By Karan Garbett
The hard work and dedication of Huddersfield Wind Band certainly came to fruition when they gained a Platinum award at the National Concert Band Festival.
This was an overwhelming experience and amazing result at this national event at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Principal trumpet Andy Lumb received his own award from the judges for his outstanding musicianship.
This community wind band celebrates its 40th year in June. Originally established by the late Adrian Baxter in 1986 HWB have gone from strength to strength and developed into an outstanding concert band under the musical direction of the award-winning arranger John Turnbull (below).
The band’s programme opened with ‘Aurora Borealis’ by Rossano Galante which immediately impressed the adjudicators on a variety of levels including dynamics and musical balance.
This piece had both rhythmical energy and attention to detail exhibiting the ensemble’s excellent tone quality.
The changing intensities were brilliantly executed which provided the opening of this programme with excitement and zest.
‘Elizabeth Remembered’ by Debbie Wiseman exhibited tender moments throughout the ensemble, with a special mention to the horn section by adjudicator Gerard Booth.
The phrasing was both warm and clean which gave the music the intended clear sentiment. Adjudicator Heather Nicoll commented that HWB had performed “a beautiful piece of music.”
The finale was ‘Fire in the Blood’ by Paul Lovett Cooper. This piece had high energy with impressive playing from the soloists.
Its warm colours and clear transitions provided a fabulous ending to the programme with blended and balanced performance.
Adjudicators Heather Nicoll and Gerard Booth congratulated Huddersfield Wind Band on their choice of repertoire and for performing a “fantastic programme with virtuosic playing.”
Heather Nicoll said the band “filled every corner of the room with colourful playing.”
Award-winning HWB will next perform at St Paul’s Hall at the University of Huddersfield on May 5 2026.
The band will celebrate its 40th anniversary at Salendine Nook Baptist Church on June 13 (7pm).
Anyone wishing to learn more about Huddersfield Wind Band can visit the band website or Facebook page.
