Leeds Silver Steel Sparrows at West Yorkshire Playhouse

setting up the day before

We were very pleased to be invited to take part in Dave Evans' big bash at the Playhouse on June 22. Last time Dave and I worked together was 2004 ish when he brought Garforth Big Band and I brought Sparrows to Leeds Town Hall for a similar bash organised by the music college.

This time we were, besides Sparrows, the Music College Saturday Morning School, Green Lane Primary School, and Garforth Jazz Rock Band,
DJ School and Roundhay School. Other leaders, besides me and Bex, were Dave Mitchell [last worked with at Flare at Woodhouse Community Centre, and before that Carnival Messiah, also at the Playhouse], Rachel Tustain, Dan de Lissandri. [If you are reading this and know others please let me know].

We also had guest semi-pros: Natalie and GeorgiaW. 

Sparrows were, regularly rehearsing, Ella, Annie, Owen, Kirsten, Isha, Alice, Karam, and, almost sight-reading on the day MillieC, MillieS and Claudia. Bella rehearsed but had A levels the same day and the day after.

MillieS is doing Technical Theatre at Uni and was actually pleased to be asked to help set up, load etc on the day, and the day before. Can't tell you how pleased I was she was pleased!

And while Millie and I took the pans down to the Playhouse on Wednesday evening, it was over to Vicky to pick up John's van again on Thursday after school, bring it downtown,  help load up at Playhouse, unload at Myhouse, and then return it to Johnhouse.

now that's what I call a trolley

workshop

The deal was we all learnt Mercy Mercy Mercy by Josef Zawinul, then all did our compositions based on this tune. We did a mash up of this and Mercy by Duffy, calling it Mercy Mercy Mercy Mercy.

Also on the day Millie and I did workshops for three or four other groups [I forget how many noe. It was a bit of a blur!]

waiting for technology

rehearsal

Also, all of us played a couple of our own tunes. We played Wings of a Dove by Prince Buster, and Symphony 40 by Mozart [not all of it!].

Don't ask!

The whole event was tremendous. And tiring. We were there all day from 9am till 9pm [and me, Vicky, Millie and Millie, 10pm], and the players were mysteriously and consistently well-behaved. [After the era of Mig and Jamillah this is a refreshing change!].

We had lots of lovely proud parents. All good.