End of Year Concert
/The collective forces of the Junior, Youth and Senior Bands were on display at Downshire's annual end of year concert on Monday, 15 June 2015, performing to an audience of families, friends and supporters of the three bands.
This year's concert shifted from Downshire's usual base at Malone Presbyterian Church to the church hall at St Nicholas' Parish Church on the Lisburn Road, and the move seemed to find favour with performers and audience alike.
Downshire Brass provided the warm-up act to the Junior Band and Youth Bands. The Junior Band, under conductor Roger Doherty, played five short, contrasting pieces including 'When the Saints go Marching In' and 'Super Trouper' - super sounds all round! The Youth Band with conductor Brendan Coyle then took centre stage with performances of 'March of the Cobblers', 'Viva la Vida' and the ever-popular 'Hawaii Five-O'.
The short concert was rounded off with three pieces by the Senior Band including the theme music to Jurassic Park and Paul Lovatt Cooper's big band-inspired 'You've Been Warne'd'.
The evening included a short awards ceremony with David Bird, Downshire's Youth Development Officer, announcing the winners of certificates and prizes. This provided an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work done by all the children in the youth and junior bands.
The Sam Doherty cup was awarded to all the children in the junior band in recognition of their collective contribution and progress. Each one was presented with a medal by Michael Alcorn and each will get a chance to keep the trophy for a few weeks over the next year. The Doreen Alcorn cup was awarded to youth band tenor horn player Knox Wilson.
Our thanks to St Nicholas' Parish Church for the use of their hall, and to the parents and guardians who do so much to support and encourage the young musicians in the two bands.