The 200 strong audience at the Elgiva Theatre had a real treat at Amersham Band’s annual MusicFest concert which featured an international star soloist, David Childs, on Euphonium. The concert, now in its sixth year, was established to showcase local community music groups and has traditionally included a well known soloist to perform alongside the band. David, who had just recently performed with Bryn Terfel at the Aberfan Memorial, was accompanied by the band and played a range of pieces which featured beautiful lyrical playing and showed off his virtuosity. As a finale, David performed a piece called the Hot Canary, managing to make his Euphonium tweet and chirp just like a real bird.
The concert also featured the Beacon Voices, comprising 50 boys from the Beacon School and conducted by Liz Van Tromp. The choir enchanted the audience with their singing and provided a perfect counterbalance to the brass band music.
Davids father, Bob Childs, who is one of the world leading brass band conductors was in the audience and took to the stage to conduct the band in an arrangement of A Little Prayer by Evelyn Glennie. Band Chairman, Fred Harrison, said ” It was a fantastic evening, with David inspiring the band to play at the top of its form. Having a top conductor step up to lead the band was the icing on the cake. It will be an evening long-remembered by band members and audience alike”
