News

This must have been the best party in town on Saturday. Quite right too, as there was a lot to celebrate: 20 years of one of the best wind bands in the country, multi-award winners and a breeding-ground for future professional musicians.

The concert was an exciting showcase of some dazzlingly difficult pieces, designed to spotlight the NSW's virtuosity. The dark and brutal Samurai which opened proceedings showed razor-sharp precision. The same qualities flowed through a long and varied programme until the final numbers from Riverdance.

The NSW's younger sibling, the Nottingham Wind Ensemble, added their own accomplished music-making, with Derek Bourgeois's challenging Serenade a particular highlight.

Also on hand were singers Simon Theobald and Paul Jackson. The programme was conducted by Keiron Anderson, Claire Franklin - and Alistair Parnell, who was also a brilliant saxophone soloist and compere.