A STANDOUT solo from principal flautist Elizabeth Searson iced what was an outstanding performance from the Leeming Area Concert Band at the State Band Championships last month.
Miss Searson’s solo to start the band’s hymn piece All The Pretty Little Horses was judged the best of the competition, earning her the Ray Larner Trophy for Best Soloist in a Concert Band.
“It’s a very dark sounding piece and I stood up at the back of the band so it sounded like it was coming from far away,” Miss Pearson said.
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READ NOW“Fingering wise it was quite easy to play, the difficulty comes more in the emotion that you have to put into it.”
The Leeming Area Concert Band itself went on to win the open B-Grade section, beating out Armadale City Concert Band, City of Perth Concert Band, Western Australian Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Mandurah Concert Band.
Band president Bethwyn Macukat said it was the most successful competition showing in the band’s 20-year history.
“We had the highest score for each piece of music that was adjudicated,” she said.
“The test piece (played by each band) was An Original Suite, our hymn piece was All The Pretty Little Horses, our march was The Liberty Bell and our entertainment piece was a medley of music from Grease.
“Along with the concert band, we also had two ensembles compete in the ensemble section.
“The Leeming Clarinet Ensemble came fourth playing Mozart’s Adagio from Clarinet Concerto and the Leeming Saxophone Ensemble came third in the same group with a piece called You’re It!”
The Leeming Area Concert Band was formed in 1996 by a specialist music teacher at Banksia Park Primary School as a result of the school’s active music program and the consequent desire of parents to make music themselves.
The band’s next concert is on the evening of Saturday, August 27 at the Melville Bowling Club.