Yes, Alexander really was Great!

Gareth Ritter, musical director of the City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Brass Band, was faced with a dilemma when the Band’s principal Soprano Cornet player announced that he could not take part in the National Brass Band Championships at Harrogate last Saturday, due commitments with the WNO Orchestra. So he called on 11 years old protégée Alexander Rees to fill the void. This was a tremendous responsibility, as the Soprano Cornet not only plays all the highest notes, it also has a number of very exposed entries and solo passages. But he needn’t have lost any sleep over the matter, for Alexander turned in a flawless performance in helping the Band to a creditable Third Place, only three point behind the winners! Gareth said “This was a massive call for such a young player, but he was great! He rose to the occasion and played his part with a maturity well beyond his years and both adjudicators made special mention of his playing. In fact, the whole Band turned in a first class performance and I am proud that we can now be regarded as the third best Band in our class in Great Britain. We intend to continue improving our performance and go on to yet greater things.”

In order to achieve their success, the Band was required compete against eighteen other bands, all of whom were either Champions or runners up from ten regions of the UK. The set test piece was “Suite for Brass” composed by John Rutter (as “Suite for Strings”) and arranged for brass by Sandy Smith.

Alexander is a pupil at Radyr Comprehensive School, and is a product of the City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Training Band. Along with his brother, David, he has now graduated to the senior band and both have promising musical careers ahead of them. Players of any age are always made welcome and anyone interested in joining either of the bands should contact Chairman, Dave Howard, on (029) 20552231.

The Band competes again at Ammanford on Saturday 4th October and can be heard in concert at the re-opening of Wesley Methodist Church, Cowbridge Road, Cardiff, on Saturday 25th October, at 7.30pm.