FINAL MAG

SPRING 2017 THE TROMBONIST
REVIEW
BY PETER CHESTER
AT SCHOOL
WITH MAISIE, OLLIE AND KYLE…
BTS events are about many things.
Naturally we think of the music, the
playing and the listening, but they are
also about people and the pleasure of
meeting old friends as well as making
new ones, all through our love of the
trombone. The people element was
perhaps particularly strong in Oundle
School in November as those stalwarts
who attended found themselves in the
presence of one of the most celebrated
figures in British trombone world from
the last 75 years.
The event was graced by Maisie
Ringham Wiggins MBE, a lady still
playing in her tenth decade and in
Oundle to collect the Sheila Tracy
Award, presented in recognition of a
significant contribution by a female
player to the world of trombone playing.
As the principal trombone of the Hallé
Orchestra in 1940s & 50s under Sir
John Barbirolli, Maisie was very much a
trailblazer in the profession and her long
career has been an inspiration to many,
both women and men. With typical
modesty, Maisie said she was delighted
and very humbled by the award, but
would only accept it, “on behalf of all
female trombonists, everywhere”.
The Oundle event is traditionally an
occasion for awards, and four were
made in absentia, the recipients being
unable to attend. They were to Elliot
Mason (Player of the Year), Alan Hutt,
(Teacher of the Year), Jonny Hollick
(Student of the Year), and finally to
Michael Rath for his Outstanding
Contribution to the World of the
Trombone.
If November 2016 was celebratory
moment for one of our most senior
players, it will also be one for at least
two student players at the start of
their careers, Ollie Martin and Kyle
MacCorquodale, and it was very
gratifying not only to hear them play,
but to see them chatting with Maisie
during the day, and no doubt learning
from her. Every two years the BTS hosts
two competitions, the Don Lusher Jazz
Trombone Competition and the Bob
Hughes Bass Trombone Competition.
Ollie Martin and Kyle MacCorquodale
were the respective winners of these
competitions on this occasion. It has to
be said, however, that no-one present
envied the competition judges at all,
given the high standard presented by the
three competitors for each prize.
For the Don Lusher award, we had
Lewis Bettles and Richard Leonard from
the RCS in Glasgow, and Ollie Martin
from the RAM. Each played a Bill
Geldard arrangement of Stardust, and
introduced a piece of the own choice.
For Lewis it was Dark Eyes, for Richard
an unaccompanied transcription of a
Murray McEachern’s Nobody Knows,
and for Ollie it was a particularly cool
rendition of Carlos Jobim’s Wave. As
one of the judges, Jon Stokes, said, “all
played so melodically, in time and in
tune, expressing themselves through
music”. But there could only be one
winner and it turned out to be Ollie, a
unanimous decision of the three judges,
the other two being Nick Hudson and
Cliff Hardie. Ollie’s prize, the Don
Lusher Trophy, a new “John Fedchock”
XO trombone and Korg performance
support, was presented by Don Lusher’s
sons, Dave & Phil. The prize was
donated by Korg UK, represented on
the day by Richard Ashby, who was so
impressed with the overall standard that
on Korg’s behalf the two other finalists
were each given £100 vouchers, so all
went away with something.
Bob Hughes was present to see the
Bass Trombone Competition held in
his name. This time the three finalists,
Sam Taber, Kyle MacCorquodale
and Adam Crichton, each played Ray
Premru’s Prelude & Dance, before
introducing their own choice pieces.
The variety offered illustrated just
what is available for the bass trombone
these days and what is technically
possible. From Sam we had lyricism
and agility from an Adagio and Allegro
by Robert Schumann; from Adam
the sheer wonders of John Kenny’s
unaccompanied Sonata for Bass
Trombone; from Kyle the exuberance
and fun of Derek Bourgois’ Concerto
for Bass Trombone. Once again
differentiating between such talent
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