NATIONAL ACCORDION ORGANISATION

SOUTHERN AREA FESTIVAL – 06 NOVEMBER 2010

The Kennet Accordion Orchestra made its usual journey to Wimborne in Dorset to compete at the National Accordion Organisation Southern Area Festival.  Along with its Youth Orchestra, and various individual, duet and group entrants, the KAO maintained the standard expected of it by either winning or finishing second in all of the classes it entered - with a total of 10 wins and 2 second places.

Under Musical Director David Watson, and for the fourth consecutive year, the Orchestra won both of the Advanced Orchestra Classes, as well as the Open Band Class.  The Judge described the Orchestra’s performance of the Advanced Test Piece, ‘Intercity’, as having “excellent articulation, balance, power and sensitivity”, while a member of the audience was overheard saying “I thought I was on a train”.   The Advanced Own Choice of ‘Rakoczy Ouverture’, had a “lively opening, excellent dynamics” and “a fantastic amount of power, energy, enthusiasm” and was “a pleasure to listen to”.  In the Open Band Class the Orchestra chose the familiar John Miles/Bob Marshall song ‘Music’ which the Judge described as “beautifully played throughout with excellent balance across the parts” and a “fantastic performance” and not surprisingly awarded the highest mark of the day.

Earlier, Marilyn Mason had conducted the Kennet Accordion Youth Orchestra to victory in the Elementary Orchestra Class for the fifth consecutive year.  Their choice of a 3-movement piece based on children’s bedtime stories, ‘Kleines Marchenbuch’ was well-received by the packed audience, and was reflected in the Judge’s high mark.  Some of the younger players are now looking forward to joining the main Orchestra on a regular basis after proving their ability in recent years.

Six members of the adult Orchestra entered two Open Group Classes and won them both, playing ‘The Gael’ and ‘Tancred Ouverture’.  Not to be left behind, six members of the Youth Orchestra played ‘Mon Copain Rex’ to win the Children/Beginners’ Open Group.

There were also individual success - Suzanne Webber and Helen Newton repeated last year’s win in the Advanced Duet Class with the ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’ shortly after Helen had retained last year’s Open Solo victory with the day’s joint highest mark.

In the Children/ Beginners’ Open Duet, Sophie Lovelock and Matthew Payne improved on last year’s second place by bringing the Lynne Lloyd Memorial Trophy back to Marlborough with their excellent rendition of ‘Kamchatka’.  Matthew’s younger brother Russell repeated his second place in the Under 11 Beginners Class.

National Accordion Organisation Southern Area Festival

Results pertaining to The Kennet Accordion Orchestra:

Advanced Duet – Own Choice from NAO approved list

1st        Helen Newton / Suzanne Webber                        Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

Open Solo

The Marian Ling Memorial Trophy

1st        Helen Newton                                                 Valse Angelique / Marika

Open Duet – Adult

The Ivor Beynon Memorial Trophy

2nd      Emily Harris / Ray Lewis                            Fiesta Espana

Beginners – Under 11

The Accordion Magazine Young Players Award

2nd      Russell Payne                                                   Strolling Sammy

Open Duet – Children / Beginners

The Lynne Lloyd Trophy

1st        Sophie Lovelock  / Matthew Payne             Kamchatka

Open Group – Children / Beginners

1st        Kennet Youth Orchestra Group               Mon Copain Rex

(Lauren Burke / Emily Harris / Ray Lewis / Sophie Lovelock / Matthew Payne / Simon Waterfall)

Open Group – Adults

1st        Kennet Accordion Group                           The Gael

(David Hall / Paul Johnson / Helen Newton / Nigel Pasby/ Dodie Toomey / Suzanne Webber)

Open Art Level Group – Adults

1st        Kennet Accordion Group                           Tancred Ouverture

(David Hall / Paul Johnson / Helen Newton / Nigel Pasby/ Dodie Toomey / Suzanne Webber)

Elementary Orchestra – Own Choice

1st        Kennet Accordion Youth Orchestra                     Kleines Marchenbuch

Advanced Orchestra – Test Piece

1st        Kennet Accordion Orchestra                                 Intercity

Advanced Orchestra – Own Choice

1st        Kennet Accordion Orchestra                                 Rakoczy Ouverture

Open Band

The Sylvia Downer Memorial Award

1st        Kennet Accordion Orchestra                                 Music

4^th/5th Kennet Accordion Youth Orchestra                     Auf der Autobahn

Total:   1st = 10                     2nd = 2