Penarth News

Flight-strike musicians set for Big Apple

2:00pm Saturday 20th March 2010

A GROUP of Vale-based musicians who feared their US trip had been thwarted by airline strike action are now bound for the Big Apple.

Eighty young members of the Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Music Service Youth Wind Band believed their hopes of performing at New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall had been dashed, after British Airways cabin crew voted to strike – meaning their scheduled flight this Saturday was cancelled.

The band had been invited to perform by the New York Wind Band Festival after they scooped a gold medal in the 2006 event.

Organisers had specifically arranged for the group to star at their Gala concert on March 23, after a previous date meant they would have to decline due to a clash with A Levels and GCSEs.

But following efforts raising awareness of the band’s predicament – including a letter to Sir Richard Branson at Virgin Atlantic Airways – BA have managed to cater for the band on two of its flights, with Aer Lingus stepping in to carry 11 members who would have had to depart a day later.

Flautist Victoria Scaglioni, 16, a Year 11 pupil at Stanwell school in Penarth, said the group members had each raised £1,000, through packing bags in supermarkets, a gala concert, and play outs, since the tour was first planned three years ago.

She said: "I was shocked at first because we all knew about the strike, but didn’t think it would affect us personally.

"I am looking forward to being in New York and seeing the sights."

The band will give a world premiere performance of two pieces of music.

Derrick Bourgeois’ Jurassic Park was commissioned and written for the band to perform in New York.

And Karl Jenkins’ Concerto for Euphonium has been arranged for the Youth Wind Band to play at Carnegie Hall.

Internationally acclaimed euphonium player and member of the famous Cory band, David Childs will join them for their performance.

The ensemble, whose members are all aged 15 to 20 years, will also give a short recital at the Central Park bandstand, take part in workshops with professionals and other young musicians at Syosset, Long Island.

Musical Director and conductor of the Youth Wind Band, Sean O’ Neill said: "We have had a lot of coverage which BA don’t want.

"I believe they had to go that extra mile to take us.

"I’ll be very glad when we are there.

"It will be a huge relief when we arrive."

A British Airways spokeswoman said the airline was disappointed that thousands of customers faced disruption, and apologised for the disruption to the orchestra group’s plans.

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