East Lancashire Wing Musicians are on top note

Cadets from East Lancashire Wing got the chance to show off their musical skills at the 16th Annual concert band display, in Whittle Hall at RAF Cranwell.

The concert is the culmination of a week-long intensive training and practise session, in which cadets from around the country join forces and rehearse different musical pieces with guidance from of one of the Royal Air Force bands. This year the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment provided the expert support.

Despite almost half of the band never meeting before, they quickly settled down under the expert tutelage of the Corps Music Director, Wing Commander Gil Singleton, who took them through their paces with a range of traditional and some newer musical scores.

The Friday night concert was performed to a packed Whitle Hall audience of some 400+. In the audience where quite a few VIPs, including the AOC Air Cadets, Air Commodore Barbara Cooper and the Duke of Rutland, David Manners. Most importantly though, were the parents and friends of the cadets who were performing.

The band played a variety of pieces, ranging from the RAF College and Battle of Britain March Past to Dr Who, Superman and the Great Escape. Cdt Laura Iddles (17) from 1036 Sqn performed a superb vocal addition, singing Bring him Home from Les Miserable’s.

The four cadets representing East Lancashire Wing were; Flight Sergeant Newington (468 Sqn) on Trumpet, Cpl Claydon (2200DF) on Cornet, Cdt Iddles (1036 Sqn) on Percussion and Vocals, and Cdt Ward (1036 Sqn) on the Tuba.

Cadets wanting to join the concert band have to meet stringent criteria. One of which is that all musicians have to be qualified to Grade 5 practical or equivalent. In addition, the cadets have to be recommended by their Commanding Officer and a music teacher or Squadron bandmaster.

Staff from East Lancs Wing were also present, carrying out the thankless task of running the camp and organising the events. Sqn Ldr Eddie Kay and Flt Lt Sara Kay, who also provide support for cadets undertaking the BTEC awards, were part of the admin team making sure everything ran smoothly whilst the music staff concentrated on the training and rehearsing.

The band camp and concert are only the start of the music calendar for the National Concert Band. In 2010 the team attended the Royal International Air Tattoo in July to play at the Gala Dinner on the Friday night, and to the Public on the Saturday and Sunday in front of thousands of spectators. If that wasn’t enough, they teamed up again for a Help for Hero’s concert in Hampshire in October.

This year, the 2011 band are due to return to RIAT for another outstanding performance as well as a lunch time concert at St Clement Danes, Central Church of the RAF in London. Work is also in progress for the formation of an Air Cadet Salon Orchestra. A successful initial workshop was held at RAF Northolt in late 2010 under the guidance of the RAF Salon Orchestra, with a follow-up workshop planned for the 10th April, at RAF Northolt. This group will be an integral part of the Air Cadet National Concert Band, with the flexibility to provide a wider range of musical support for Headquarters Air Cadets.

Watch out for more information on how to join to concert band or their performances. The Air Cadets also runs a National Marching Band which also hold training camps and take part in public displays. If you would like more information on any of these, please contact your Commanding Officer who will be able to obtain more information for you.

You can see some of the performance which has been uploaded to YouTube by one of the parents in the audience, http://www.youtube.com/user/BabsS59
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