...Nerves were jangling and adrenaline pumping as the young Welsh musicians took to the stage for the second half, touching the handle of the door as they passed through onto that famous platform as so many other great artists have done so before them, making their own moment in musical history. Introduced by Kirk Troen from World Projects, the youth Wind Band launched into their opening work, "Dolbadarn" Millennium Fanfare by Welsh composer Gareth Glyn, commissioned for the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay in 2004 and given here in its first performance in the USA.

Their second work was to be a very special performance, the world premiere of their very first commission, "Jurassic Coast" by Derek Bourgeois, which Derek dedicated to the Band's Director, Sean O'Neill and generously funded by Ty Cerdd Music Centre Wales especially for this concert in Carnegie Hall. This is a serious work with many glorious solo lines for horn, cor anglais, oboe, clarinet and flute all of which were played with great musical sensitivity and style. The ensemble passages were rich and sonorous and the quirky humour that defines Bourgeois' compositional style were all brought off to superb effect and the performance was richly and enthusiastically received, just reward for all the hard work in preparation.

David Childs joined the Youth wind band on stage to perform three movements of the Karl Jenkins Euphonium Concerto, which had been specially written for David and premiered with the BBC Concert Orchestra in the last night of the Welsh Proms in Cardiff's St. David's Hall in 2009. This setting for soloist and wind orchestra was another world premiere performance and so virtuosic was David's playing that the audience gave him a standing ovation at the end of the first movement! The second movement "Romanza" was beautifully played and sympathetically accompanied before the finale "A Troika. Tidy!" which was performed at breathtaking speed and again drew a standing ovation for Soloist and Band at the end.

The mood of the programme was completely changed by "Sunrise Over Blue Ridge" a work originally written for Wales' World Champion Brass Band, the Cory Band and rescored especially for the Youth Wind Band's performance in New York by the young English composer, Dan Price. The work is inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia and is superbly atmospheric in recreating the special effect of a morning sunrise.

A real tour de force followed with American, Eric Whitacre's "Equus" a work of dynamic minimalism for wind orchestra and regarded by many as one of the finest compositions for this medium, extremely challenging and performed with great style by this virtuosic ensemble.
The Youth Wind Band concluded their programme as they had started with another work by a very eminent Welsh composer, Gareth Wood. On their last visit to Carnegie Hall, they gave the first overseas performance of "Legends of the Bear" an epic work commissioned for the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales also by Gareth, this time they chose to perform his fantastic arrangement of the traditional Welsh folk song "Sospan F ach", hugely exciting and again drawing the audience to their feet at the culmination of a brilliant performance by these extremely talented young Welsh musicians.

At the end of the Gala Concert, all the directors of all the ensembles taking part in the Festival were brought on stage for the presentation of awards and each was presented with a souvenir plaque and conductors baton from Carnegie Hall to mark their achievement.

After leaving the stage, the musicians made their way back to Times Square, once again to the Hard Rock Cafe, where they were joined by David and Joanne Childs to join in a celebration of their epic performance. No smashing or setting alight of guitars on this occasion just platefuls of New York's famous cheesecake, apple-pie and chocolate gateaux which went down much better!

Alarm clocks were set early for Wednesday morning as the Band were up and on their way to Long Island to spend the day at Syosset High School as guests of the Syosset High School Wind Ensemble, organized by the Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts, Michael J.Salzman.
This fantastic day came about when Michael and Sean met in 2008 when Michael, a chaperone and member of a touring group, American Music Abroad came and shared a concert platform with the YWB in the Atrium in Cardiff. At that stage plans for the YWB trip to New York were still very much in their infancy but as time went on, the idea of having a joint day exchanging and sharing musical traditions and cultures grew and grew and Wednesday, March 24th was the culmination of that idea.

From the outset, the warmth and hospitality extended by our American hosts was overwhelming, their generosity and welcome knew no bounds and immediately we felt at home. The plan to host a day of musical rehearsals, workshops, lunch, ten pin bowling and a joint concert at the end all came to fruition.

