I know there is already a topic on the RNCM Wind Weekend, but I decided that I'd start another to see who actually went. If you did go, what sessions did you attend, and maybe you could share your experience and anything you learnt along the way.

To start things off, I did go (may seem a bit obvious seen as I'm starting this!). I attended both days and on the Saturday I went to the conducting clinic in the morning and the woodwind performance clinic in the afternoon. On the Sunday I went to the improvisation masterclass in the morning, and the junior scratch wind band in the afternoon.

Unfortunately I couldn't attend the Pre-concert performance or the RNCM Wind Orchestra performance on the Saturday night. So, for those of you who went, what was it like? However, the closing concert on the Sunday was fantastic. I loved the oboe, bassoon and piano trio and Anders Ljungar-Chapelon's performance of Voice was truly amazing.

I had a great weekend!

I went with my daughter. Was there for part of Saturday but didn't participate in anything.

We did go to the Concert on the Saturday evening. The Orchestra was very good but we weren't too sure about the music.

Daughter participated in two masterclasses on the Sunday Junior for Flute and 8+ for Oboe (as she's not that standard and was a little worried by the Oboe one). They were both very good Flute a good confidence boost and Oboe lots of things to work on and think about.

We weren't able to go to the final concert.

The trade stands were particularly good, well the instrument ones, quite a few things attempted to make it on the Christmas list.

Thought ABRSM could have sent more than an example of their materials. The kids couldn't get a free practice diary no matter how much they tried I thought there could have been at least one stall with sheet music for individuals. Hope they do it all again next year.

I think you'll find behind that mask was Anders Ljungar-Chapelon. Toru Takemitsu composed it

Anyhow, I too thought it was a terrific weekend. I went to the "pre-event event", a masterclass given by Alex Klein (oboe) on the Friday evening. I've already described him elsewhere as a guru but I don't really know how else to put it. His emphasis seemed very much on performance (taking control, playing with your own voice) rather than picking technique to bits (though he did offer some valuable tips there too).

On Saturday, like neal_sam, I went to the conducting masterclass in the morning which was hugely enjoyable (Tim Reynish is a bit of a card) and Chris Swann's performance clinic in the afternoon. Some good tips there and bit of discussion about ABRSM exams. We all examined him and I must say he was brilliant at playing badly. Between the two, at lunchtime, was an excellent clarinet ensemble from Seville. Even I, a rabid double-reeder, thought they were excellent. A note to Jojo - bass clarts were very much evidence throughout the weekend and very nice they were too. Speaking of lunch, the chilli and rice with a side salad was quite nice (better than "I'm only doin' chips") at Liverpool Hope University double reed day last year.

Due to all the above, I missed all the wind bands throughout the day which was a bit of a shame, but you can't do everything. I then took in the performance of Gran Partita before the evening concert. The RNCM Wind Orchestra were, as usual, brilliant. I'm thinking of giving up on professional ensembles - I always feel there's a great buzz with all the RNCM bands. The all contemporary menu was perhaps a bit rich but Adam Gorb's "Towards Nirvana" was excellent.

Sunday was cause for a great ringing of hands. There was a clash in morning - another Alex Klein masterclass or Tony Robson (of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment) on historic oboes. I plumped for the historic stuff and delightful it was too. It's a shame it wasn't better attended - any oboe student would benefit from hearing the music of the baroque and onwards played on the "correct" instrument of the time. I missed the lunchtime concert due to this 2 hour session over-running (by an hour!!). Plus I got to tootle a little on a baroque and a classical oboe.

So in the afternoon it had to be another great Alex Klein masterclass. The conclusion from that one was if you want to play contemporary music, go to see Heinz Holliger before he retires. Oh and take acting lessons. That just left the closing concert and as sam_neil said, the Poulenc trio was brilliant (Alex Klein, Stefano Canuti and Ben Powell) and the concert closed with a real rarity. Hill Song No.1 by Percy Grainger which sounded to me as though it was composed for brass band, was actually scored for 6 oboe, 6 cors, 6 bassoons, contrabasson plus two flutes/piccolos. A real double reed feast.

All in all a great weekend, despite only being able to get to about half of what I was interested in. Not to mention real ale at the bar (the Sweet Jane was good).

Oops . There we go, all changed!

Unlike the posts above I didn't attend any workshops, focussing completely on the wind bands. There were some good performances and some average performances from the various wind bands across the day. Glebe Band (a rival to my band in the last wind band competition!) were particular good with their performance of Windows of the World - a piece that the kids in the concert band at work are currently struggling with. Also, one of the Pete Meechan pieces that Kew premiered was incredibly moving. I can't remember what it was called but it was written in memory of the Hillsborough disaster. The only thing that annoyed me was that my band had to perform in the opera theatre (with its difficult acoustic) while others got to play in the concert hall. We thought having the chair of BASBWE conducting us might mean have meant we got a better position

I also thought the Seville Clarinet Ensemble were excellent in their Saturday lunchtime concert, and they played a nice variety of pieces. The RNCM Wind Orchestra, although focussing on contemporary music, were good, although I heard a few mumblings from fellow ex-college students about standards falling. I am a particular fan of Adam Gorb and his final piece in the concert was a highlight for me.

Wish we had known that! Been trying without success to get a recording.

I was there on Sunday afternnon, because my son was in the clarinet masterclass. That's all I saw, but it was very interesting -
Antonio Salguero was very good, concentraing mainly on performance rather than technique.

Chris

I'll have a look through my CDs for you. I've got a fair bit of wind band music so it might be somewhere on one of them!

Thanks! It's the Sax solo particularly they haven't given her enough time to learn it.