On Wednesday 9th October, Royal Air Force Music Services was delighted to return to Regent Hall to perform the RAF Charitable Trust Soloist Competition 2024. With a varied programme of music (much of it written by RAF musicians), awards given for the best composition in different categories and a soloist representing each of the four bands, there was plenty to look forward to.
Conducted by Wing Commander Murray, Principal Director of Music (RAF), the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment opened the concert with a rousing performance of Ryan Nowlin’s Let Freedom Ring. This year's Soloist Competition was then underway.
We welcomed friends of RAF Music Dr Stuart Morley and Thomas Hewitt Jones as the adjudicators for this year’s competition. They had their work cut out picking a winner from:
Corporal Page: Alto Sax, Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
Saxophone Concerto 3rd mvt, Michael Ball
Air Specialist (Class 1) Bray: Tuba, Band of the Royal Air Force College
Tuba Concerto 1st mvt, Edward Gregson
Corporal Faull: Alto Saxophone, Central Band of the Royal Air Force
Escapades, John Williams arr. Stephen Bulla
Sergeant Whelan: Xylophone, Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment
Girlfriends Medley, arr. Bob Becker, trans. Jim Perry
After the soloists had performed, the adjudicators vacated the Hall to discuss the performances and complete the unenviable task of picking a winner. This allowed time for the Band 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 2023/2024 Music Direction (MD) 2 course.
Winner: Sergeant Watson, A New Age of Flight
Tradewinds March Competition Award: Presented by Richard Phillips for the best march composed as part of the 2023/2024 MD2 course. TradeWinds has the option to publish the winning work.
Winner: Sergeant Watson, March ‘Market Garden’
Pooley Sword Composition Award: Presented by Commander Support Force, Group Captain Andrew for the best composition as part of the 2023/2024 MD3 course.
Winner: Corporal Howley, L.R.A. 296983 Operation Overlord
Following the awards, the Band performed the world premiere of Global Enablement, written by Air Specialist (Class 1) (AS1) DeVivo. The composition was requested by Air Commodore Thompson, Commander Global Enablement (GE), following last year’s competition and was written to support video footage which was shown on a large screen in the Hall, depicting all the different elements of GE: RAF Force Protection, Battlespace Management Operations and Support Forces.
The following award was then announced:
The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Award: Presented by Catherine Carr to a corporal or AS1 for their outstanding professional contribution to RAF Music.
Winner: AS1 DeVivo
This turned out to be a memorable day for AS1 DeVivo. Not only did he hear the Band perform his composition and win the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Award, but Squadron Leader Sellers (the compere for the concert) also announced his promotion to corporal, presenting his new rank slides in front of the audience – his parents were also in attendance!
There was only one more award to be announced – the winner of the RAF Charitable Trust Soloist Competition. After much deliberation by the adjudicators, they made their way to the front of the stage and presented the award to Corporal Faull of the Central Band of the RAF.
“What a privilege today to be invited to this annual competition and witness the inspirational talent of all at RAF Music. The varied programme, from the soloists to the composers, showcased the exceptionally high standards of professionalism and versatility synonymous with our RAF musicians.”
Group Captain Jackson
Head of Air Media and Communications
Bringing an end to a fantastic concert, the Band closed with a fine performance of Those Magnificent Aviators in Their Flying Machines by Ron Goodwin arr. Larry MacTaggart.
