The world-famous Band of the Grenadier Guards has performed with young musicians in Harrogate.
The band joined schoolchildren from across North Yorkshire for a concert on Friday to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
People cheered and waved flags as the military band – famous for its scarlet tunics and bearskin hats — made a grand entrance at Harrogate Convention Centre, playing the traditional British Grenadiers marching song.
The concert, which was organised by North Yorkshire County Council’s school music service, featured about 350 pupils.
Pupils playing at the concert.
Trumpet player George Hirst, one of the Grenadier Guards taking part, is a former North Yorkshire student who was a member of some of the music service’s ensembles.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards’ history dates back more than 300 years and played a key role in this month’s jubilee parade in London.
They are taking part in celebratory concerts across the country this year and North Yorkshire’s school music service’s request for the band to join the concert was accepted.
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Ian Bangay, head of North Yorkshire county music service, said the event was a “huge success”, adding;
“The children really entered into the spirit of the event, waving their flags and cheering as the band marched in.
“They sang well and the musicians from the music centres performed superbly.”
“The guards were fantastic, interacting with our children throughout the day. They were happy to talk about their roles and even let the children try on their bearskins and have pictures taken with them. It was a great end to an enormous amount of work put in by music service staff and the teachers at the schools taking part.
“We are hoping to continue our relationship with the guards and are looking in to taking the county youth big band down to London to rehearse with them and watch changing of the guard.”
The evening featured popular music from each decade of the Queen’s reign.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards performed Crown Imperial, music from West Side Story, Symphony by Clean Bandit and rounded off the evening with Pomp and Circumstance by Edward Elgar and the National Anthem.
Grenadier Guards band coming to Harrogate
Hundreds of North Yorkshire school children will perform alongside one of the world’s oldest and most famous military bands in Harrogate this week.
About 350 children from schools will share a stage with the Band of the Grenadier Guards.
The band, known for its scarlet tunics and bearskin hats, has a history dating back 300 years and 15 monarchs.
The concert to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee will be held at Harrogate Convention Centre on Friday at 7pm.
The North Yorkshire County Schools’ Big Band, the Junior and Primary Schools Choirs and Wind Band, Richmond Chamber Choir and the County Youth Choir will also be performing.
They will play music from each decade of the Queen’s reign, including Waterloo by Abba, I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 and Hey Jude by The Beatles.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards will perform numbers including Crown Imperial, music from West Side Story, Symphony by Clean Bandit before rounding off the evening with the National Anthem.
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Ian Bangay, head of North Yorkshire county music service, said:
“North Yorkshire Music Service and school bands, orchestras and music ensembles have a long history of producing talented musicians. We are very proud that one of those former music service musicians, George Hirst, will be returning with the Grenadier Guards, which he joined last year.
“It’s a great honour and a fantastic experience for our young people to be performing with one of the world’s most prestigious and recognisable military bands to mark the platinum jubilee. It should be an evening for everyone to remember for many years to come.”
Tickets are available here.