Leyburn Band, Garden Room, Leyburn
SOMETHING of an institution, Leyburn Band’s Christmas concert if anything becomes more popular each year.
Musical director George Lundberg presided over a full strength band conducted by his daughter, Rebecca. With a capacity audience of 650 at Tennants' Garden Room, there must have been few people at home in Leyburn that night.
In fine form, Mr Lundberg oversaw proceedings with aplomb and the correct balance between imparting his extensive musical knowledge and making cheery jokes which went down well with the festive crowd.
From Handel to Noddy Holder, his choice of music spanned 400 years, with a mix of traditional carols and more modern Christmas anthems played in the band's award-winning style.
Unashamedly Christmassy, the music featured individual tunes such as In Dulci Jubilo and a medley entitled Santa Claus-Trophobia, and had the audience enthusiastically clapping and stamping.
Two unforgettable moments were the audience rendition of Twelve Days of Christmas, involving Mexican-wave style movements as the band played ever faster towards the end, and Emma Lundberg's solo on the flugelhorn of A Winter’s Tale.
The finale was Winter Wonderland with a short encore after. Host Rodney Tennant thanked the band for a sterling performance, a sentiment echoed by those who feel lucky to have such a talented group of musicians in Wensleydale.
Philip Sedgwick
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here