their seats. This 20-strong group of the youngest musicians concluded with a cheery performance of the Wallace and Gromit theme.

A striking performance of Britten’s technically complex Fanfare for St Edmondsbury was followed by Matterhorn, specially written for WYO by local trumpeter Peter Lawrence.

A moving performance of Harry Johnstone’s Tears for Helena, a tribute to cellist Helena Farrell who died in January, featured some lovely harmonies and fluid melody lines.

Abi Cooper was soloist in the slow movement from Mozart’s clarinet Concerto and Joelle Campbell sang If Only He Needs Me from the musical Oliver.

Conducted by the effervescent and enthusiastic Roland Fudge, the orchestra offered the Lord of The Rings driven by an exciting percussion section and concluded with a confident attempt at the 3rd movement from Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony.

The Probus Shield for Outstanding Contribution went to bassoonist Lizzie Buckle.