On Friday 24th October, Royal Air Force Music Services was delighted to return to Regent Hall to hold the RAF Charitable Trust Annual Soloist Competition and Awards 2025. With a varied programme of music, awards given for the best composition in different categories and a soloist representing each of the four bands, there was much to look forward to.
Oxford Street, London.
Conducted by Wing Commander Murray, Principal Director of Music (RAF), the Central Band of the Royal Air Force opened the concert with a rousing performance of the third movement of Lexicon of the Gods; Zeus, God of Sky and Thunder.
The Soloist Competition was then underway.
This year we welcomed adjudicators; Commanding Officer and Principal Director of Music of the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Huw Williams and Captain Claire Lawrence, Director of Music of the Band of the Irish Guards. They had their work cut out picking a winner from:
Corporal Hall: Clarinet, Band of the Royal Air Force College
Clarinet Concerto No.2 in E Flat Op74 – i.Allegro – Carl Maria Weber arr. Conway-Brown
Air Specialist (Class 1) Watts: Flute, Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Fantasie Brilliante on Themes from ‘Carmen’ – Francois Bourne arr. Jordan
Corporal Harper: Trombone, Central Band of the Royal Air Force
Fantasia Concertante – ii.Adagietto iii.Vivo – Ricardo Mollá
Sergeant Braet: Saxophone, Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment
Scaramouche-ii.Modere iii.Braziliera – Darius Milhaud arr. Matthias Höfert
After the soloists had performed, the adjudicators vacated the hall to discuss the performances and carry out the extremely difficult task of picking a winner whilst the Band carried on to perform the winning compositions of each category:
RAF Music Charitable Trust Fanfare Award: Presented by Sally Goodman for the best fanfare composed as part of the 2024/2025 Music Direction (MD) 2 course.
Sergeant Whelan, Resonance of Triumph
Trust Fanfare Award
Studio Music March Competition Award: Presented by Flight Lieutenant Parsons on behalf of Studio Music for the best march composed as part of the 2024/2025 MD2 course. Studio Music has the option to publish the winning work.
Sergeant Green, March ‘Augsberg’’
Following the awards, the Band performed Cerebral Vortex by Oyvind Moe whilst awaiting the nod to indicate the adjudicators had arrived at their final decision.
The following award was then announced:
The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Award: Presented by Mr Tim MacAndrews TD JP, Master of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, to a corporal or AS1 for their outstanding professional contribution to RAF Music. This year awarded to AS1 Thomas.
Worshipful Company of Gold andSilver Wyre Drawers, Mr Tim MacAndrews
With just one more award to go – the winner of the RAF Charitable Trust Soloist Competition, the adjudicators, they made their way to the front of the stage and announced this year's winner as Corporal Hall of the Band of the Royal Air Force College. Presenting the Award was Air Officer Commanding 2 Group, Air-Vice Marshal Appleton.
RAF College, pictured with (l-r) Captain Lawrence, Air Vice-Marshal Appleton
and Lieutenant Colonel Williams.
Thank you RAF Music for a fabulous afternoon of music. I was extremely impressed with both the level of professionalism and performances on display today.
Group Captain Smith
Commander Support Force
Bringing an end to a fantastic afternoon, the Band closed with a lively performance of Taras Bulba by Franz Waxman arr. Stubbs.
