Jamboree 3


		*Jamboree 3*

The winner of the junior class was Max Crawford from Edinburgh.

Jenny Allan also from Edinburgh won the intermediate class and Meriel Kerr from Earlston in the Borders won the senior class.

A special prize was awarded to the player who the adjudicators thought gave the most promising performance but who hadn’t won any of the classes. It was won by 11 year Nathan Haller-Shannon from Edinburgh.

The third Edinburgh Horn Jamboree took place on Saturday 8^th. Septenber 2001.

What an exciting day it turned out to be.

More players than ever came from all over Scotland.

We began the day with a tutti warm-up session conducted by Maurice Temple, which really set the young players up for the day ahead. 20 youngsters opted to play a solo this year. I find it extremely encouraging that youngsters of all ages and standards want to stand up and perform their solos. It was a most enjoyable morning with a great variety of pieces. Prizes were donated by ‘Paxman’of London and The wind section of ‘Stringers of Edinburgh’. 4 prizes were awarded this year.


	Max Crawford


	Meriel Kerr




		Jenny Allan

	Nathan Haller-Shannon

The adjudicators for the solo classes were

L-R

Harry Johnstone SCO

Maurice Temple RSAMD

Bob Ashworth Opera North

Kenneth Blackwood RSNO

Harry Johnstone did his Nat. demonstration, which has become a very popular part of the Jamboree tradition. Everybody seems to want to try one.

The players were divided into ensembles of various sizes. Each group had a 45-minute rehearsal with one of the visiting pros. and at the end of the afternoon we heard the fruits of their work in a short concert. There were varying degrees of success, but it was a worthwhile exercise and the youngsters learned a lot about playing together in a small group.


		During the course of the afternoon Kenneth Blackwood gave a talk/demonstration of the Kinder horn, which he had helped design, to an audience of parents and teachers, with the help of a suitably small ‘guinea pig’. People were very interested and several of the younger children had a chance to blow one.





	We had a fine line up of professionals in attendance: Maurice Temple, David McClenaghan, Kenneth Blackwood, Harry Johnstone, Bob Ashworth and what oohs and ahs when in walked Hugh Seenan!!!!!!!!!

The rest of the day was packed with activity.

We had 2 more tutti rehearsals for the evening concert, including a new piece for 12 horns, which we had commissioned with the help of The British Horn Society, by the Scottish composer Richard Michael. Richard came to rehearse and conduct his piece ‘Preloodio and Boogaloo’.It was a really exciting new venture. Everyone enjoyed it.


	The whole day seemed to be packed with action and it was quite a relief to stop at 5p.m. for a break to gather our strength for the evening concert.

The Evening concert began with a massed horn Fanfare from Schubert’s 9^th. Symphony.

The 3 prizewinners then performed their solos followed by one of the quartets from the afternoon session.

David McClenaghan then treated us to an amazing performance of ‘En Foret’ by Eugene Bozza. The packed audience was most appreciative.

The Scottish Vienna Horns closed the first half with an exciting 20-minute programme.

During the interval there was ample opportunity for all the players from beginner to professional and non horn playing audience to talk about horns and all things horn-related and to look at the photographs which had been taken throughout the day.

There was a wonderful atmosphere. It seemed obvious that everyone had had a really good day.

The second half of the concert began like the first, with massed horns conducted by Maurice Temple. This time playing a 4-part Chorale ‘Sanctus’

The Rondo from Mozart’s 2^nd horn concerto followed, played on the Natural Horn by Harry Johnstone, always a favourite at the Jamboree.

Bob Ashworth treated us to a performance of a Sonatine by B. Hummel, but not before letting us hear something never previously heard at an Edinburgh Jamboree. He had brought with him a Trompe de Chasse. What a sound!!! Talk about blow the roof off!!!! Most impressive.

Then our guest Pros. David McClenaghan, Harry Johnstone, Bob Ashworth and Kenneth Blackwood played a short selection of horn quartets.

The grand finale had everyone playing [luckily Hugh Seenan had brought his horn. I don’t think there were very many players there who could have managed the top ‘E’s in the Jazz ‘shout’ending of Richard Michael’s piece], firstly Preloodio and Boogaloo conducted by the composer Richard Michael and finally Tannhauser Pilgrim’s chorus conducted by Maurice Temple.

Just after 9 o’clock we all set off for home to all corners of Scotland, very tired but very satisfied with a good days work and looking forward to Jamboree 4.