Events 2011/12

Practice

Youth section

NATIONAL ACCORDION ORGANISATION

SOUTHERN AREA FESTIVAL – 05 NOVEMBER 2011

The Kennet Accordion Orchestra made its regular journey to Wimborne in Dorset to compete at the National Accordion Organisation Southern Area Festival.  Along with its Training Orchestra, and various individual, duet and group entrants, the KAO exceeded previous years’ high standards by winning or placing in all of the classes it entered -  11 wins, 3 second places and 2 thirds – and in doing so managed some incredible scores of 96, 97 and 98%.

Earlier in the summer, David Watson handed over the baton to the Orchestra’s Leader, Nigel Pasby.  Under its new Musical Director, the Orchestra was determined to maintain its place as one of the top accordion orchestras in the country so - and for the fifth consecutive year - the Orchestra pulled out all the stops (almost literally) to win both of the Advanced Orchestra Classes, as well as the Open Band Class.  The Advanced Test Piece, where all competitors play the same piece – ’Movie Classics’ - was comfortably won, followed by the Advanced Own Choice ‘Slavonska Rhapsodija’.

Then followed the Open Band Class where groups of whatever ability compete against each other.  The Training Orchestra, under Marilyn Mason, set the standard with an impressive 90% for their renditions of ‘First Love’ and ‘Weekend’ to earn them a very creditable third place.  But the best was saved for the last piece of the day – a medley of tunes by film composer Ennio Morricone – which was awarded the highest mark of the day (98%) and sent the judge home a very happy man.

Earlier in the year, several members of the Kennet Accordion Youth Orchestra transferred to the main Orchestra or moved on to other interests.  New members were recruited, and to reflect the change in constitution, the re-branded Kennet Accordion Training Orchestra made its way to Wimborne – and continued seamlessly.  Their third place mentioned above was complemented by a well-deserved victory in the Preparatory Orchestra Class with the lively ‘Julida Polka’.  A smaller group from the Training Orchestra also tasted success in the Open Group Class for Children and Beginners – to match the previous year’s victory.  

Individual success came at last to Russell Payne who won the Under 11 Beginners Solo Class after two previous second places.  His ‘Sweet Lavender Waltz’ just pipped his newly-recruited orchestra colleague, Adam Quinn, into second place.  Another new recruit, Mark Robins finished a creditable third in the Over 16 Solo Beginners Class.

In the Children and Beginners’ Open Duet, Matthew Payne and Sophie Lovelock retained the Lynne Lloyd Memorial Trophy with their performance of ‘Highland Cathedral’.  The Adults Open Duet and the Open Premier Duet were both won by Helen Newton and Nigel Pasby, but their orchestra colleagues, Ray Lewis and Richard Brunning were just 1 point behind them in the Open Duet.  Helen also finished second in the Open Solo Class playing ‘A Night In Mexico’ and ‘Festa Rusticana’.

  Click here for Results