Summer Concert Review

The Stewarton Academy Bands Concert on Friday 18 June in the Stewarton Academy games hall was a great success with the audience enjoying performances from four different bands.

The Primary 7 Wind Band were first to play. This band has members from the four Stewarton Learning Community Primary Schools, Dunlop, Kilmaurs, Lainshaw and Nether Robertland. The youngsters in this band have only been playing since October last year and yet gave an impressive performance of "Buglers Dream" and "Freedom's Road" by M Sweeney and of "Fanfare and March" by P Lavender under the direction of Conductor Mr. J Baines.

Then first of three soloists, Kirsten Beveridge, delighted the audience with her rendition of "I let a Song Go Out Of My Heart" by Duke Ellington. Kirsten had been runner up in the Junior Section of the Stewarton Academy Young Musician of the Year competition earlier this year and once again gave an impressive performance.

Then, conducted by Mrs J O'Connor, the Stewarton Academy Jazz Band performed "Tequila" and "Green Onions". Their energetic performance was enhanced by some great solos from sax, trumpet and trombone as well as an entertaining performance from the drummer, Ewan Baillie who's talent for the drums is matched only by his evident enthusiasm.

After the interval the Stewarton Academy Junior Wind Ensemble, conducted by Mr Alan Friel, performed "Medallion Overture" by William Himes, "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc and "I will Follow Him" by M Sweeney. This band, whose members are drawn mainly from S1 and S2, have had a very productive year and recently performed two 30-minute open air concerts at Loudoun Castle.

Two soloists followed. Matthew Allison, winner of the recent Stewarton Academy Young Musician of The Year Competition, played  Chopin's "Revolutionary Study" (once he had dealt with a couple of technical hitches with the keyboard). His performance was well received but what a shame that the school does not provide a piano for their pianists to play.

Runner up in the Stewarton Young Musician of the Year Competition, Ashley Snaddon, then sang "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" (as sung by Eva Cassidy) accompanied by Matthew Allison on the keyboard. Her singing once again delighted the audience - despite the poor acoustics in the school games hall.

The evening closed with a performance by the Stewarton Academy Senior Wind Ensemble, conducted by Alan Friel. They played "Gonna Fly Now" by Bill Conti and "At World's End" from "Pirates of the Caribbean" by Hans Zimmer, as well as "Guadalajara" by Lopez which gave the trumpet section quite a workout.

This has been a very successful year for the Senior Wind Ensemble who have achieved two Gold Awards and two Gold Plus Awards at Concert Band Festivals this year.

Mr. Friel said farewell to five 5th and 6th year pupils for whom this was the last Stewarton Academy Concert: Matthew Allison, Ewan Baillie, Daniel Pitt, Heather Hart and Sarah McDougall.

Mr. Friel closed by thanking Mr. Baines and Mrs. O'Connor for their help with the concert and their work with the students over the year. He also thanked the members of the Stewarton Bands Support Group for all their support over the last two years. If you want to get involved with supporting the Stewarton Learning Partnership Bands check out the Band Support Group Website to find out how you can get involved.