Review: The annual Aireborough Rotary Brass Band Concert,

Frank Renton’s 25th and final appearance at the annual Aireborough Rotary Brass Band Concert became something of a celebration of what is best in this musical area.

He called the programme Concert Hall Classics, choosing particular favourites of his own – original music for brass bands and some arrangements of popular repertoire. As usual he spoke without notes to inform his audience about each piece of music, relying upon his encyclopaedic knowledge of composers and arrangers, greats in the brass band world, several of whom are and were known personally to him.

Two young men had major roles throughout the concert. Harry Porthouse is the Hepworth Band’s new solo cornet player. He comes from a family heavily involved in brass band music and trained in the same Royal National College of Music as Frank Renton 78 years ago. Spending much time in Italy Frank Renton and his wife are members of two bands there and soon recognised the talent of euphonium and trombone player Daniel Lavacchielli.

In Frank’s words both are "a distillation of three generations".

Fun music was to be the theme of the afternoon beginning with Mozart’s Overture - The Magic Flute with this arrangement by Rimmer showing how the composer intended to immediately attract and hold his opera loving audience’s attention. The Hepworth Band’s new solo cornet player Harry Porthouse made an instant impact here, recognised by his fellow players. Later in the programme he took the opportunity to impress in Elegy from a Downland Suite by Ireland introduced as "gentle, proper music".

For Daniel his first solo came in Pantomime, originally written for Nicholas Childs by Philip Sparke testing lyrical and technical prowess with a wide emotional range greeted with enthusiastic applause by the whole of the Hepworth Band.

Later in the programme Frank spoke about the possible directions brass band music could take in the future and Daniel’s second solo was Gershwin’s ‘Our Love is Here to Stay’ arranged by Goff Richards. On entering Bologna Conservatory Daniel had to study trombone as there was no euphonium teacher and soon developed as a jazz player alongside his classical repertoire. Frank’s view that: "Daniel’s development has been nothing short of sensational" was reflected in the audience’s and the bands reaction to his stunning performance.

The concert was brought to a rousing end with Borodin’s ‘Polotsvian Dances from Prince Igor with Frank turning to have a quiet word with the whole band and then informing his audience: "This is the best in my years that the band has ever played. This will continue with Ryan Watson as its conductor."

"That’s it!" Were his final words before leaving the Yeadon stage.

Before the concert began two presentations were made to Frank by Aireborough Club President Janet Appleton for his service to both the club and its community – a second Paul Harris Award with sapphire and a suitably inscribed piece of crystal glassware. A third surprise gift will follow in April.