Kettle Bridge Concertinas

Original photo: Alan Glover

Outside the venue

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Our second entry into this event and we were determined to improve our outcome. We hoped we would add “more shape” into our playing as well as achieve a higher score in the Accordion and Concertina Ensemble class.

The adjudicator was to be Romano Viazzani who had played as a soloist at many concert halls and opera houses across Europe. He has composed and performed a Concerto for the Accordion and Orchestra as well as being a band leader and arranger of band music.

Again there was another band in our section – as in 2010 this was Thurrock Accordion Band. This year they chose to play L’Ultima Parola composed by A. Ferraris and arranged by Al Richards and also the Jubilee Cha-Cha-Cha written by J Mayes.

This year Kettle Bridge Concertinas had almost their full band of: MF-D (conductor), Tricia, Sally, Fiona, Trina (treble 1); Sue, Liz, Carol, Pom (treble 2); Sandy, John (baritone); David, Pat (bass).

We chose to play two pieces of music both composed and arranged by Claire Wren: Silver Street Stomp and The Ringwood Tree. We were very thrilled to have received a Good Luck card from Claire for this occasion.

The adjudication comments given by Romano Viazzani were:

“Silver Street Stomp: Some lovely phrasing and dynamic shaping. Nice attention paid to detail. And some parts were brought our nicely. Well done. Strive to play absolutely together at all times.

"The Ringwood Tree: Much more together on this one. Watch conductor at tempo changes. Lovely dynamic and musical phrasing. Good work on Bass concertina – strong and supportive. Good balance between parts and sections of orchestra.”

We gained a mark of 86 and were awarded a Commended which is defined as: “A convincing performance technically and artistically.” One more point would have taken us up into the second highest category of Distinction.

Once again we came 1st in this ensemble class! This means we were awarded with our second medal!

We then celebrated with a meal at The North Pole in East Malling. As well as celebrating our success we also celebrated a significant birthday for our conductor. Earlier in the day she had been given a proper conductor’s baton as a birthday present from us all. We are sure this helped us do so well.