Hosting some the finest talent Kirklees and Musica has had to offer through its 20-year inception, Musica Kirklees’ Youth Orchestra exampled a masterclass in music performance for their anniversary last week.
Taking place in the town hall last Saturday, the 200+ capacity was full of with excitement as friends, family and admirers chattered away in anticipation of the spectacular night that would befall them.
Spearheaded by Musica Kirklees’ humble yet highly proficient Headmaster Thom Meredith, who gave a presentation to the plethora of talent that sat upon the town hall’s historical stage, the night felt like the product of a passion project more than it did a formal music event.
Consisting of strings, percussion, brass, woodwind and french horn sections, as well as grand piano playing and xylophone accompaniment, the orchestra felt more than prepared to launch into a full-blown extravaganza. From the gusto and precision in the strings section to the booming blasts of the percussive elements right through to the gentle complexities breathed out of the woodwind section, the night emitted a level of class that would humble even the most vetted performers.
With an air of growing excitement emerging between each piece, the buzz amongst performers began to almost rival the music itself. If art and expression ever needed a case study for how it impacted people’s lives then this is it.
As someone operating through a camera lens, it was a true challenge to keep up with the dynamism of the event as sound seemed to erupt from everyone corner of the orchestra demonstrating true professionalism within the orchestra regardless of age or experience. If anything, it’s even more impressive when thinking about how limited practice time would’ve been for an orchestra so varied. For most live performances that feature this range of musicians the level of fluidity definitely wouldn’t have been matched as each sectional cog shone brightly in the well-oiled machine. The grace utilised by each section worked to reflect the impeccable skills developed through each musician’s time in the orchestra leaving its audience in awe at the brilliance they witnessed.
Leading out with Hans Zimmer’s theme from Pirates of the Caribbean, which was perfectly conducted with both flair and stoicism, this final act saw each section play with an impassioned liveliness with barely a breath between each corresponding part as every member poured gave 100%.
All in all the 20th Birthday of Musica Youth Orchestra was a resounding success. Not only was it a showcasing of the accomplishments the orchestra have gathered under its belt, the night felt like a definitive mark on the town’s musical history. We can only look forward to the next 10 years.