Mountains Youth Band performed a stunning and spectacular Holiday Celebration concert to a 260-strong audience at the Q Theatre in Penrith on Saturday. A standing ovation, shouts of “Bravo!” and demands for an encore were indicators of the excellent performance of our talented band. There were many, many words of congratulation after the performance and it was clear from the buzz around the Q Theatre that it was a sensational night.

The varied and entertaining concert band program, the smooth voice of compère Paul Smith, and the talent of Nicholas Gentile combined with the rich and balanced sounds from the band to ensure it was a night to remember. But one of the biggest highlights was surely the thunderous sound of Mountains Youth Band accompanying Barry Gray and the young pipers and drummers playing Highland Cathedral to close the first half of the show.

There are many acknowledgements listed in the concert program - but this wonderful show was really a testament to the great talent within Mountains Youth Band, to the huge amount of extra work that all the instrumentalists put into rehearsals and practice, and to the support of their families. It was also yet another indication of the enormous skill and expertise of our Musical Director Garry Clark. Congratulations to everyone!