CONCERT HELD AT THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, BOSTON ON 17th DECEMBER 2024
The Christmas concert this year was given by the Laiton Trumpet Quartet who have recently graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music. The Quartet is formed of Grace Harman, Erin McLellan, Charlotte Nuta and Isabel Thompson. However this evening Isabel was unable to come and Seb Williman of the Rosamund Brass Ensemble came in her place.
What an amazing concert this was. All of the players are supremely talented and they gave us a most joyful evening. There was a tremendous beginning to the concert with the playing of James Stephenson’s Fanfare for an Angel. Then they played for us Amazing Grace, lovely ensemble playing, with Seb taking the lead in this.
I very much enjoyed Edrich Siebert’s The Lazy Trumpeter with Seb on Trumpet and Charlotte on piano; this was followed by Someday my Prince will come, Intrada and Away in a Manger with Charlotte on Trumpet and Grace on piano. I particularly enjoyed Bach’s Chorale and Fugue, this is usually played on the organ but translated very well to the trumpets.
Before the interval we had Whitacre’s lovely The Seal Lullaby and I could imagine the seals rocking on the ocean.
Then we had the interval and as it was the Christmas concert we enjoyed wine and mincepies very kindly donated by our members.
The second half began with Rockin’ Robin followed seamlessly by Georgia on my mind and Eleanor Rigby. These were followed by Someone to Watch over me (Gershwin) with Charlotte on trumpet and Erin on piano. This was followed by Basin Street Blues (Armstrong arranged by Grace); this was amazing, with Grace playing the piano and the trumpet simultaneously! I was in awe of her virtuosity.
We then had Grace’s arrangement of Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Caprice by Bernard Fitzgerald and the concert ended with James Lord Pierpoint’s Jingle Bells.
The concert was throughly enjoyed by the enthusiastic audience and will, I think, be long remembered.
CM