Page 15 - Thrapston Life A5 May 2022

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
At the invitation
of the Mayor of
Northampton we attended Northamptonshire Music
and Performing Arts Trust
Spring Festival of Music at
the Derngate Theatre for
a Wind Band Spectacular.
The County Junior and
Training Wind Orchestra
performed various pieces
followed by the County
Youth Concert Band.
Inspiring performances
played by hard working
students from around the county were enjoyed by an audience for the first time in almost 2 years.
Esme Bayliss from Thrapston started playing the fife at Thrapston Primary School and quickly moved to the flute. She was encouraged to attend a regional NMPAT centre and progressed to grade 4 flute. In year 9 Esme was successful in getting a place in the County Training Wind Band and Flute Choir. Subsequent years saw her progress to County Training Orchestra
also playing piccolo and in year 12 to the County Youth Orchestra as 2nd flute now 1st flute playing at grade 7. Esme is very proud to be part of the platinum award winning County Youth Concert Band and intends to continue playing when she goes to university later this year.
Lily Johnson started her musical journey as part of the worship band at St. James Church Thrapston where she played the clarinet before combining this with the saxophone. She attended the Nene Valley Music and Performing Arts Centre in Oundle before joining the County Music
Ensembles. Lily worked
her way up through the junior and training level wind orchestras, eventually performing with the County Youth Concert Band, County Youth Big Band, County Clarinet Choir and County Wind Dectet.
With NMPAT, she performed at venues such
as the Royal Albert Hall (London), Symphony Hall (Birmingham) and on a concert tour of Italy. She has
also been on an album of recordings for a music publisher.
Lily is now in her final year studying
the clarinet at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and in April she will be featured in her second performance on BBC Radio 3 and is performing a concerto with the Midlands Chamber Orchestra.
She attended the world premiere of
a piece she commissioned for her final project at Conservatoire performed by the Northamptonshire County Youth Concert Band at the above concert and very much looks forward to the full performance on Friday 29th April.
Well done Esme and Lily and good luck in your future careers.
This is my final Chairman’s report and I want to thank my family, friends, councillors and council staff for all their help and support throughout the year and thank you for supporting my events to raise funds
for my chosen charity, Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service.
Kind regards
Councillor Val Carter
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