YOUNG musicians have raised the roof with a combined school band extravaganza.
More than 50 musically gifted pupils from primary schools across Northallerton joined with 70 members of The Allertonshire School and Northallerton College concert bands to put on a show stopping performance at an inaugural music play day.
Head of music at The Allertsonshire School and Northallerton College Adrian Bramley said: “The play day was initially set up to invite musicians from all the local primary schools to spend a day playing with our concert band at The Allertsonshire School.
“As we were organising the day it became apparent that it was going to escalate massively so we decided to include every one with musical ability from strings, brass, woodwind, keyboards, guitars even ukuleles.
“We managed to bring together a whole range of musicians, from total beginners to the conductor of the county concert band, to create a real community band with a feast of musical talent.”
Opening with the title music to the Lion King, the guitar section played foot tapping performances of Rock around the Clock, Stand by Me and Hound Dog with The Allertonshire’s peripatetic violin teacher Dave Bently on vocals.
The strings section entertained with renditions of Shark Attack, The Sky Boat Song and Blow the Wind with the woodwind section playing a reggae beat version of Yellow Bird and the theme tune to Wallace and Grommet.
The Allertonshire Concert Band delighted the audience with a medley of folk songs and The Eagle Point Overture before finishing with a rousing chorus of Colonel Bogey.
North Yorkshire area head of music Emma Calvert, who liaised with The Allertonshire School to arrange the play day event, said: “It’s been a superb day and a brilliant opportunity for local primary school children to come and play their instruments with the older children.
“It’s also a great way for them to come and try out the music facilities at the secondary school which they will be coming to and see what they can aspire to in the future.
“Hopefully this play day is the start of something that we can continue to grow year on year.”
Broomfield Primary School pupil Aleisha Bruce, eight, of Northallerton, joined with the woodwind section of the band with her clarinet.
“I’ve been playing the clarinet for nearly five months,” she said. “It’s a really good idea to get everyone together to play and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Allertonshire School student Emma Bailey, 13, of East Harlsey, added: “I started playing the oboe when I was nine and joined the Allertonshire Concert Band when I came to the school.
“It’s been good working with the younger primary school pupils and I think everyone enjoyed our performance.”
