A metaphorical trumpet fanfare sounded in our music department this week when Lower Sixth Former Daniel Hutchins achieved a double accolade for his musical talent, when he was offered places in both the National Youth Brass Band and National Youth Concert Band.
National Youth Brass Band
The National Youth Brass Band is one of the UK’s biggest youth orchestras, which aims to give the most promising children and young musicians the opportunity to develop their musicianship, as well as the opportunity to perform is an ensemble. To play in the band is a huge honour and does not come without a rigorous audition process. Daniel was required to perform two rehearsed pieces, scales and a piece of sight reading in front of an audition panel in Amersham. As a result, Daniel has been invited to join the band as soon as a vacancy comes up in the cornet section. Next year is the band’s 70th anniversary and they have some really exciting concerts planned, including one with the Band of the Royal Marines in the summer of 2022 and a another at the Royal Albert Hall in London in September 2022.
National Youth Concert Band
Daniel’s performance in another round of national auditions won him a much-coveted place in this prestigious youth band.
Daniel explained, “I recorded a video submission, with the help of Mr Childs (who is one of the tutors at NYCB) and Mrs Bantock, playing two Grade 8 pieces plus some excerpts from some of the band’s repertoire.”
Daniel auditioned for a trumpet part and, after hearing about his offer, will attend a residential course taking place over Easter 2022 at Old Swinford Hospital School in Stourbridge and a concert in the Elgar Hall at the University of Birmingham in April 2022.
Daniel has played the cornet and the trumpet since he was seven years’ old, starting with the Bedford Town Band progress band. He is a member of the school orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble and brass ensemble. He also sings in Chapel Choir and plays piano.
Talking about his future, Daniel said, “I passed my grade 8 on my cornet last week with a distinction and plan to progress to the next level – a performance Diploma. I’m also hoping to take my singing grade 8 exam over the next 12 months. I study music at A-Level and am seriously looking at music as an option for university as I am interested in a career in music with the RAF.”
Director of Music, Jonathan Sanders, said, “It is a major achievement for any young person to get into a national youth ensemble, so to get into two is fairly remarkable. Well done, Daniel!”