David Childs as we might expect had a full house for his workshop sessions and YWB members, Rowan Hunter and Meirion Davies gained expert advice on how to develop their playing from this internationally acclaimed Virtuoso. David was joined by two other eminent musicians to lead the master class workshops, James Fenichel, who gave the most amazing display of kit drumming techniques and a true Legend of the wood wind world, Stanley Drucker. Stanley has only recently retired from his position as Principal Clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, a musician of outstanding acclaim, 60 years a member of the New York Philharmonic, 48 as Principal Clarinetist, he has played under nine Musical Directors, including Bruno Walter, Dmitri Mitropolous, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez and Zubin Mehta and performed in 60 countries of the World. For two of the YWB players, Livia Frankish and Hugh Dunkerley, performing in this master class with such a legend, was a once in a lifetime experience and richly rewarding for all who witnessed this master at work.

New friendships were made over a Pizza lunch and further cemented as the two ensembles were integrated into teams at the local bowling alley. They do take their bowling seriously in the USA and the YWB staff, although putting up a good show were rather overshadowed by their American counterparts.

After another superb meal provided for by the Syosset Music Honours Society, which even included a surprise cake for 18th Birthday Girl, Isabel Trew, Ellen Brookes offered our hosts a sincere vote of thanks on behalf of all the CCVG Youth Wind Band members for such a wonderful day.

The final concert of the Tour was excellent. The Syosset High School Wind Ensemble performing with great skill and musicianship in accompanying Stanley Drucker superbly in Carl Maria von Webber's "Fantasia and Rondo"
The Youth Wind Band brought some new music to this concert and showcased David in a range of his most flamboyant Solos, "Brilliante", "Carnival de Venice", "Donegal Bay" which was especially arranged for this performance and "Hot Canary" an outrageous encore for soloist and band and which was hugely enjoyed by the entire audience. The YWB's final item was another work especially scored for them by Dan Price, again a piece originally written for the Cory band and absolutely fitting for this concert entitled "An American Tale", it is a collection of songs from the American Civil War but arranged in the style of some of America's most well known and loved composers, Sousa, Bernstein, Ives and Copland, an out and out winner of a piece and guaranteed standing ovation to finish.
Both ensembles joined to perform two pieces, Cole Porter's "Another Openin', Another Show" and a well known work by the March King, John Philip Sousa, "Hands Across the Sea"

Many new friendships were made and this opportunity to share a mutual and kindred love of music making made this trip very special indeed and our thanks again to all of the staff at Syosset and especially Michael Salzman for all his work in making this possible.
Our final day in New York was spent with last minute shopping, sightseeing and just one last taste of that famous cheesecake. Too soon it was time to board the coaches and head back to JFK. Fortunately we were all able to fly back together and with much catching up of sleep on the flight we were winging our way back home. Looking out of the aircraft window at 5.45 a.m. we flew over Cardiff, the Bay, Barrage and City extremely clear, our recent adventures almost at an end.

On our return, we received a very special letter from New York Artistic Director, William Johnson who commented.....
" I know I speak for the large crowd in attendance in Carnegie Hall, when I tell you that your performance was nothing short of stunning and inspirational, as evidenced by the ovation you received."
"The sonorous grandeur with which you played the Whitacre, the majesty and excitement you generated in the Bourgeois and the whirlwind of colour and brilliance you achieved in the Jenkins made your performance something I will always cherish. The Whitacre was conducted with such excitement and terrific energy – it really danced. Your heartfelt interpretation of all of the pieces was incredibly powerful and beautiful and your guest soloist, David Childs was spectacular."

"Personally I was very moved, not only by the magnificent musical product you created, but also the great love and integrity you demonstrated in its preparation. We all relish those moments when music opens the heart and exposes the soul. As Artistic Director for the Festival, I want to thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us and now it is over, you have some very special memories. I am confident that you and your students will be sharing those memories with your grandchildren. I do hope our paths will cross again!"
"With Admiration" William Johnson

The memories of this fantastic trip will live with all 82 members of the Youth Wind Band forever, without them none of this would have happened. The hard work of preparing, fundraising, rehearsing, coping with the last minute disruptions of the BA strike actions all form part of the folklore, as these young players from CCVG Youth Wind Band made their mark on musical history and will dine out on retelling of this adventure for years to come. Thank you, each and every one of you and very well done.

May I offer a very heartfelt thanks to all the Staff involved for all their wonderful contribution to the safe and smooth running of the trip, Cristyn Patterson, Geraldine Charles, Rebecca Eldridge, Rhys Matthews, Joe O'Connell, Matthew Downes and especially Sian Davies who pulled all the strands together.

Sean O'Neill
Musical Director